The Cleveland Browns will face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding QB Bailey Zappe.
Is Bailey Zappe Playing in Week 18?
Zappe is not listed on the injury report. Barring any last-minute setbacks, he is expected to play in Week 18.
We’ll continue to monitor the Browns’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Bailey Zappe in Week 18?
While Zappe is slated to get the start at QB for the Browns in Week 18, head coach Kevin Stefanski previously suggested that he expected Thompson-Robinson (calf) to also see some work versus Baltimore.
With that in mind, Zappe isn’t a high-percentage fantasy option this weekend, however he does represent a potential lineup pivot for fantasy managers dealing with scenarios where their signal callers may be rested or limited.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 18 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Bailey Zappe’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 18
As of Saturday, Zappe is projected to score 7 fantasy points in Week 18. This includes 113.2 passing yards, 0.6 passing touchdowns, and 0.6 interceptions. It also includes 1.5 rushing attempts for 2.9 yards and 0 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
PFN Insight on the Ravens' Defense
For much of the season, the Ravens were stuck in a funhouse. After years of banking on elite production from the defense and Justin Tucker, both had turned into pumpkins threatening to drag down an MVP-caliber production from Lamar Jackson and the offense.
But after another strong performance against the Texans on Christmas, the Ravens are grading as an above-average unit within sniffing distance of the top 10 entering the final week. Baltimore's 90.5 (A-) grade was the second-best of the week and the team's best this season.
It was the Ravens' first A-level grade since Week 9 of last season vs. the Seahawks. Since Week 11, Baltimore ranks second in defensive EPA per play (0.11) after ranking 28th over the first 10 weeks of the season. That's not an arbitrary cut-off either, as Week 11 is when the Ravens moved Kyle Hamilton from the slot to safety full-time, stabilizing the pass defense.
Now, after a disastrous start, the Ravens are miraculously up to 10th in pass defense success rate. Paired with the second-best rushing defense success rate, Baltimore has suddenly become one of the more well-rounded defenses in the NFL.
Although the Ravens led the league in scoring defense in 2023, they only ranked 10th in Defense+. This year’s unit is getting close to that level while pairing it with a more versatile offense, which bodes well for the postseason.
For more insight on all other team defenses, head to our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis.
Bailey Zappe’s Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 7:00 AM ET on Sunday, January 5. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Week 18 Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 18 QB PPR Rankings
1) Lamar Jackson | BAL (vs. CLE)
2) Jayden Daniels | WAS (at DAL)
3) Baker Mayfield | TB (vs. NO)
4) Joe Burrow | CIN (at PIT)
5) Sam Darnold | MIN (at DET)
6) Jared Goff | DET (vs. MIN)
7) Jordan Love | GB (vs. CHI)
8) Bo Nix | DEN (vs. KC)
9) Kyler Murray | ARI (vs. SF)
10) Justin Herbert | LAC (at LV)
11) Drake Maye | NE (vs. BUF)
12) Bryce Young | CAR (at ATL)
13) Russell Wilson | PIT (vs. CIN)
14) Geno Smith | SEA (at LAR)
15) Caleb Williams | CHI (at GB)
16) Aaron Rodgers | NYJ (vs. MIA)
17) Joe Flacco | IND (vs. JAX)
18) Michael Penix Jr. | ATL (vs. CAR)
19) Mason Rudolph | TEN (vs. HOU)
20) Aidan O'Connell | LV (vs. LAC)
21) Mac Jones | JAX (at IND)
22) Tanner McKee | PHI (vs. NYG)
23) Kenny Pickett | PHI (vs. NYG)
24) Cooper Rush | DAL (vs. WAS)
25) C.J. Stroud | HOU (at TEN)
26) Drew Lock | NYG (at PHI)
27) Jimmy Garoppolo | LAR (vs. SEA)
28) Carson Wentz | KC (at DEN)
29) Davis Mills | HOU (at TEN)
30) Tyler Huntley | MIA (at NYJ)
31) Joshua Dobbs | SF (at ARI)
32) Spencer Rattler | NO (at TB)
33) Mitchell Trubisky | BUF (at NE)
34) Taylor Heinicke | LAC (at LV)
35) Bailey Zappe | KC (at DEN)
36) Dorian Thompson-Robinson | CLE (at BAL)
37) Sam Howell | SEA (at LAR)
38) Josh Allen | BUF (at NE)
Browns at Ravens Trends and Insights
Cleveland Browns
Team: The Browns have won two straight games and three of their past four against the Ravens (they were 3-10 in the previous 13 meetings).
QB: Dorian Thompson-Robinson has thrown 115 passes this season and has zero touchdowns to show for it (six interceptions). He is 0-of-9 with three interceptions when throwing 20+ yards downfield.
Offense: The Browns are averaging 27.2% fewer points per drive this season than they did a year ago.
Defense: Sunday was the fourth time this season in which the Browns allowed under 20 yards per drive – they’ve managed to lose all four of those games.
Fantasy: Jerry Jeudy joined Josh Gordon (2013) and Kellen Winslow (2007) as the only Browns to earn 18 targets in a game (he was also the third Brown to catch 12 passes in a game, interestingly enough, the first to do both).
Betting: Cleveland is just 4-12 ATS in their past 16 road divisional games.
Baltimore Ravens
Team: The 2007 Giants and the 2001 Patriots are the only teams since 2000 to win their conference despite losing the first two games of the season (the Ravens lost to the Chiefs and Raiders to open up the season). Both of those teams went on to win the Super Bowl.
QB: Lamar Jackson's average QB+ this season (82.9) is well above what he posted a season ago (77.1).
Offense: The Ravens have picked up over 43 yards per drive in three straight games (they had two such performances through the first 14 weeks of this season).
Defense: After allowing opponents to pick up 46.7% of their third downs through 10 weeks, Baltimore has held strong with a 29.1% conversion rate since.
Fantasy: Mark Andrews has scored on 16.4% of his targets this season, a massive serge from his rate over the two years prior (6.3%).
Betting: Wednesday was the first time the Ravens have covered a game that went under the total since their Week 4 win over the Bills.