The Baltimore Ravens will face the Cleveland Browns 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 TE Isaiah Likely.
Is Isaiah Likely Playing in Week 18?
Likely is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any unexpected setbacks, he is on track to play this weekend.
We’ll continue to monitor the Ravens’ 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 Isaiah Likely?
I’m as intrigued as anyone as to how these playoff teams are giving us little hints as to what could be coming. Likely was on the field for a season-high 77% of Baltimore’s snaps last week in the blowout of the Texans. While some of that was undoubtedly the result of game flow, I maintain my thought that Todd Monken is going to get this physical mismatch on the field more for his third NFL postseason.
None of that helps you this week. Even with the extended playing time, Likely’s role held a sub-three-point projection, making him an impossible sell. With Mark Andrews gobbling up all of the valuable looks, Likely needs volume to matter. We are a long way away from projecting him to get that.
I’ll probably be holding Likely prop tickets when the Ravens take the field this postseason, but my willingness to be bold with him doesn’t start in Week 18.
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.
Isaiah Likely’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 18
As of Saturday, Likely is projected to score 9.2 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 3.2 receptions for 36.9 yards and 0.4 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 Browns' Defense
The Cleveland Browns were a borderline top-10 unit in Week 17 but still delivered their seventh-lowest grade of the season (77.4, C+) in their home finale against the Dolphins.
Cleveland's defense has lost a little gas toward the end of the season. That's not a huge surprise with the playoffs long out of the question and the weight of carrying a dysfunctional offense. Four of the defense's seven worst games have come since the team returned from bye in Week 11.
Cleveland's defense has done a tremendous job of generating pressure, recording the highest non-blitz pressure rate this season (39.7%). Myles Garrett made history in Week 17 by becoming the first player to record four consecutive 14+ sack seasons, though 2024 could actually be the first season that he leads the NFL in sacks.
No Browns player has ever led the league in sacks in a season, giving fans something to look for in Week 18. Garrett enters the final week tied with Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals at 14.0 sacks apiece.
For more insight on all other team defenses, head to our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis.
Isaiah Likely’s Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 12:45 AM ET on Saturday, January 4. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Week 18 Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 18 TE PPR Rankings
1) Brock Bowers | LV (vs. LAC)
2) Sam LaPorta | DET (vs. MIN)
3) Trey McBride | ARI (vs. SF)
4) T.J. Hockenson | MIN (at DET)
5) Mark Andrews | BAL (vs. CLE)
6) Jonnu Smith | MIA (at NYJ)
7) Tucker Kraft | GB (vs. CHI)
8) George Kittle | SF (at ARI)
9) Chigoziem Okonkwo | TEN (vs. HOU)
10) Pat Freiermuth | PIT (vs. CIN)
11) Zach Ertz | WAS (at DAL)
12) Hunter Henry | NE (vs. BUF)
13) Kyle Pitts | ATL (vs. CAR)
14) Isaiah Likely | BAL (vs. CLE)
15) Jake Ferguson | DAL (vs. WAS)
16) Mike Gesicki | CIN (at PIT)
17) Juwan Johnson | NO (at TB)
18) Noah Gray | KC (at DEN)
19) Brenton Strange | JAX (at IND)
20) Dalton Schultz | HOU (at TEN)
21) Dalton Kincaid | BUF (at NE)
22) Cole Kmet | CHI (at GB)
23) Tyler Conklin | NYJ (vs. MIA)
24) Austin Hooper | NE (vs. BUF)
25) Noah Fant | SEA (at LAR)
26) Foster Moreau | NO (at TB)
27) Grant Calcaterra | PHI (vs. NYG)
28) Jordan Akins | CLE (at BAL)
29) Stone Smartt | LAC (at LV)
30) Daniel Bellinger | NYG (at PHI)
31) Ja'Tavion Sanders | CAR (at ATL)
32) Payne Durham | TB (vs. NO)
33) Dawson Knox | BUF (at NE)
34) Michael Mayer | LV (vs. LAC)
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.