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 TE Jordan Akins.
Is Jordan Akins Playing in Week 18?
Akins 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 Jordan Akins in Week 18?
Akins is expected to serve as the Browns’ starting tight end Saturday in Baltimore, with David Njoku (knee) ruled out for the season finale.
While Njoku was sidelined for last Sunday’s 20-3 loss to the Dolphins, Akins saw an expanded profile on offense. He played 44 of the Browns’ 79 snaps on offense in the loss, finishing with six catches for 49 yards on eight targets.
Given that Thompson-Robinson (calf) dropped back a whopping 48 times in Week 17, Akins’ eight targets could be more difficult to replicate in Week 18 if the heavily-favored Ravens are able to dominate the time of possession and keep the clock moving.
Akins will also be working with a new starting quarterback in the finale, as Bailey Zappe is getting the nod over Thompson-Robinson.
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.
Jordan Akins’ Fantasy Points Projection in Week 18
As of Saturday, Akins is projected to score 6.4 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 2.7 receptions for 27.7 yards and 0.2 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.
Jordan Akins’ 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 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) Kyle Pitts | ATL (vs. CAR)
13) Hunter Henry | NE (vs. BUF)
14) Will Dissly | LAC (at LV)
15) Isaiah Likely | BAL (vs. CLE)
16) Jake Ferguson | DAL (vs. WAS)
17) Mike Gesicki | CIN (at PIT)
18) Juwan Johnson | NO (at TB)
19) Noah Gray | KC (at DEN)
20) Brenton Strange | JAX (at IND)
21) Dalton Kincaid | BUF (at NE)
22) Dalton Schultz | HOU (at TEN)
23) Cole Kmet | CHI (at GB)
24) Tyler Conklin | NYJ (vs. MIA)
25) Austin Hooper | NE (vs. BUF)
26) Noah Fant | SEA (at LAR)
27) Foster Moreau | NO (at TB)
28) Grant Calcaterra | PHI (vs. NYG)
29) Jordan Akins | CLE (at BAL)
30) Stone Smartt | LAC (at LV)
31) Daniel Bellinger | NYG (at PHI)
32) Ja'Tavion Sanders | CAR (at ATL)
33) Payne Durham | TB (vs. NO)
34) Dawson Knox | BUF (at NE)
35) 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.