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 QB Lamar Jackson.
Is Lamar Jackson Playing in Week 18?
Jackson 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 Lamar Jackson in Week 18?
Jackson’s average QB+ this season (82.9) is well above what he posted a season ago (77.1). We didn’t create that metric to be a predictive one for fantasy purposes, but what more can I tell you on the number-compiling front that you’re not already aware of?
The reigning MVP has 13 top-10 finishes this season and routinely looks downright indefensible. He has both a 20-yard run and a 40-yard completion in three of his past four games. The Browns lead the league in pressure rate (41.3% of dropbacks), and I’m not sure that’s a positive against Baltimore.
If you have Jackson, you’re playing him and are thrilled that he has the motive to go out and dominate for another week. If you’re facing him — you’re spending your weeknights praying to the fantasy gods for leniency.
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.
Lamar Jackson’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 18
As of Saturday, Jackson is projected to score 24.8 fantasy points in Week 18. This includes 254.5 passing yards, 1.8 passing touchdowns, and 0.6 interceptions. It also includes 10.8 rushing attempts for 64.9 yards and 0.3 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.
Lamar Jackson’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 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) Spencer Rattler | NO (at TB)
32) Joshua Dobbs | SF (at ARI)
33) Taylor Heinicke | LAC (at LV)
34) Bailey Zappe | KC (at DEN)
35) Dorian Thompson-Robinson | CLE (at BAL)
36) Sam Howell | SEA (at LAR)
37) 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.