The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ outlook in fantasy football centers around their emerging star receiver, while the Baltimore Ravens‘ fantasy preview breaks down the future value of their big names.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens
- Spread: Steelers -3.5
- Total: 36.5
- Steelers implied points: 20
- Ravens implied points: 16.5
The Ravens have locked up the top seed in the AFC and have nothing to play for. With that in mind, you’re not playing any of their regulars with any confidence — be it in a DFS or season-long setting.
Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson: The MVP front-runner has had a great real-life season without standout fantasy value (five finishes outside of the top 15 at the position). I’m not worried about that. As long as the athleticism remains, Jackson is, at worst, a Tier 2 signal-caller in our game.
He could enter that top tier this summer as Zay Flowers develops while Keaton Mitchell/Mark Andrews heal.
Running Backs
Najee Harris: For the fifth time in his career, Harris ran for 100 yards last week. He has now produced consecutive top-20 finishes at the position (he had one top-20 finish in his previous five games).
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His 46 carries over the past two weeks with the Steelers fighting for their season tells a story of commitment to their third-year back, but the fact that he has gone three straight games without a single target is damning. The lack of versatility keeps him out of the RB1 discussion, but the sheer volume, along with the proven goal-line role, makes him a starter in all formats.
Jaylen Warren: With the Steelers playing for their season, a repeat of their game plan that resulted in 46 rush attempts and 24 pass attempts against the Seahawks last week seems very possible.
If that is in fact the case, there’s no reason to think that Warren can’t join Harris as an RB2 in this spot against an unmotivated Ravens defense.
In fact, I continue to prefer him to Harris.
Both RBs were used on the opening drive last week, and given that Warren has caught 4+ passes in four straight games, his ceiling projects as higher.
It’s something I’m willing to target in a week where usage is particularly difficult to project.
Gus Edwards: Keaton Mitchell’s injury paved the way for Edwards to produce down the stretch this season, and his stock will be interesting to track for 2024.
I don’t think he’s a threat to put up RB2 numbers on a consistent basis if Mitchell is active. The lack of versatility is an issue that is tough to overlook in this era.
Justice Hill: He piled up 112 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins last week, but he’s a long shot to matter in 2024.
MORE: Gus Edwards and Justice Hill Start/Sit Week 18
The Ravens haven’t been willing to commit to Hill as their featured back, and with no shortage of options in their backfield, he’s not someone I’m going to be interested in next season.
Wide Receivers
George Pickens: I’ll talk about not trusting the splash plays for WR Diontae Johnson in a minute, but that is what Pickens does. He has recorded a 35-plus-yard catch in four of his past six games and is averaging 16.9 yards per catch throughout his career per the Week 18 Cheat Sheet. That has me more willing to invest.
In the Week 5 meeting against Baltimore, Pickens earned a WR4 ranking for the week. Pickens saw 32.3% of the targets on his way to 130 yards and a score — he tallied three catches of over 20 yards.
Production like that is tough to project, but with the Ravens coasting into the playoffs, Pickens is in a spot to be a fantasy starter in all leagues and potentially a league winner.
Diontae Johnson: Johnson has seen his target count decline in three straight games (7-6-5-4) and is relying on the big play more. He’s had twice as many games with a 25-yard-catch this year than last. These trends are more than I’m comfortable with if the volume isn’t going to be there.
The edge in motivation puts Johnson on my Flex radar, but I can’t go much higher. The Steelers have 13 more points in QB Mason Rudolph’s starts than they have pass attempts — I have major quantity questions, and I’m not sold on the quality of look being anything better than average.
Zay Flowers: The rookie receiver had an up-and-down campaign, but the “good” was enough to convince me that he is an asset to target in 2024. He looks like the WR1 for years to come in Baltimore, and while Jackson can be sporadic at times as a passer, Flowers will be considered a fantasy starter across the board this summer.
Odell Beckham Jr.: The veteran receiver played this season on a one-year deal, and his 2024 value will hinge on his landing spot. Beckham’s high-end target-earning ways look like a thing of the past, but he is still capable of maximizing the looks he does get, and that could make him fantasy-relevant if he lands in a good spot.
Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth: Once — once since Christmas 2022 has “Patty Football” had more than three catches in a game. It’s now 2024. Consistency at this position is hard to find. We have that from Freiermuth. He’s consistently someone I’d rather not use.
Isaiah Likely: The one-handed catch that turned into a 35-yard touchdown was a thing of beauty last week. Likely has scored four times in his past four games and has a 25+ yard catch in each of those contests, making a strong case for Baltimore to pivot to more two-TE formations next season.
Trending Start/Sit Searches
Did you know that we have a Start/Sit Optimizer here at Pro Football Network? It’s completely free to use, and it allows you to enter up to six players to find the best option to plug into your starting lineup.
It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches. We’ve jotted some of them down here to help provide some clarity.
Should You Start Jaylen Warren or James Conner?
I think these two backs hold a similar value, despite being in completely different situations. Give me the younger back playing for a motivated team.
MORE: Katz’s Fantasy Football Week 18 RB Rankings
While Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner’s usage has been strong of late, I’m OK with fading an RB with over 1,300 career touches in Week 18 of a lost season for his Cardinals. He may offer the higher floor, but Conner’s advantage in that regard isn’t enough to outweigh what I view as a significant difference in his ceiling.
Should You Start George Pickens or Jaxon Smith-Njigba?
Talk about a duo with a wide range of outcomes.
I’ll side with Pickens. The thought is that his path to a reasonable volume is more clear, and he’s likely to get the majority of his looks against backups.
Pickens has a 35+ yard catch in four of his past six games, and his big-play upside gives him more Flex appeal this week than Seattle Seahawks rookie WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has seen a total of 13 targets over his past three games.
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