Baltimore Ravens DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman steps into the top receiver role with Zay Flowers (knee) getting ruled out for the opening playoff matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Bateman did score against the Steelers in their last outing, he has only posted 44 total yards and three receptions on eight targets. He'll likely play a bigger role in the offense rather than serve as a deep threat while both tight ends will play important parts as well. Bateman always carries big play ability, but the Steelers' corners are good in coverage which makes him more of an intriguing option in bigger DFS tournaments rather than cash games.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry enters the Wild Card round on a three-game streak of at least 100 rushing yards which started when the Ravens and Steelers met last. Henry gashed the Steelers' defense for 162 yards on 24 carries in Week 16 after turning in 65 yards on 13 carries in their first meeting. He's produced 11 games of five or more yards per carry with five of those games over 6.5. The Ravens will likely try to get the ground game going early on which would make Henry a valuable DFS play in the opening round.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson drew a first-round matchup with the longtime rival Pittsburgh Steelers in what he hopes will be a different playoff experience. Jackson and company split the season series with the Steelers but won via blowout in their last game at home. That was the first non-COVID era home game he started against the Steelers and he registered 207 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception on 15-for-23 throwing with nine carries for 22 yards. Since their bye week, Jackson has thrown for at least two touchdowns in each game and has averaged 220.5 passing yards with 59.3 rushing yards. Signs point to much of the same which would make Jackson the big-time favorite for any and all DFS lineups in this showdown.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee) has officially been ruled out for the wild-card playoff game on Saturday night against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers after not practicing all week. Flowers sprained his right knee in the Week 18 win over the division-rival Cleveland Browns in the regular-season finale and will be unavailable this weekend. It's unclear if he'll have a shot to return if Baltimore beats Pittsburgh and advances to the Divisional Round. The biggest beneficiary of Flowers' absence this Saturday will be Rashod Bateman, while tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely should be heavily targeted as well in a tough matchup against the Steelers defense. In addition to Bateman, the Ravens will ask wideouts Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace and Devontez Walker to step up for quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee) wasn't seen practicing on Friday and has not practiced all week after suffering a knee sprain in the Week 18 win over the division-rival Cleveland Browns in the regular-season finale last Saturday. The Ravens have yet to release their final injury report for wild-card weekend, but Flowers seems highly unlikely to face the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night. It was reported on Wednesday that Flowers was a long shot to play, so this news isn't much of a surprise. The 24-year-old will most likely be officially ruled out later on Thursday. With Flowers likely out of action against a tough defense in Pittsburgh, it will make things tougher through the air for star quarterback Lamar Jackson. Receiver Rashod Bateman and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely figure to be his top targets, with Nelson Agholor and Tylan Wallace also seeing more snaps.