Passing Offense – 18^th in the league

• 510 attempts (ranked 25^th)
• 62.9% completion percentage
• 3419 pass yards
• 214 yards per game
• 7.1 Yards per attempt
• 21 TDs and 13 INTs
• 36 Sacks
• 87.4 QB rating (for team)

Rushing Offense – 5^th in the league

• 468 attempts (ranked t-7^th)
• 2200 rush yards
• 137.5 yards per game
• 4.7 yards per carry
• 22 TDs

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The Ravens had no struggles ruing the ball effectively in 2009 unleashing Ray Rice anywhere and everywhere in-between the 20s, and then letting Willis McGahee come in and hoover the short tuddies.

Joe Flacco took all but about 5 snaps under center in his 2^nd year in Baltimore.  He finished 17^th among QBs in a basic scoring format.  His struggles can be as much attributed to a lack of dependable targets as much as any “sophomore slump” theory that I am hearing associated with his name this off-season.  

 Ravens’ UltimateFFstrategy.com In-Depth Oline Analysis  These guys do a strong job breaking it down for 2010.   

Cam Cameron returns for a 3rd season as the OC in Baltimore.  He has maintained a fairly equal balance between the run and pass throughout most of his career (see San Diego’s pass/rush attempts in 2002-2006) - even leaning to the run relative to the NFL these days - so while I’m well aware of the added WR personnel in Baltimore (Stallworth and Boldin), this keeps me grounded when I look at Flacco’s chances for fantasy stardom.

The Ravens hired former Redskins head coach Jim Zorn as their QB coach – I don’t see this as having much of an effect one way or the other on Flacco.  It is reasonable to assume that his accuracy and TD count should improve having more dependable targets to throw to, but I don’t see his passing attempts going up much as long as Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, and Le’Ron McClain are around running behind that top ranked offensive line.

Joe Flacco – He enters his 3^rd season and has a whole host of new weapons at his disposal in Anquan Boldin and Donte’ Stallworth.   It’s tough to ignore the improvements across the board in his statistics from his rookie to 2^nd year.  He accomplished nice jumps in completion %, yards, TDs, YPA, and QB rating while keeping INTs roughly the same in 71 more passing attempts.  

Verdict:  Joe is a starter in 2010, and given the depth at QB outside of Rodgers, Manning, and Brees, Joe is a guy that could be available for way cheap once you’ve locked down your starting RBs and WRs – that is, unless you have a die-hard Ravens fan in your midst. 

 Marc Bulger – The Rams finally rid themselves of Bulger, and he is now where he belongs – as a backup QB.  I know Troy Smith is listed on most depth charts as of this writing, but Bulger’s signing is a strong hint that Troy Smith will be dealt at some point this summer. 

Verdict:  Bulger could be considered as a handcuff, I suppose, in the last round of the draft if you don’t have other pressing needs, given the WR trio of Boldin, Stallworth, and Mason.  

Ray Rice –  2,041 total yards and 8 TDs has a lot of fantasy minds spinning out of control this off-season.  I have seen numerous fantasy “experts” gush about how similar the scenarios are between this year’s Ray Rice and last year’s Chris Johnson breakout – McGahee playing the part of tub-a-lub Lendale White.  What flawed logic that is.  1) Ray Rice does not have the speed that CJ28 does, and won’t be busting off seven 50 yard + TDs anytime soon.  2) McGahee is no Lard-ale White.  He has graciously accepted his role as backup to Ray Rice, and at $3.6 million salary, will see his 100+ carries.  Will Willis punch another 12 TDs in in 2010?  Probably not, I think we can comfortably give a few of those to Rice this season.  So if McGahee has five times the skill, vision, speed, and ability to break tackles that a Lendale White has,  it is reasonable to assume that he won't disappear quite like White did in 2009. 

Verdict:    Ray Rice won't lead the league in fantasy points in any format the way CJ28 did in 2009, as long as McGahee is there to spell him.  Period.  Irrespective from that little quip, I'm here to tell you that he should be among the 5-6 RBs taken in any format.  PPR leaguers will obviously be targeting Rice as high as 2-3 overall.

Willis McGahee – It wasn’t clear at this time last year, but whatchu talkin’ ‘bout Willis (RIP Gary Coleman) is officially the handcuff to Ray Rice for 2010.  As already stated, he has accepted this role and seems content with it.  McGahee was hungry enough to prove to the NFL that he could ball after shredding his leg in the Fiesta Bowl in 2003, but seems to have lost his appetite to dominate at the pro level since then. 

Verdict:  Ray Rice owners should plan to go early on McGahee to seal up the Ravens’ backfield for 2010.  The problem is, McGahee’s 12 TDs will have the less-experienced numb-nuts nabbing him based on last year’s stats, so after you’ve locked up a QB, 2 RBs, and maybe 3 WRs, you have to start considering taking Willis – maybe even after your 2^nd WR.  If Rice were to go down, McGahee would be an instant RB1/2 caliber for you.  It’s the best insurance policy out there.

Anquan Boldin –  I can’t think of many more off-season moves with more fantasy football appeal than the Cards trading Boldin to the Ravens.   I keep hearing how Boldin should struggle now that Fitz isn’t split out wide opposite him.  More flawed logic.  Check it:

Boldin Career numbers WITH Fitz (not including rookie season) 6.17 catches 78 yards  .46 TDs

Boldin Career numbers W/O  Fitz (not including rookie season)  5.5 catches  66.7 yards  .25 TDs

Boldin Career numbers W/O  Fitz (INCLUDING rookie season)  6.15 catches  82.2 yards  .6 TDs

Yes, Boldin’s rookie year is well behind him and he has been slowed here and there by myriad injuries since then.  But it was just 2008 where Boldin ripped off 1038 yards and 11 TDs… in 12 f’in games!  And he’s only 30 years old. 

Verdict:  Go ahead and be afraid of Boldin because of injuries (he’s missed 16 games in 7 seasons); or be afraid of Boldin because the Ravens pass the ball considerably less (about 52% of the Ravens’ plays were passes in 2009 compared w/ almost 62% for AZ), but please spare us all with the Boldin is not a #1 WR BS.  I’ll be targeting Anquan as a  top 15 WR for 2010 – but please continually check out the FFArmory WR Rankings page for the latest.  

Derrick Mason – This dude is 36 years old and in 2009 notched his 4^th best fantasy output in his 14 year career; 73 catches for 1,038 yards and 7 tuddies – good for 17^th in a basic format.  Respeck.   Mason’s new nickname is Even-Steven.  Too bad his name isn’t Steven – otherwise it may have stuck. 

Verdict:  Targets will be an issue in Baltimore this season.  I am obviously not as worried about the presence of Stallworth as I am Boldin.  The Ravens dropped a boatload of cash (and draft picks!)  in their procurement of ‘Quan’s services, and Flacco should find comfort in Boldin’s consistent ability to fore-arm shimmy CBs to get open.  I’m showing 134 targets for Mason in 2009 and that could drop down to under 100 with the new look Ravens’ aerial attack.  Boldin will get his.  Mason is a WR3 this season in a 12 team format.  And a backup in anything less.

Donte’ Stallworth – A little over one year removed from being convicted of vehicular manslaughter, Stallworth remains an interesting story.  He is under house-arrest, subject to drug/alcohol testing at a moment’s notice, and will be on probation (the legal kind) for the rest of his playing day.  Did the judge giving him a mere 30 days in prison feed this NFL ego or humble it?  The Ravens believe it humbled it.  They were blown away by Stallworth’s winter workout to the point where they chanced the potential PR gaffe by signing this controversial speedster.   I gotta tell you, I’m not going crazy about Stallworth’s individual fantasy impact, but am highly intrigued over how he can stretch the field for the likes of ‘Quan, Mason, and Ray Rice & Willis McGahee.   On paper, the Ravens had just about the best off-season of any NFL team. 

Verdict:  Stallworth isn’t someone you should consider until way late in drafts – perhaps as a handcuff for Anquan Boldin owners.  He had a couple of memorable fantasy performances with the Saints, Eagles, and was around for Brady’s miraculous 2007 season, too. 

Mark Clayton/Demetrius Williams – Both are losers, and at best, are in need of a scene change.  Clayton drops more balls than the Mega Millions lottery machine does in a year.  Ok, fine, I exaggerated – get used to it, this website is littered with them.  And Demetrius Williams does a lot of “woe is me” routine – so much that the Ravens’ staff is about done w/ him.   One of these guys will be cut by training camp, and while our money is on Williams, we wouldn’t be shocked to see either (or both) go.

Todd Heap – He actually finished just outside of starter-status in 2009 with 593 yards and 6 scores on 53 catches and 75 targets.   Two things are guaranteed in this world besides death and taxes… Heap’s bad back, and the fact that Heap’s targets are going to plummet due to not only  the arrival of Boldin/Stallworth, but also either one of the TE draft picks from round 3 (Ed Dickson) or round 4 (Dennis Pitta).  I’m personally rooting for Pitta – cuz his name reminds me of a nickname I had for my boy Maurice in Jr High.  We called him PITA (Pain in the Ass).  And also sometimes HUMA (head up my ass).  He was both- at the time.

Verdict:  He will barely crack our top 25 rankings in 2010.  TEs are so deep this year, and if you are drafting Heap, you are wasting good draft picks on guys who could bust out (like Zach Miller w/ Jason Campbell, or Owen Daniels back from injury, or Chris Cooley/Fred Davis, there’s a bunch more). 

Click here for our 2009 Analysis on the Baltimore Ravens - published July 2009