In past years, if you've ever played fantasy football, the only part of the Baltimore Ravens you've wanted on your fantasy team was the suffocating team defense. Long one of the best in not only the NFL but fantasy leagues as well, they should once again be near or at the top of most people's wish list.
However, this is not your father's fantasy football league, where you purposely stay away from the Ravens offensive players until the later round just to have some sort of additional rooting interest. Other than running back Ray Rice, there hasn't been a Ravens payer who would normally go in the early rounds of most fantasy draft. That should change in 2011.
Along with Rice, QB Joe Flacco is poised for a breakout season, with more yards and TD passes, while continuing to keep his interceptions down. Both Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason figure to get more TD passes and even tight end Todd Heap seems to be regaining his youth after a great 2010 campaign.
CBSSports.com also thinks there could be a couple of sleepers on the Ravens, as withthe probability of losing both Willis McGahee and LeRon McClain, reserve running back Jalen Parmele may step up into the backup role to spell Rice or come in on goal-line and short-yardage situation to rack up thse TD fantasy points. In addition, they see rookie WR Torrey Smith getting the deep ball enough to warrant a sleeper pick in the later rounds.
No, this season, there should be a bunch of Baltimore Ravens off the board in most fantasy football drafts a lot earlier than in the past.