Monday October 26, 2015
Baltimore Ravens @ Arizona Cardinals

The Ravens have pretty much been a nightmare this year, at least when it comes to their 1-5 record. However, all their games have been competitive. The largest margin of victory in any of their games has been six, so we should be in for a decent game. With that said, competitive isn’t good enough when you’ve lost to the Raiders, Browns and 49ers. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are sitting atop the NFC East. They have looked very good on both sides of the ball.

Baltimore Ravens: Key Players

QB Joe Flacco
Flacco has never really been a consistent fantasy option, unless of course you play in playoff challenges. He also has never had a great arsenal of weapons. However, this year his pass-catchers are really awful. Especially when Steve Smith was out. Flacco is really hard to trust right now.
Verdict: Sit Flacco. The Cardinals defense is way too good for an offense with one weapon in the passing game. Their depth is far better than the Ravens secondary options.

RB Justin Forsett
Forsett hasn’t been great this season. He’s been very up and down. His PPR value has been solid, he’s caught at least four passes in all but one game. He’s run for 457 yards but 271 of those yards came in two games.
Verdict: Start Forsett. He’s not a great option this week, nonetheless, he should be started in most leagues.

WR Steve Smith
Smith is pretty much all they got in the passing attack. The receivers are subpar to say the least. The tight ends have actually outperformed expectations but they are far from great. It’s pretty much Smith or bust for the passing attack.
Verdict: Start Smith. He has been unbelievable this season, especially when you consider he now has four micro-fractures in his back. With that said, temper expectations this week. This is a really tough matchup for a one-man show to deal with.

WR Kamar Aiken
Aiken has put up decent numbers by necessity, but he’s really not overly impressive. He can exploit certain secondaries that are double-teaming Smith. Arizona is not one of them.
Verdict: Sit Aiken. It’s hard to expect much out of anybody in this passing attack. So you definitely shouldn’t be rolling with Aiken.

Arizona Cardinals: Key Players

QB Carson Palmer
No one is giving up more fantasy points to quarterbacks than the Ravens. They allowed the nightmarishly inept Colin Kaepernick to throw for 340 yards, two TDs and no interceptions. To put that in perspective, these Cardinals allowed Kaepernick to throw for 67 yards, no TDs and four interceptions, and two of those interceptions went for touchdowns.
Verdict: Start Palmer. He’s been very good and you should be starting every QB that plays the Ravens. Josh McCown threw for 457 yards in a win at Baltimore.

RB Chris Johnson
Johnson has been a very pleasant surprise this season. He has bounced back in a big way and has emerged as a top dog in a talented young backfield. As bad as the Ravens are against the pass, they are actually very tough against the run.
Verdict: Start Johnson. Much like Forsett, start Johnson but temper expectations.

WR Larry Fitzgerald
Fitz has to be considered a bounce back player candidate at this point. He has been unbelievable and has bounced back in a major way. Fitzgerald has 43 receptions for 583 yards and six TDs on the season.
Verdict: Start Fitzgerald. Along with Palmer comes his weapons. Fitzgerald is the top option this week.

WR John Brown
Brown is a game-time decision but fully expects to play on Monday Night. He’s coming off a 10-catch, 196 yard game. Brown also had over 70 yards in each of his previous two games. Like I said with Fitz, a great matchup makes him a must-start.
Verdict: Start Brown. Make sure he’s active, which he should be. Then start with confidence.

Final Score
Baltimore: 24
Arizona: 28

Best Play
Ravens: Steve Smith
Cardinals: Carson Palmer

Sleeper
Crockett Gillmore