Buffalo Bills

Bills at Ravens: 5 best fantasy options

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Justin Forsett and Sammy Watkins headline the best fantasy options for the Baltimore Ravens’ Week 1 matchup with the Buffalo Bills.

The Ravens will host the Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET, hoping to exploit a defense that was weak in 2015. Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan has been dealt some bad luck in his bid to bolster the unit. His top two rookies, rush end Shaq Lawson and inside linebacker Reggie Ragland, are both on the shelf.

The lack of change to last season’s 19th-ranked defense is good news for the Ravens. Baltimore is welcoming quarterback Joe Flacco back under center, following an injury hit 2015 NFL season. He’s got the weapons to light up the scoreboard against this suspect Buffalo D’.

5. Robert Woods, WR, Bills

When you spend your time in Watkins’ shadow, you’re bound to be lacking in the league-wide respect department. But don’t let Robert Woods’ second-fiddle numbers fool you.

Buffalo’s No. 10 is a highly polished possession receiver. Specifically, he’s as slick and intelligent a route runner as they come.

Those skills should worry a Baltimore secondary looking flimsy at cornerback. Jimmy Smith is a solid starter, but questions have to be asked about Shareece Wright. It’s tough to see Wright having many answers when he’s lined up over Woods.

The latter’s main challenge is staying healthy. He started only nine games a year ago, but still averaged 11.7 yards per catch from 47 receptions.

Like most defensive coordinators, Dean Pees will likely focus most of his coverage on Watkins. It will leave Woods with several one-on-one matchups, opportunities he can seize.

Nov 22, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Crockett Gillmore (80) runs after the catch during the fourth quarter against the St. Louis Rams at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore Ravens defeated St. Louis Rams 16-13. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

4. Crockett Gillmore, TE, Ravens

Crockett Gillmore is a solid player, but he wouldn’t even be in the running for this list if it weren’t for Baltimore’s injury woes at tight end. Ben Watson is already out for the season. It’s a terrible waste of one of the best free-agency signings of the offseason.

Meanwhile, Dennis Pitta remains a doubt to be healthy enough to start. He hasn’t played in two years thanks to hip surgery. Pitta also broke his finger this offseason after scrapping with rookie pass-rusher Kamalei Correa during training camp.

So even with second-year pro Maxx Williams ready to pick up the slack, the onus will fall on the more experienced Gillmore. The 24-year-old is more of an H-Back despite his 260-pound frame.

Gillmore runs routes in a way reminiscent of ex-Tennessee Titans ace Frank Wycheck. He’s one of those sneaky route runners who has a natural feel for holes in the zone.

Those traits should make Gillmore very useful in coordinator Marc Trestman’s version of the west coast offense. He caught 33 balls in 10 games last season, but Gillmore is a good bet to boost that tally in 2016.

The improvement should begin against a Bills D’ short on speed in the intermediate zones. Gillmore can shake free of Preston and Zach Brown or Brandon Spikes at the linebacker level.

Jul 31, 2016; Owings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) walks to the next drill during the morning session of training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

3. Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens

Flacco’s first game back after missing six weeks in 2015 should see No. 5 post some appealing numbers. He’ll be playing in an offense that can mollify some of his gung-ho tendencies and help him protect the ball.

Trestman’s schemes will also allow Flacco to share the passes among a platoon of receivers. Pass-catchers such as Forsett, Gillmore and Kamar Aiken should find yards aplenty against a Bills defense that still has holes everywhere.

There’s one more reason to back Flacco for fantasy points in Week 1. He shouldn’t feel too much heat against a unit short on pass-rushers.

Lawson’s injury hurts because it’s a stark reminder of how Buffalo lacks the arsenal to consistently threaten the pocket. Sure, Jerry Hughes can still come off the edge, while Kyle Williams can still push the interior.

Yet, it says a lot about the Bills front seven that Lorenzo Alexander is set to start at outside linebacker. The veteran is a gutsy baller, but his real expertise is on special teams. Alexander also has just nine career sacks.

Buffalo won’t be able to feel Flacco’s collar too often by conventional means. Ryan won’t mind getting creative to turn up the heat, but there’s only so much scheme can do to compensate for personnel deficiencies.

Baltimore’s savvy O-line should be able to keep Flacco clean, despite a rookie, Ronnie Stanley, at left tackle. Flacco should help himself to around 275-300 yards and a pair of touchdown passes.

Nov 29, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

2. Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills

It’s no slight on Smith, but even the game’s elite cornerbacks struggle to cover Watkins. He’s got the speed, both of the short-area and vertical variety, as well as the agility and sure hands to turn any catch into a big play.

Such a diverse set of skills make Watkins a can’t-miss fantasy option for the season’s opening week. That argument is strengthened by the knowledge the Ravens “allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers (25.33 PPG) last season,” according to Michael Fabiano of the league’s official site.

But isn’t just tremendous physical gifts that make Watkins an enticing choice. It’s also about how creatively the Bills use Watkins’ natural talent.

Offensive coordinator Greg Roman has become very adept at creating favorable matchups for his premier playmaker. He moves Watkins around so defenses find it hard to track and adjust to him.

Considering Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor also has Woods and Charles Clay to target, it’s still possible for Watkins to get lost in the shuffle. The defense that doesn’t keep a constant eye on No. 14 soon rues its negligence.

To make matters worse for Smith, Watkins now believes he’s close to full speed after foot surgery. It means the Ravens top cover man should lose some sleep as he prepares for one of the league’s most dynamic, roving receivers.

Oct 11, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett (29) runs down the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. Cleveland Browns defeated Baltimore Ravens 33-30 in over time. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

1. Justin Forsett, RB, Ravens

Terrance West may have rocked preseason, but the Ravens will turn to the safety of experience once the games count. It’s why 30-year-old Forsett is so confident he’ll start Week 1, despite being temporarily released by the team less than two weeks ago.

It makes sense to start Forsett, one of the league’s most instinctive zone runners. He can rip it up against a Bills defense sure to miss suspended D-tackle Marcell Dareus.

The Bills won’t be able to clog and shoot gaps without Dareus’ brawn and quickness collapsing the middle. So Forsett should find plenty of lanes for the type of cutback runs that took him to 1,266 rushing yards in 2014.

More than running though, Forsett’s chops as a receiver can really hurt the Bills. Their lack of sideline-to-sideline speed at linebacker is a recipe for disaster against a back with Forsett’s soft hands and keen understanding of pass routes.

Trestman knows how to use those qualities. His main strength as a play-caller is consistently utilizing prolific receivers out of the backfield.

Charlie Garner caught 91 passes for the Oakland Raiders in 2002 with Trestman calling the offense. More recently, Matt Forte set the NFL record for receptions by a running back, when he reeled in 102 catches on Trestman’s watch in 2014.

Forsett only caught 31 balls during 10 games in 2015, but that number is sure to skyrocket this season. It will start with this matchup against the Bills.