Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s go inside the numbers, shall we?
Let’s start with the number 205, as in the number of targets combined between both Anquan Boldin and Dennis Pitta during the 2012 season. What about 126? That number resembles the amount of passes this duo caught for the Baltimore Ravens last year. Yeah, I know, math stinks, but how about just one more? 214, as in the number of fantasy points between the two.
Okay, now absorb all of those numbers and throw them away. That’s right, get rid of them, because guess what?
They are gone.
The Ravens traded Boldin during the offseason, and unfortunately watched their breakout tight end become sidelined for the season with a hip injury. With that being said, just one question remains. Who the heck is Joe Flacco going to throw the football to? Sure, Torrey Smith is still there, but his career-high in catches is a pedestrian 50. Until I see his game transform into a more versatile, complete receiver, I’m not 100 percent sold that he can fill the void. And of course, running back Ray Rice is consistently awesome and has always been an elite pass-catcher. I think if anyone, Rice’s production will see an uptick. But that can’t be it, right? I mean, if the Ravens want to travel back to the Super Bowl, someone else will have to step up among the receiving corp. So, who is it?
Well, if the preseason was any indication, it may very well be Georgia product Marlon Brown.
Brown impressed during the dress rehearsal contests, grabbing 10 balls for 169 yards and two scores, but more importantly, was very impressive in that all-important third preseason contest. During that game, Brown caught four passes for 59 yards and a scare, all while seeing plenty of work with the Ravens’ first-team, which, from his perspective, means that “the guys upstairs have confidence in me.” From the looks of it, all signs are pointing towards Brown and Flacco beginning to develop some chemistry. With hardly anyone else in town to catch passes, as long as Brown lands on the team’s final 53, he’ll have an opportunity to quietly produce as a fantasy sleeper.
While many people don’t think of Baltimore as a pass-happy football team, they will pass the ball a good amount in 2013, which, in return, helps Brown’s fantasy outlook. Ever since Jim Caldwell was promoted to the team’s offensive coordinator, the team began to air it out more, and more importantly, Flacco played much, much better. Below you will see the stat lines in every game Flacco played under Caldwell last season, including that magical playoff run. Perhaps Caldwell had more to do with it than we thought?
|
Completions |
Attempts |
Yards |
TDs |
| 20 | 40 | 254 | 2 |
| 25 | 36 | 309 | 2 |
| 12 | 23 | 282 | 2 |
| 18 | 34 | 331 | 3 |
| 21 | 36 | 240 | 3 |
| 22 | 33 | 287 | 3 |
Now, I’m not advertising Flacco as a viable starting fantasy quarterback, but if he and Caldwell are on the same page, and continue to throw the ball a high amount, someone will have to catch those passes, right? Brown has already outplayed guys like Tandon Doss and Aaron Mellette on the depth chart, and could very well be in line for a number two job. He possesses more size and complete wide receiver talent than Jacoby Jones, and clearly has more upside than veteran Brandon Stokley. At 6’5″, 205 pounds, Brown could very well serve as Flacco’s red zone target, especially with both Boldin (9 RZ targets) and Pitta (13) out of the picture.
Take this kid with one of your last picks in your draft and find out what Brown can do for you.
Adam Pfeifer is a featured fantasy sports columnist for Rant Sports.
You can follow him on Twitter @aPfeiferRS.
Related:
