Fantasy Football Previews - Week 2 - Baltimore Ravens @ Philadelphia Eagles

WEEK 2 FANTASY FOOTBALL MATCHUPS
ARI @ NWE | BAL @ PHI | CHI @ GNB | CLE @ CIN | DAL @ SEA | DEN @ ATL | DET @ SFO | HOU @ JAC | KAN @ BUF | MIN @ IND | NOR @ CAR | NYJ @ PIT | OAK @ MIA | TAM @ NYG | TEN @ SDG | WAS @ STL

Baltimore Ravens @ Philadelphia Eagles Fantasy Football Game Preview Buy Ravens vs. Eagles tickets here

Ravens

Though Philly will be better versus the run this year than they were in 2011, click "Start" on Ray Rice and leave him alone.

He'll probably have a giant workload because of Philly's formidable secondary and likely constant pressure on Joe Flacco. Don't expect him to go wacko again. This isn't the Bengals' defensive backfield, Torrey Smith owners. Anquan Boldin carriers should be more confident in their receiver because he'll probably match up with the much smaller slot corner Brandon Boykin, while Smith will probably draw Nnamdi Asomugha most of the time.

Since he'll also see the nickel and dime components of Philly's defensive backs, Dennis Pitta presents a sneaky flex opportunity - Ed Dickson, also, to a lesser extent.

Eagles

Few backs deserve the blind respect LeSean McCoy receives. The Ravens' defense remains skilled but moves somewhat slower than they did in their heyday. The dynamic McCoy won't be the top back this week, but don't get cute with his lineup spot.

Michael Vick, on the other hand, warrants less confidence. This pass rush isn't at its peak but still gives slingers trouble. He'll struggle to stay upright for most of the day. This looks like a sound week to sit Vick.

Also working against Vick is the uncertainty surrounding his receivers. Jeremy Maclin (hip) and DeSean Jackson (hamstring) loom large on the injury report and wouldn't be solid plays even if they suited up. Damaris Johnson, Jason Avant and others would have to step up, but you can surely find better options than these stand-ins.

Brent Celek, on the other hand, would be a stronger lineup placement if one or both main snares miss out.

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Ravens fantasy football rankings Pos Rk Fan Value Player 17 1 or bench  Joe Flacco 8 1  Ray Rice 53 Bench  Anthony Allen 73 Bench  Bernard Pierce 74 Bench  Vonta Leach 12 1 or 2  Anquan Boldin 31 2  Torrey Smith 72 Bench  Jacoby Jones 113 Bench  Tandon Doss 23 1 or bench  Dennis Pitta 28 1 or bench  Ed Dickson

Eagles fantasy football rankings Pos Rk Fan Value Player 16 1 or bench  Michael Vick 5 1  LeSean McCoy 71 Bench  Bryce Brown 28 GTD  Jeremy Maclin 29 GTD  DeSean Jackson 38 3  Jason Avant 103 Bench  Damaris Johnson 12 1  Brent Celek 33 Bench  Clay Harbor

Access all of this week's fantasy football player rankings and cheat sheets.

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Ravens latest news and notes Ravens | Arthur Brown signed The Baltimore Ravens have signed second-round draft choice LB Arthur Brown. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Ravens | Two ERFAs sign tenders Baltimore Ravens exclusive rights free-agent LB Adrian Hamilton and SS Anthony Levine have signed their tender offers. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed. Ravens | Arthur Brown projected to be starter Baltimore Ravens LB Arthur Brown (hernia), who is expected to be ready for training camp in July, is projected to be one of the team's two starting inside linebackers this year. Brown's surgery to fix a sports hernia shouldn't change that. Ravens | Jah Reid takes part in workout Baltimore Ravens OG Jah Reid (toe) fully participated in organized team activities Wednesday, May 22. Reid finished the 2012 season on Injured Reserve because of a toe injury. Ravens | Pernell McPhee practicing Baltimore Ravens DE Pernell McPhee (groin) fully participated in organized team activities Wednesday, May 22. McPhee underwent groin surgery this offseason. Want more? Access our Baltimore Ravens news, injuries and rumors....

Eagles latest news and notes Eagles | DeSean Jackson could excel in new offense Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly confirmed that he prefers larger and taller players at most positions on his team, but he's in favor of protecting his smaller players like WR DeSean Jackson. Jackson touched the ball progressively less in each of his five NFL seasons in part because the team worried about keeping him healthy. Jackson only played in five games last year because of fractured ribs and only scored one touchdown. He hopes he can go back to being extremely productive in the team's new offense with larger players creating mismatches for their opponents. "I'm challenging myself to be able to play every position," said Jackson, who's been hinting all offseason that he could be lining up in the backfield as well. "There might be a play or a different position where I normally would not line up or be in, but the leeway of the offense gives us the opportunity to go inside and outside and things like that, so I'm taking advantage of the opportunity to learn the whole offense and be in different spaces throughout the game." Twelve of the team's receivers on the roster are 6-foot-1 or taller, including WRs Arrelious Benn (6-foot-6), Greg Salas (6-foot-1) and Riley Cooper (6-foot-3). Kelly hopes to make opponents pay if they decide to double team Jackson or jam him at the line of scrimmage. Having bigger receivers outside to block should also help the running game. WR Russell Shepard, an undrafted rookie, will have the same opportunity as Benn to prove himself. "I was on the front line on kickoffs, I played running back, I played quarterback, I played receiver," Shepard said. "So (the versatility) is giving me more of an opportunity of making this 53-man roster." Eagles | DC says two doing well at move to OLB Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis said DEs Trent Cole and Brandon Graham have done well in their transitions to outside linebacker. Cole and Graham have also received reps at defensive end during organized team activities. Eagles | James Casey to be used in multiple spots Philadelphia Eagles FB James Casey, who was used primarily as a fullback for the Houston Texans, is expected to be used all over the place in head coach Chip Kelly's "Joker" offense. Casey had 34 catches last year, but he caught 111 passes in his final season at Rice. Eagles | Zach Ertz not participating in OTAs Philadelphia Eagles TE Zach Ertz, the team's second-round draft pick, is unable to participate in organized team activities because of NFL rules until he graduates from college at Stanford. Eagles | James Casey has surgery Philadelphia Eagles FB James Casey (knee) underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Thursday, May 23, and he's expecting to be back at practice in two weeks. The team expects Casey to be ready for training camp. Want more? Access our Philadelphia Eagles news, injuries and rumors....

Ravens - Week 2 injury report PROBABLE   C Matt Birk (thigh), FS Ed Reed (thigh) QUESTIONABLE   DL Pernell McPhee (knee), LB Paul Kruger (back) OUT   OT Jah Reid (leg) PUP   LB Terrell Suggs (knee) INJURED RESERVE   DL Ryan McBean (ankle), WR Tommy Streeter (foot), OG Justin Boren (foot), SS Emanuel Cook (leg), LB Ricky Brown (head), TE Matt Balasavage (ankle), RB Damien Berry (neck/shoulder), TE Bruce Figgins (shoulder), LB Darryl Blackstock (leg)

Eagles - Week 2 injury report PROBABLE   FS Colt Anderson (knee), WR Jason Avant (wrist), SS Kurt Coleman (face) QUESTIONABLE   WR Jeremy Maclin (hip), WR DeSean Jackson (hamstring), CB Curtis Marsh (hamstring) OUT   WR Riley Cooper (collarbone) INJURED RESERVE   WR Ronald Johnson (ankle)

Ravens fantasy football leaders and statistics Player Name Pos Fan Pts PaYd PaTD Run RuYd RuTD Rec ReYd ReTD Flacco, Joe QB 373.00 4957 33 40 38 3 0 0 0 Rice, Ray RB 255.00 0 0 341 1449 11 69 566 1 Boldin, Anquan WR 172.00 0 0 1 3 0 87 1301 8 Smith, Torrey WR 160.00 0 0 4 9 0 60 1088 10 Pitta, Dennis TE 135.00 0 0 0 0 0 75 832 10 Pierce, Bernard RB 74.00 0 0 147 734 1 8 55 0 Jones, Jacoby WR 65.00 0 0 1 6 0 35 553 3 Dickson, Ed TE 24.00 0 0 0 0 0 27 315 0 Taylor, Tyrod QB 18.00 179 0 14 73 1 0 0 0 Doss, Tandon WR 14.00 0 0 0 0 0 7 123 1 Access more fantasy football and NFL statistics in our Statistics Analyzer...

Eagles fantasy football leaders and statistics Player Name Pos Fan Pts PaYd PaTD Run RuYd RuTD Rec ReYd ReTD Vick, Michael QB 175.00 2362 12 62 332 1 0 0 0 McCoy, LeSean RB 141.00 0 0 200 840 2 54 373 3 Maclin, Jeremy WR 121.00 0 0 0 0 0 69 857 7 Foles, Nick QB 105.00 1699 6 11 42 1 0 0 0 Jackson, DeSean WR 76.00 0 0 3 -7 0 45 700 2 Brown, Bryce RB 74.00 0 0 115 564 4 13 56 0 Celek, Brent TE 67.00 0 0 0 0 0 57 684 1 Avant, Jason WR 59.00 0 0 0 0 0 53 648 0 Cooper, Riley WR 39.00 0 0 0 0 0 23 248 3 Harbor, Clay TE 26.00 0 0 0 0 0 24 178 2 Access more fantasy football and NFL statistics in our Statistics Analyzer...

Ravens depth chart QB RB FB WR (Left) WR (Right) TE PK Joe Flacco Ray Rice Vonta Leach Torrey Smith Jacoby Jones Dennis Pitta Justin Tucker Tyrod Taylor Bernard Pierce Kyle Juszczyk David Reed Tandon Doss Ed Dickson Caleb Hanie Bobby Rainey Tommy Streeter Deonte Thompson Alex Silvestro Dayne Crist Anthony Allen Aaron Mellette LaQuan Williams Matt Furstenburg

Eagles depth chart QB RB FB WR (Left) WR (Right) TE PK Michael Vick LeSean McCoy James Casey Jeremy Maclin DeSean Jackson Brent Celek Alex Henery Nick Foles Bryce Brown Emil Igwenagu Arrelious Benn Jason Avant Zach Ertz Matt Barkley Felix Jones Riley Cooper Greg Salas Clay Harbor Dennis Dixon Chris Polk Damaris Johnson B.J. Cunningham Derek Carrier

Which team will win? Which player(s) will shine or bust for fantasy football teams?

WEEK 2 FANTASY FOOTBALL MATCHUPS
ARI @ NWE | BAL @ PHI | CHI @ GNB | CLE @ CIN | DAL @ SEA | DEN @ ATL | DET @ SFO | HOU @ JAC | KAN @ BUF | MIN @ IND | NOR @ CAR | NYJ @ PIT | OAK @ MIA | TAM @ NYG | TEN @ SDG | WAS @ STL