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At long last, the NFL postseason is set to kick off on Saturday. Below you can read our matchups analysis article for the Steelers vs. Ravens game to help make any fantasy lineup decisions for whatever contest, league, or tournament you are participating in.
The Ravens are playing their best football of the season, while the Steelers have lost four consecutive games and have limped into the playoffs. However, anything can happen when longtime division rivals square off for a third time, so this AFC North clash could be more competitive than expected.
Read our fantasy football breakdowns for this game -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Wild Card Weekend. Below, you'll see the fantasy football outlooks for key players like George Pickens, Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Mark Andrews, and Rashod Bateman.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for the 2025 playoffs:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens
Spread: Ravens -10
Matchups We Love
TE Mark Andrews
Mark Andrews has been unstoppable for the Ravens, catching 11 touchdown passes over the past 12 games. Andrews has also scored in double figures in PPR formats in six straight contests.
So, he'll be a solid tight end option this week against a Steelers defense that has struggled to stop tight ends recently. Pittsburgh has allowed five different tight ends to score in double figures in PPR formats over the past five weeks.
Lamar to Andrews for his 40th passing TD! @Ravens add to their lead.
📺: #CLEvsBAL on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/fPzHZ3Q9rk— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2025
Matchups We Hate
Matchups We Hate:
Russell Wilson has not been a strong quarterback option in recent weeks. The veteran has averaged 15 fantasy points over the past eight games while failing to throw for over 220 yards in five straight weeks. Now, he goes up against a Ravens defense that allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks over the past month. So, Wilson will be a riskier play.
Although the Ravens beat the Steelers the last time these two teams played in Week 16, Pittsburgh has had Lamar Jackson's number in most of these divisional matchups. Jackson has scored under 19 fantasy points in five of his last six meetings against this defense. So, this is a tougher matchup for the two-time MVP. The Steelers have also allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.
Steelers RBs
It's likely best to stay away from both Steelers running backs (Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren) in this game.
Najee Harris gets the @Steelers on the board!
📺: #CINvsPIT on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/FxUtb5EQyg— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
The Ravens have given up the seventh-fewest fantasy points to the position, and opposing running backs are averaging only 3.45 yards per carry against this defense this season. Warren is likely the better play of two -- given his usage in the passing game, -- but it's hard to trust these running backs in fantasy this week.
Other Matchups
On paper, this might seem like a tough matchup for Derrick Henry. The Steelers have given up the 10th-fewest fantasy points to the position this year, and opposing backs are averaging 4.1 yards per carry on the ground. But Henry will be a solid play against this front seven on Wild Card Weekend. The veteran rushed for 162 yards the last time he faced this defense back in Week 16.
Rashod Bateman has had some solid fantasy performances this season, which included 18.6 PPR fantasy points last week against the Browns. So, the Ravens playmaker does have some potential this week. Although Bateman has scored under 8.5 PPR fantasy points in both of his games against the Steelers this year, he could be a go-to option for Lamar Jackson with Zay Flowers (knee) set to miss the contest.
LAMAR DEEP TO BATEMAN. 49-YARD TOUCHDOWN.
📺: #BALvsTB on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/NvMIEOug86— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2024
Since returning from injury in Week 17, George Pickens has not put up solid fantasy numbers. He has scored eight PPR fantasy points and one PPR fantasy point in his last two games. Now, he goes up against a Ravens secondary that has been much better. Baltimore allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing wideouts over the past month. So, Pickens might be hard to rely on this weekend.
Although Calvin Austin III scored negative fantasy points last week, the 25-year-old wideout can be a potential option against the Ravens. Austin has played above 65% of the team's offensive snaps in four straight games and has totaled at least four catches in three of the past four weeks. So, he's a potential dart throw in DFS contests in the first round of the playoffs.
Pat Freiermuth will be a solid tight end option this week against the Ravens. Freiermuth has caught at least seven passes in back-to-back games and has also scored in double figures in PPR formats in five of the past six weeks.
Even though he scored under 4.7 PPR fantasy points in both of his games against Baltimore this season, his 19 targets across the last two games are an encouraging sign heading into Wild Card Weekend.
Notable Fantasy-Relevant Injuries
- Zay Flowers (knee) - OUT
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