The closing game of the Week 15 Sunday slate features a clash between two AFC powerhouses. Below you can read our Sunday Night Football matchups analysis article for the Ravens vs. Jaguars game to help make any fantasy lineup decisions for both season-long and DFS.
The Ravens have quietly been cruising through the competition this season, compiling an impressive 10-3, while the Jags have battled some significant injuries as of late and head into this matchup with Baltimore the losers of two straight. This showdown should be one of the best primetime games of the year.
Read our fantasy football breakdowns for these games -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Week 15 matchups. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- 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
Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars
Spread: Ravens -3.5
Implied Total: Ravens (23) vs. Jaguars (19.5)
Pace: Ravens (26th) vs. Jaguars (17th)
Ravens Off. DVOA: 24.4% Pass (9th), 23.9% Rush (1st)
Jaguars Off. DVOA: 23.4% Pass (12th), -14.1% Rush (24th)
Ravens Def. DVOA: -22.4% Pass (2nd), -15.0% Rush (9th)
Jaguars Def. DVOA: 2.0% Pass (10th), -18.0% Rush (2nd)
WEATHER: This game is expected to have moderate wind tailing off at kickoff. The wind could be a factor on passing and kicking games, as there's expected to be a West wind at 14-23 mph with gusts of up to 35 mph.
Matchups We Love
Lamar Jackson (QB, BAL)
The hope for Jackson was that the Rams could force him to be aggressive and score points last week. While I was hesitant to believe it could happen, it came to fruition in full force. He had his second-best game of the year from a fantasy perspective, torching the Rams through the air for 316 and three while running all over them with his legs for 70 yards. It's possible the Jaguars can hang in there long enough to make things interesting, especially if Trevor Lawrence is healthy.
The Lamar Jackson Cam on these 2 game-winning throws are sweet pic.twitter.com/YLdX9WOxqO
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) December 12, 2023
Ravens WRs
Odell Beckham Jr. has been a deep-shot machine, hauling in four passes for 97 yards and a touchdown last week. He has a yards-per-route run of 2.13, which ranks 18th among qualified receivers. Zay Flowers was dropping everything in the first half but finished strong with six catches for 60 yards and a score, plus a two-point conversion. It's a great matchup, putting both in play with Flowers in the top 24 and Beckham Jr. in the top 30.
Isaiah Likely (TE, BAL)
Likely took advantage of broken coverage on a 54-yard catch-and-run house call. He's one of only a handful of tight ends that has that ability, which is why he's an upside streamer.
Hope you stuck with Isaiah Likely 👀 pic.twitter.com/SImGoaQBIA
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) December 10, 2023
Keaton Mitchell (RB, BAL)
Mitchell managed to break off one chunk play for 27 yards but was otherwise inefficient in the Week 14 win over the Rams. He saw the most touches with 10 but fell behind Justice Hill in snaps mostly because of the game script. They still value Hill's pass-blocking ability, which poses a threat to the passing down snaps for Mitchell. Nevertheless, he's the most talented and can produce a spike week. Jacksonville has softened on defense against the run, so he's around the top 24 with a higher ceiling.
Evan Engram (TE, JAX)
After weeks of mediocrity with no touchdowns, Engram has three in the past two games. It's clear he benefits the most from Christian Kirk's absence and has the talent to deliver. Hauling in 11 passes for 95 yards and two scores makes you a borderline must-start at tight end.
Matchups We Hate
Jaguars WRs
Calvin Ridley struggled again taking on the Cleveland secondary despite earning 13 targets. He finished with four receptions for 53 yards. Zay Jones was even worse with five for 29 on his 12 targets. Much of it can be attributed to the limited mobility of Lawrence, who was questionable to play with an ankle injury, but they're also just inconsistent players. It's hard to imagine another 50 passing attempts, so they're both volatile top-36 wideouts with Jones as the favorite for volume and Ridley with the higher ceiling. Parker Washington caught a touchdown and took over the slot role from Kirk, making him a deeper flex option.
Trevor Lawrence (QB, JAX)
Lawrence threw three picks and took four sacks. The Browns have the second-highest pass-rush grade, according to PFF, which was part of the issue given his inability to move in the pocket. The Ravens rank 10th in that category, so pressure could be a problem for him with injuries to their offensive line. He managed to lead them on two scoring drives late in comeback mode to inflate his final numbers with three touchdowns. He's practiced in full, but at less than one hundred percent, he falls outside the top 12.
Ravens HC John Harbaugh keeps it simple when it comes to describing Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence:
I think he’s really good… the guy is one of the best quarterbacks in football. #RavensFlock
— Melissa Y. Kim (@melissaykim) December 13, 2023
Other Matchups
Travis Etienne Jr. (RB, JAX)
Etienne Jr. goes from one difficult matchup to another. The Ravens rank highly in most defensive statistics, but the one that's most concerning for Etienne is that they're No. 1 in rushing touchdowns allowed with just four in 2023. He's thrived on finding the end zone with 10 total scores on the year. He has been more involved as a pass-catcher recently with four receptions each of the past three weeks, so he's still in the top 20.
Notable Injuries
None
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
More Fantasy Football Analysis