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A meteoric draft season “riser,” former five-star recruit and 2023 national champion McCarthy (6’3/219) was infamously treated like a game manager by the Wolverines. When he got the opportunity to actually showcase his skills, however, he played efficient, mistake-free football. That includes under pressure, where McCarthy was both extremely accurate as well as aggressive, rocking Pro Football Focus’ “big time throw rate” metric. Although his passing motion contains a slight hitch, McCarthy throws a clean, straight ball. He does not loft his passes, but rather cuts them through the air. That being said, he will never be accused of having elite arm strength. It is simply adequate. That is the case for most of McCarthy’s game, but the Vikings are obviously hoping he will be the ultimate “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” quarterback prospect. That includes as an athlete, where McCarthy tested well but was never a true dual-threat at Michigan. The floor is high. The ceiling is totally unknown. McCarthy has an elite pass-catching group in Minnesota, highlighted by the dominant Justin Jefferson, speedster Jordan Addison, and the ever-reliable T.J. Hockenson. In a pass-first Vikings offense, McCarthy could have immediate fantasy relevance if he takes the Week 1 starting job from veteran Sam Darnold.

Bateman made his only reception count by finding the end zone from 14 yards out in the second quarter. The touchdown gave Lamar Jackson 36 on the season, tying both a career high and franchise record. The veteran signal caller would then break through both for his 37th touchdown pass of the season on a pass to tight end Mark Andrews in the third quarter. Bateman came into the contest listed as questionable with a foot injury sustained in practice on Wednesday, potentially influencing his snap rate and route participation rate in the win.

Likely go the scoring started for the Ravens on a leak to the flat in the first quarter but managed just two more targets the rest of the way in a game quarterback Lamar Jackson attempted only 23 passes. The touchdown was his second in three games after going six weeks in the middle of the season without one. Charlie Kolar’s absence has led to increased opportunities for the talented tight end, although it has yet to lead to consistent production.

Andrews was on the receiving end of Lamar Jackson’s 37th touchdown pass of the season, setting a franchise record while also setting a new career high for the veteran signal caller. Andrews is now up to nine touchdowns after finding paint for the fourth consecutive game. The team now looks forward to the Texans in Week 17 after forcing a tie atop the AFC North with the Steelers with the win.

The highlight of Flowers’ night came on a 49-yard deep bomb in the fourth quarter with the team holding a decisive 31-17 lead. The Ravens would then run down the clock to three minutes remaining before kicking a field goal to go up 34-17. Flowers remained extremely busy in the offense while serving as the primary motion man, a role that brings weekly upside while catching passes from one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league in Lamar Jackson.

Henry erupted for 74 yards in the first half, which was more than he had all game the last time these two teams met. Positive game script allowed the Ravens to ride the King for the final two frames, eventually allowing him to amass 189 combined yards. The only relative blemish on his box score was an inability to score as quarterback Lamar Jackson set a franchise record and career high with his 35th, 36th, and 37th touchdown pass of the season. Henry and the Ravens get a beleaguered Texans team in Week 17 as they chase another AFC North title down the stretch.

Jackson set a franchise record with his 37th touchdown pass of the season, also marking a career-high. For context, Jackson won an MVP award with 36 touchdown passes earlier in his career. He did throw only his fourth interception of the season, but it was an otherwise sparkling effort from the perennial MVP contender. Jackson got the scoring started for the Ravens with a first quarter touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely before adding touchdown passes to Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman. Positive game script and an early fourth quarter pick-six from the Ravens defense capped the volume for Jackson, but he still returned a usable fantasy score and now stands as one of the most consistent fantasy producers at the quarterback position this season. The Ravens forced a tie atop the AFC North with the win and now turn their attention to a Texans team that just lost wide receiver Tank Dell to a devastating knee injury.

Patterson was used sparingly in a negative game environment, scoring from 12 yards out on a fade in the third quarter. Jaylen Warren saw the highest snap rate and opportunity share for the Steelers, which makes sense considering the flow of the game. Patterson remains unlikely to return usable fantasy scores at this stage of his career.

Williams saw modest playing time even without alpha George Pickens and with Ben Skowronek departing early with injury, making it likely we fail to see useful fantasy scores emerge from the veteran receiver the rest of the 2024 season. Pickens appears likely to return to the active roster for a Week 17 showdown with the 14-1 Chiefs, adding to those expectations.

Jefferson managed just two first half catches in a game played without alpha wide receiver George Pickens. Ben Skowronek also left early with an injury, leaving Jefferson, Calvin Austin, and Mike Williams to serve as the top pass-catchers against the pass-funnel nature of the Baltimore defense. It appears likely that Pickens returns to the active roster with a long week before Week 17, which could open up the offense against another tough opponent in the Chiefs.

A 44-yard acrobatic grab down the right sideline in the second half propelled Austin to a team-leading 65 yards through the air, leading the team in receiving for the second consecutive game in the absence of George Pickens. The Steelers have dropped two straight games to fall into a tie atop the division with the Ravens. With only two games remaining in the regular season, next week’s matchup against the 14-1 Chiefs could prove pivotal in the final standings in the AFC North.