Lamar Jackson ($7,500) suffered a hamstring injury in the Ravens’ 37-20 loss to the Chiefs this past Sunday and many speculated that he didn’t return to the game based on the lopsided score. However, Baltimore HC John Harbaugh told the media afterwards “there was no way he was going to go back in the game” when asked about Jackson and now on Tuesday, the Baltimore Sun’s Brian Wacker is reporting Jackson is unlikely to play this Sunday vs. the Texans and he could miss 2-3 weeks.
Jackson is a two-time MVP and he has continued to be an elite passer this season, leading the NFL in YPA (9.1) and throwing 10 touchdowns to just one pick. Jackson being sidelined is a massive blow to the Ravens’ offense that can’t be understated and with him missing, Cooper Rush ($4,300) is in line to start at quarterback, which is bad news for Baltimore.
Rush replaced Jackson last Sunday vs. Kansas City and in his 16 snaps, Rush only threw for 52 yards and he averaged a low 4.0 YPA while throwing no touchdowns or picks. Rush made eight starts for the Cowboys last season and the team went 4-4 in those games. For the season, the veteran completed just 60.7% of his passes, he averaged 6.0 YPA and he threw 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Rush has attempted 13 passes this season and Zay Flowers ($6,700) has been his main target on those attempts, with a huge 38% target share. Meanwhile, Mark Andrews ($4,300) has seen a low 15% target share with Rush on the field.
While a limited sample, Flowers’ massive target share with Rush under center is encouraging. The veteran is obviously a huge downgrade from Jackson as a passer and Flowers’ upside is lower than usual with Rush starting, but Flowers remains a player you should be starting in your fantasy leagues. Andrews on the other hand is a player who should be on your bench, as his target share is lower with Rush than Jackson and Isaiah Likely ($3,300) just returned last week, which resulted in Andrews running a route on a season-low 58% of his team’s dropbacks, while Likely ran a route on 50% of his team’s dropbacks in his season debut.
Flowers is facing a stout Texans defense this Sunday that is giving up the fifth-fewest yards per pass this season (5.4), but the wideout could still provide a strong fantasy day if the elite volume continues from Rush.
With Jackson expected to be out, the Ravens are a 2.5-point home underdog vs. Houston on DraftKings Sportsbook.
