Week 4 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Javorius Allen only had 28 yards last week in a terrible game against the Jaguars, but he did carry the ball 8 times and caught 5-of-6 passes thrown his way. In most games, 13 touches will yield more fantasy numbers. Allen remains the most versatile player on the Ravens roster.
This week, Allen faces a Pittsburgh defense that was completely run over by the Bears last week and allowed a combined 12 catches and 73 yards receiving to the running back position. The Ravens should get back on track after a terrible game in London last week, and Allen should be a borderline RB2 option, especially in PPR formats.
Week 3 at Jacksonville Jaguars (game in London)
Javorius Allen led the team in rushing attempts with 14, and he also caught 5-of-6 balls thrown his way against the Browns on Sunday. He ended up with 101 yards from scrimmage and caught a touchdown pass, as the Ravens look to be featuring him in the offense.
This week, Allen faces a Jaguars defense that allowed 6.6 yards per carry to Derrick Henry last Sunday. The Ravens will look to get ahead early and use Allen in all facets of the game again. With Terrance West still a factor on early downs—if he’s healthy—Allen has a little risk associated with him, but he should still be considered a viable RB2, especially in PPR formats.
Week 2 vs. Cleveland Browns
Javorius Allen had 21 carries for 71 yards last week against the Bengals after Danny Woodhead left the game with an injury. He’s a more accomplished receiver than starting running back Terrance West, giving him some upside as a potential PPR replacement for Woodhead. He caught 45 passes as a rookie in 2015.
This week, Allen will face the Browns. Cleveland held the Pittsburgh running game in check in Week 1, allowing only 3.2 yards per carry to Le’Veon Bell. If the game is a blowout, Allen could see double-digit carries again, but the most likely scenario for him is 8-12 touches in change-of-pace and third-down work, making him a low-end flex option in larger PPR leagues.
Fantasy Upside
Javorius Allen showed a lot of potential as a rookie in 2015, with 45 receptions and 867 combined yards from scrimmage. He has very good hands and may benefit from Kenneth Dixon’s season-ending injury. Allen is only 25 and the Ravens haven’t gotten anything consistent out of their running game with Terrance West as the main back.
Fantasy Downside
Allen strangely disappeared last year, touching the ball only 12 times. The addition of Danny Woodhead will likely keep him in a reserve role, as Woodhead should assume primary pass-catching duties out of the backfield.
2017 Bottom Line
Allen has some upside because the 32-year-old Woodhead is coming off an injury. Plus, West has a career rushing average of only 3.9 yards per carry, so there’s room for Allen to rise on the depth chart if he plays well. However, sitting third right now makes it hard to draft him in most leagues. He's a hold in deep dynasty formats but is otherwise nothing more than waiver wire fodder.
Week 6 at New York Giants
Javorius Allen had five touches last week, including one reception, but only ended up with 18 total yards. He’s vying for touches with rookie Kenneth Dixon and starter Terrance West, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk has been more active in the passing game than he has, which isn’t a good sign. His snaps even went down from 27% to 13% from Week 4 to Week 5, making him a risky option in all league formats, regardless of the matchup.
Week 5 vs. Washington
Javorius Allen was activated last week and filled in as the third-down back with three carries and two receptions for a total of 28 yards. Justin Forsett was released this week, opening up more opportunities for Allen in the passing game (which makes him borderline usable in PPR leagues). Still, with rookie Kenneth Dixon lurking and Terrance West emerging as the starting back, Allen is probably too risky to bank on just yet.
Week 1 vs. Buffalo
Javorius Allen finished the season with some solid outings last year, but only found the end zone three times all year. He comes into this season hoping to keep a role in a crowded backfield as a pass-catcher. Allen has soft hands and runs good routes for a young back and is easily the most talented receiver on the Ravens RB depth chart, so he may have some long-term value, particularly in PPR leagues.
The Bills were middle-of-the-road against the run last year, ranking 16th in yards allowed to opposing rushers, but the problem with the Baltimore backfield is trying to guess who gets the lion’s share of the touches. Allen has some deep PPR league upside this week, but it’s probably better to stay away from all the Raven RBs until we know how the carries are going to be divided up.
Update:
Allen is inactive this week. You probably weren't using him anyway, but make sure you have him out of your lineup.
Fantasy Upside
Javorius Allen, nicknamed “Buck,” took over as the primary ball carrier last year after starter Justin Forsett broke his arm in Week 11. During the six games where he was the main back, he showed exactly the kind of versatility the Ravens were expecting from him, catching 32 passes that span, including a 12-catch, 107-yard performance against Miami in Week 13.
Fantasy Downside
Allen was uneven running the ball and he was benched twice for fumbling against Seattle and Kansas City. He averaged just 3.8 yards per carry on the season and he only scored one touchdown on the ground, despite leading the team with 20 carries inside the red zone. Allen will also have to fight even harder to earn his job this year, with Forsett coming back as the presumed starter, Terrance West fighting in camp, and rookie Kenneth Dixon out of Louisiana Tech joining the mix.
2016 Bottom Line
Allen is a nice boom-bust pick in most leagues, with some extra value in PPR formats due to his natural receiving skills. Even if Forsett or Dixon ends up getting the bulk of the carries, Allen may be an active part of the passing game. He’s going very late in most drafts and offers a lot more potential than several of the other backs around his 18th-20th round ADP, which makes him a nice buy-low option as an end-of-the-bench running back with upside. He’s one of the few late round picks with a real shot at getting a full workload at some point this season.
Update:
With Forsett now off the roster, Allen is the most accomplished receiving back on the roster. He should still be a later round option, but he has a little more upside now, especially in PPR leagues.
Week 17 vs. Cincinnati
Javorius Allen bounced back last week after getting benched for fumbling in Week 15. The Ravens beat the Steelers 20-17, largely due to Allen’s 79 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and his 35 yards on five receptions he added in the passing game. When he holds onto the football, Allen is making a case for the job next year, as his versatility fits the Ravens’ offensive scheme.
This week, Allen faces a top ten run defense. The Bengals are tied for sixth in rushing touchdowns allowed this year with only eight, and will be a formidable opponent for the Raven offense. Still, Allen should get a full workload and should continue to benefit as a dump-off option on passing downs. With enough touches, he should be able to put up quality RB2 numbers in most leagues.
Week 16 vs. Pittsburgh
Javorius Allen fumbled early in the game against the Chiefs last week and was benched as a result. He wound up with only four carries and 18 yards on the day and single-handedly crushed many fantasy football seasons. He remains arguably the Ravens most talented runner however and is unlikely to ride the pine for more than the one game immediate punishment.
Against the Steelers this week, expect the Ravens to get the ball back in the hands of their rookie playmaker. Pittsburgh has been good against the run this season, but always struggles to defense running backs out of the backfield and Allen should rebound from a poor performance as a result. He should be considered a low-end RB2 in most leagues.
