Week 9 vs. New England Patriots
Mark Andrews caught only two passes for 39 yards against the Seahawks before the bye last week, but he was targeted eight times and leads the team with 36 receptions and 55 targets on the season. Andrews has been hampered by nagging injuries throughout the season, but he seems to be healthy after a week off and will be ready to go against a tough Patriots team this week.
New England ranks seventh in aFPA to opposing tight ends this season, which is actually lower than they rank against any other position. The Patriots defense has been exceptional this year, albeit against considerably inferior competition. Andrews will be a tough task for the Patriots and he should be active despite the tough matchup. Fantasy owners should adjust expectations against such a good defense, but expect Andrews to be heavily featured again, making him a quality starter in all leagues.
Week 7 at Seattle Seahawks
Mark Andrews played well last week against the Bengals, catching six of the eight balls thrown his way for 99 yards. Although he did fumble for the second time this season, Andrews continued to expose soft spots in the defense as he’s done all year, and he’s developed a great rapport with Lamar Jackson. Andrews leads all Ravens with 34 catches and 410 receiving yards.
This week, Andrews faces a Seahawks defense that has actually been very vulnerable to the tight end position this season. Only the Cardinals rank lower in aFPA to opposing tight ends and Seattle allowed a touchdown to Ricky Seals-Jones last week. Andrews has been consistently productive and is a must-start this week in an excellent matchup.
Week 6 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Mark Andrews has quieted down the past three weeks after a dynamite first two games against the lowly Dolphins and Cardinals, but he’s still been targeted a minimum seven times per contest and has really only had one terrible game – three catches, 15 yards against the Chiefs – this season. Andrews caught five balls for 45 yards last week against the Steelers, and while he’s been hampered by a foot injury, he seems to be playing through it.
This week, Andrews faces a Bengals defense that is slightly above average against the tight end, ranking 12th in aFPA to the position. Andrews should continue to be targeted heavily, however, and his function in the offense – he leads the team in receptions – makes him a quality fantasy option regardless of matchup. We have him as a top-five option this week, and as long as his foot doesn’t become a bigger issue he should be active in all leagues.
Week 5 at Pittsburgh Steelers
Mark Andrews caught four passes for 31 yards and a touchdown against the Browns last week, his third touchdown in four games. He was also targeted eight times and is second on the team with 32 targets this season. Andrews has a nice rapport with quarterback Lamar Jackson, and he’s quickly becoming an elite fantasy option that should be active every week.
This week, he’ll face a Steelers defense that ranks 21st in aFPA to opposing tight ends through four games this season. They did hold George Kittle out of the end zone in Week 3 and trounced the Bengals offense last week but gave up a pair of touchdowns to Will Dissly in Week 2. If Andrews continues to get targets, there’s room for him to score again this week and he should be active in all league formats as a solid TE1.
Week 4 vs. Cleveland Browns
Mark Andrews was disappointing against the Chiefs last week after two solid performances to start the season. Coming into the game questionable with a foot injury, Andrews caught only three balls for 15 yards. However, Andrews was second on the team behind Marquise Brown with seven targets, and he continues to be a primary option in the red zone. Andrews should rebound, as long as his foot checks out, and be a solid starter week-to-week in this offense.
This week, Andrews faces a Browns defense that has kept the tight end position in check the last two weeks, but hasn’t faced a legit player at the position since Week 1, when they gave up a pair of touchdowns to Delanie Walker. Andrews is just as talented as Walker, and he should thrive in a bounce-back game. Watch the injury report to make sure there’s no setback on his foot, but as long as he’s active, he’s a great fantasy option in all leagues.
Week 3 at Kansas City Chiefs
Mark Andrews has started the season off hot. He’s had back-to-back games with over 100 receiving yards and has scored a touchdown in each of the first two weeks. Andrews has caught 16 of the 17 balls thrown his way through two games and clearly has the trust of quarterback Lamar Jackson. While much of the success can be owed to a couple of great matchups, it’s a great sign to see him featured so prominently in the offense.
This week, Andrews should benefit again from a nice matchup. The Chiefs have been very average on defense through two games this year, but they allowed the ninth-most points per game last season and allowed nine catches and 96 yards to the tight end position last week against the Raiders. Andrews will challenge them, and he should put up big numbers in a game where Baltimore will need to throw the ball. Start him in every league.
Week 2 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Mark Andrews had a great start to the season, catching eight balls for 108 yards and touchdown in a blowout victory over the Dolphins. While the competition should be better for the rest of the season – the Dolphins look to be in full “tank” mode – it was a good sign that Andrews led the team in targets and looked like a reliable safety valve in the offense.
This week, Andrews faces a Cardinals defense that was just destroyed by rookie T.J. Hockenson to the tune of six catches, 131 yards and a touchdown. Expect Andrews to be a primary target again and to take advantage of a great matchup. He should be active in all leagues.
Week 1 at Miami Dolphins
Mark Andrews caught 34 passes for 552 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie last year. While those aren’t incredible numbers, they are impressive for a rookie at the tight end position with a rookie quarterback in a run-heavy offense. This year, the Ravens are hoping Andrews can build on the rapport he developed with quarterback Lamar Jackson over the course of the 2018 season, and while he was fighting for his job a year ago, he enters the year as the unquestioned starter.
Andrews faces a Dolphins defense that is in a rebuilding phase. Miami allowed 27.1 points per game to opposing teams last year, sixth-most in the league. They do have a quality secondary, and they allowed the 12th-least fantasy points per game to the tight end position a year ago. Still, Andrews is a quality streamer in a decent matchup and has a chance at finding the end zone. Tight ends scored nine touchdowns against Miami in 2018.
Fantasy Upside
Mark Andrews took full advantage of ill-health in front of him on the depth chart last season, gaining 552 yards on 34 receptions and establishing himself as the top tight end on the roster. Even when fellow rookie and first-round pick Hayden Hurst came back to the field, Andrews was the more productive player. He clicked well with quarterback Lamar Jackson, and he had big plays of 68 and 74 yards late in the year. Andrews sits atop the depth chart heading into the season and has upside entering his second year.
Fantasy Downside
Hurst and Nick Boyle are still vying for looks, which may decrease the number of snaps Andrews gets. Hurst was supposed to be pro-ready as a rookie and the team has more draft capital in him. They may give Andrews a short leash if he struggles and Hurst looks good. Andrews only scored three touchdowns last season and the Ravens will continue to be primarily a running team with Jackson behind center and offensive coordinator Greg Roman calling plays.
2019 Bottom Line
Andrews is a high-upside player considering he can be had near the end of drafts. He’s worth taking a flyer on in leagues where rostering two tight ends is practical. His production was impressive considering his youth and situation. If Jackson improves his passing at all, Andrews should be a nice safety valve for him. He’s not worth any serious investment, but is worth rostering in case he continues his growth.
Wildcard Round vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Mark Andrews was fourth on the team with 50 targets this season, but he ended up with only 34 receptions for 552 yards and three touchdowns. Much of that production surprisingly came against the Chargers two weeks ago, when he caught two passes for 83 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown.
While the playoffs and the tight end position in general limit the field of options, Andrews is still pretty risky to count on. This group of teams in the wildcard round feature some of the best players at the position, including Eric Ebron, Zach Ertz and Trey Burton, so owners are much better off going with one of that trio. However, depending on how you feel about Blake Jarwin after his explosion last week, Andrews is probably just as viable as the next tier of options. He’s an interesting choice for owners who miss out on the cream of the crop.
