Skip to main content

Fantasy Outlook: Javorius Allen

Fantasy Outlook: Javorius Allen
Can fantasy owners trust Javorius Allen to keep the starting job?

Can fantasy owners trust Javorius Allen to keep the starting job?

Since the Ravens have lost starting running back Justin Forsett for the season, let’s examine the fantasy outlook for his possible replacement in Baltimore, Javorius Allen.

Import your team for free to get waiver wire advice partner-arrow

There have been several incidents during the 2015 season where Baltimore Ravens fans, players and staff could be forgiven for asking, “Could this year GET any worse?” Sadly, it seems that every time this question has been asked, it has gotten worse. After seeing their best defensive player (Terrell Suggs), their best wide receiver (Steve Smith) and their first round draft pick from May (Breshad Perriman) all land on injured reserve at different points of the campaign, things came to a head in Sunday’s victory over the St. Louis Rams. Not only did running back Justin Forsett break his arm, ending his season, Joe Flacco tore his ACL and MCL, forcing him to the sidelines for the remainder of the 2015 season and putting his 2016 training camp in severe jeopardy. Rarely can a victory taste so similar to defeat.

Flacco has been inconsistent throughout his career, from a fantasy standpoint at least. He wasn’t worth anything more than a streaming or bye week consideration.

On the other hand, Forsett has been one of the more consistent running backs around during his two years with the team. He rushed for 1,270 yards in 2014 and caught 44 passes for 263 yards. While his numbers this season were not as impressive, he had still accounted for a team-leading 663 rushing yards with 4.4 yards per carry to go along with with two visits to the end zone. His involvement in the passing game meant he was on pace for nearly 50 catches, ending his campaign with 31 receptions on 35 targets.

These figures were good for RB2 production, ahead of the likes of Matt Forte and Jeremy Hill. Both would probably have already been drafted by the time Forsett’s name was called back in August. With No. 29 on the shelf for the duration of the season, who will become the starter in his wake?

The second stringer at the start of the season, Lorenzo Taliaferro, is like so many of his teammates on injured reserve, leaving the rushing work to second-year journeyman Terrance West and rookie Javorius “Buck” Allen. Allen has played on just 21.4% of the Ravens’ offensive snaps this season but was the next man up when Forsett went down on Sunday. He carried the ball 22 times against a tough Rams’ run defense, with 47 yards coming after contact.

He also saw a career-high five targets and reeled them all in for 48 yards. The Ravens have shown in the past that they have faith in their youngsters, so I would expect him to be given every opportunity to hold the job over West. Despite leading the Browns in rushing in 2014, he has since found himself traded to the Titans, then cut by the same squad that drafted Bishop Sankey. That can’t be good.

So if the Ravens can trust Allen, can you? The Ravens’ next game is in Cleveland, which has been porous against the run this season. Their remaining matchups are against Miami, before finishing with home games against the Seahawks, the Chiefs and Steelers.

With Matt Schaub now running the offense, who can honestly say that the team WON’T lose every game? Despite Ravens OC Marc Trestman’s track record as a supposed “QB whisperer” and someone who involves his running backs in the passing game, this offense is one to be ignored for the remainder of the 2015 campaign unless the 2010 Matt Schaub is mysteriously transported into M&T Bank Stadium.

Get Start/Sit & Waiver Advice with My Playbook partner-arrow

Neil Dutton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Neil, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @ndutton13.

More Articles

FantasyPros Football Podcast: 3-Round 2024 NFL Prospect Mock Draft w/ Mike Renner – Commanders Select J.J. McCarthy & Bears Add Rome Odunze

FantasyPros Football Podcast: 3-Round 2024 NFL Prospect Mock Draft w/ Mike Renner – Commanders Select J.J. McCarthy & Bears Add Rome Odunze

fp-headshot by FantasyPros Staff | 3 min read
FantasyPros Dynasty Football Podcast: How Much is Your First-Round Draft Pick Worth?

FantasyPros Dynasty Football Podcast: How Much is Your First-Round Draft Pick Worth?

fp-headshot by FantasyPros Staff | 2 min read
3 Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Running Backs (2024)

3 Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Running Backs (2024)

fp-headshot by Anthony Corrente | 2 min read
Fantasy Football Mock Draft: FFPC Best Ball Picks (2024)

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: FFPC Best Ball Picks (2024)

fp-headshot by Tom Strachan | 3 min read

About Author

Hide

Current Article

2 min read

FantasyPros Football Podcast: 3-Round 2024 NFL Prospect Mock Draft w/ Mike Renner – Commanders Select J.J. McCarthy & Bears Add Rome Odunze

Next Up - FantasyPros Football Podcast: 3-Round 2024 NFL Prospect Mock Draft w/ Mike Renner – Commanders Select J.J. McCarthy & Bears Add Rome Odunze

Next Article