Bernard Pierce will start Weeks 1 and 2 for the Ravens
by Bobby Zandstra | Thu, Jul 24th 3:36pm EDT
With Ray Rice sidelined the first two games, Pierce has a shot to prove he can lead the Ravens as their premier tailback. Many thought Rice would have a longer suspension which leaves fantasy owners perplexed where to draft Pierce. If he breaks a few big runs, look for Pierce to gain at least a more balanced share of carries with Rice. If Pierce continues where he left off last year at 2.9 yards/carry, prepare for Rice to get the bulk of the carries when he returns in Week 3. (NFL.com)
Fantasy Impact:
Pierce goes up against a stout Cincinnati run defense in Week 1 and a Pittsburgh defense trying to re-establish the Steel Curtain against its bitter rival on a short week. It’s not likely that Pierce puts up numbers justifiable for the top tailback position on the Ravens over the first two weeks. Look for Pierce to start falling from his ADP 108 (RB38) in Standard leagues and ADP 107 (RB40) in PPR leagues while Rice’s ADP increases. If you decide to roll the dice on Pierce, his current ADP would be justified if you are searching for a plug-n-play for his starts, such as a RB like Buccaneers Doug Martin, who plays against a superior pairing of solid run defenses (Panthers, Rams) in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively.
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