Week 9 QB projections • BAL Stats

QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

HT: 6-6, WT: 236, Born: 1-16-1985, College: Delaware, Drafted: Round 1, Pick 18

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Stats and Week 9 Projection

WK	OPP	RES	CMP	ATT	PYD	Y/A	PTD	INT	RSH	YD	Y/R	FPT
6	at MIN	L, 31-33	28	43	385	9.0	2	0	0	0		29
8	vs DEN	W, 30-7	20	25	175	7.0	1	0	5	5	1.0	14
SEASON TOTAL			165	250	1849	7.4	12	5	19	42	2.2	147
9	at CIN	PROJ	22	36	253	7.0	1.6	1.2	1	3	3.0	19

Week 9 Injury Status and Other News

He was not listed on Friday's official injury report.

Opinion (from The Upgrade/Downgrade/Waiver Report): While Flacco had a relatively quiet day with just one touchdown against Denver in Week 8, he closed the game quite well with 10 consecutive completions to finish with respectable numbers. He led the offense in capable fashion, moving around the pocket effectively, and playing just well enough to win behind a strong running game and a dominant defense. Look for Flacco to throw more towards the end zone next week at Cincinnati.

Week 9 Matchup Info

at Cincinnati Bengals (Good matchup) - Joe Flacco had a tough game the last time he faced the Bengals, tossing 22/31 for 186 yards, one TD and two interceptions during the 14-17 loss. Ray Rice (8 targets for 7/74/1 receiving) and Todd Heap (9 for 7/41/0) were the leading pass-catchers - Derrick Mason was blanked with only one target for zero receptions. He was pretty ordinary against the Broncos last week, managing 20/25 for 175 net yards, one TD and zero interceptions - over the past four weeks (3 games), Flacco is the 17th rated fantasy QB in points per game, with 70/99 for 746 passing yards, four TDs and two interceptions to his credit. Ray Rice leads the team in targets and receptions during that time span (24 for 22/215/1); Clayton is second in targets (19 for 9/126/1); Mason is third (18 for 11/137/2); and Todd Heap rounds out the top four targets (16 for 13/108/0).

The Bengals have given up 804 net passing yards in their last three games (268 per game), with 52 total points handed over in that time frame. Chicago stumbled to 27/39 for 244 net yards, one TD and three interceptions during week seven; however, Matt Schaub abused the Cincinnati secondary for 28/40 yielding 385 net yards, four TDs and one interception back in week six. The Bengals have been all over the place in this phase of the game prior to the bye week. To date, the pass D ranks 30th in the NFL with an average of 255.3 net yards allowed per game, with 10 passing scores allowed vs. eight interceptions and 17 sacks generated (in the middle of the NFL range in both categories).

Flacco had a rough game the last time he faced these guys, and he's been mediocre of late - meanwhile, the Bengals' secondary remains pretty suspect. All told, this looks like a good matchup for Flacco - he should bounce back this week if recent history is any guide.

Game Summaries

Week 1 vs KC - Flacco had his biggest day in his young career, throwing for his first 300+ yard game along with three touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. Flacco used seven different receiver options, connecting with all of them at least twice for the afternoon. Flacco looked as calm and poised as ever in the pocket, feeling his way around and moving well behind the line to buy himself more time whenever it took longer for his options to get open. While the Chiefs did not put up a big challenge, Flacco looked very good and much more polished than he did a mere 12 months ago as a rookie. Flacco also added 18 yards rushing on five carries, further boosting his fantasy value.

Week 2 at SD - Joe Flacco is proving himself to be a very capable fantasy quarterback thus far in 2009. Against San Diego, he didn't put up eye-popping stats but he provided fantasy owners with a very solid performance. He didn't have much pressure on him from the San Diego defensive front, and looked very confident stepping into each throw he made. About the only hiccup on his performance was an interception on one of the few plays he was under pressure. LB Shawne Merriman perfectly timed the snap count and managed to hit Flacco just as he released the ball. The hit wrecked the timing of the pass, causing it to be thrown to a different spot and be easily intercepted. Flacco showed very nice touch on several passes, and could've even had another touchdown had it not been for TE Todd Heap dropping a deep ball at the goal line (in fairness to Heap, he was interfered with on the play but it was still a catchable pass).

Week 3 vs CLE - Flacco had an easy time against a weak Cleveland defense, spreading targets around to open receivers on a variety of deep and underneath patterns. He led his receivers well and only rarely missed his targets on miscommunications. He and Derrick Mason connected on a deep sideline pass for a touchdown. Flacco also showed a strong and accurate arm on multiple passes over the middle to Kelley Washington and deep outs to Mason. He shredded the Browns on dump passes and seam routes to backs and tight ends. There were no obvious weaknesses in his game this week.

Week 4 at NE - Flacco showed this week that he can lead the team down the field in a two-minute situation and set them up to win a crucial game. He was off early, and almost threw an interception directly to Vince Wilfork, but as the game went on, he was dealing frozen ropes and almost too comfortable out there. Flacco was working the sideline routes with Derrick Mason at will in the first half, and he was also throwing well on the move. He showed good improvisational skills, with an underhanded toss to Todd Heap to avoid pressure, although a lefty toss got him an intentional grounding penalty. Sometimes his high comfort level kept the alarm from going off in the pocket, but Joe stayed Cool even after an interception that was a miscommunication between him and Mark Clayton. Flacco made all the throws to get the Ravens in a position to win the game, but Clayton dropped a fourth-down throw inside the 10 that would have given Baltimore first and goal with less than a minute left.

Week 5 vs CIN - Flacco was accurate and managed the game well against Cincinnati, but was forced to settle for underneath routes on nearly every pass play. The Bengals limited Flacco's options by locking up Derrick Mason and preventing Mark Clayton and Kelley Washington from getting open downfield. On one of the few occasions Clayton did get behind the defense, Flacco overthrew him. Flacco also threw an interception in the red zone when a Bengal corner read his eyes and left his receiver to make a play on a corner route to Todd Heap.

Week 6 at MIN - Joe Flacco played an awesome game for the Ravens, and despite being under intense pressure for the entire game, and constantly being knocked around, he led his team back with 21 fourth quarter points and put them in a position to win the game with two second remaining. Unfortunately it was not meant to be, and Flacco simply had great stats in a losing effort. Throughout the game he made smart decisions, working the middle and the sidelines, checking down to Ray Rice when the defense had the wide outs covered, and taking shots down the field whenever possible, hoping for the big play. He narrowly missed Derrick Mason on a deep route down the sidelines that would have been an easy TD. Mason appeared to hesitate and the ball glanced off of his fingertips. Had he come down with the ball, the Ravens would have only been down by seven in the first quarter and the total tempo of the game would have changed. Flacco finished the game with nearly 400 yards passing and 2 TDS. His receivers did everything that they could to get open for him as well. Look for big things from Flacco in weeks to come. He's definitely one of the better NFL QBS.

Week 8 vs DEN - The Ravens came out with an effective gameplan against the Denver Broncos, which called for patience and precision from their quarterback. Flacco did a good job under pressure on Sunday, and would stand in and wait to deliver the ball until the last second before getting hit. "Cool Joe" did a fantastic job of going through his progressions and finding the open receiver. Even if he had to check it down to running back Ray Rice, Flacco was very careful with the football. It seemed like the Ravens went out of their way to pick on second-year cornerback Jack Williams, and for the most part Flacco did not test All-Pro Champ Bailey. The Ravens gave Flacco plenty of time to throw, and he used the hard count effectively to draw the defense off sides -- including twice in a row on a crucial third-quarter drive that stalled. Once Elvis Dumervil jumped twice it allowed the Ravens to continue the drive into the fourth-quarter where a TD pass to Derrick Mason gave them a 23-7 lead. On that TD pass, Flacco identified Brian Dawkins cheating to the right side of the field. With single coverage (Andre Goodman) on Mason, Flacco put the ball in the end zone where only his receiver could get it for six.