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The Baltimore Ravens missed the playoffs this year after winning Super Bowl XLVII, and a struggling offense (307.4 yards per game-29th in the league) was the main culprit. Running back Ray Rice had a dismal season (660 rushing yards and four touchdowns) and quarterback Joe Flacco was not a lot better (3,912 yards, 19 touchdowns and 22 interceptions) despite setting a career-high for pass attempts (614; 38.4 per game). Being without tight end Dennis Pitta for most of the season did not help things, but adding some offensive weapons has to be a priority this offseason.
Baltimore had just two players with more than 50 receptions this year (wide receiver Torrey Smith-65, and Rice-58) and Smith was the lone player with more than 600 receiving yards (1,128). One surprise contributor was undrafted rookie wide receiver Marlon Brown, who had 49 receptions for 524 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns in 14 games this season, but should fantasy football owners have him on their radar looking toward next season?
Brown grabbed some attention from fantasy owners right out of the gate in 2013, with three touchdowns in the first four games of the season before missing a game in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins with a hamstring issue. He sustained some value in deeper leagues with 26 receptions for 297 yards and five touchdowns over his first seven games, but his production faded with just three catches for 23 yards in the three games he played from Week 10-Week 13. Some of that can be chalked up to injuries, as he missed Week 11 with a knee injury and was bothered by a finger issue prior to that, but any fantasy owner that added Brown early in the season simply couldn’t hang onto him during a crucial time of the season. He did end the season on a bit of a high note though, with 20 receptions for 204 yards and two touchdowns over the final four games of the season (at least four catches in all four contests) .
Assuming the Ravens add a wide receiver or two via free agency and the draft, Brown would likely be bumped down the depth chart and he would become at best a very risky fantasy option. Simply put, barring something unforeseen, Brown will not be worth drafting in single-season leagues next summer and owners in dynasty leagues can stay away from him as well right now.
Brad Berreman is a contributing writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradberreman24.
