The Worksheet, a comprehensive fantasy football preview by Rich Hribar, breaks down everything you need to know about the Week 5 matchup between the Ravens and Bengals.
Find a breakdown of every Week 5 NFL game in our Worksheet Hub.
| Baltimore | Rank | @ | Cincinnati | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | Spread | 2.5 | ||
| 26.75 | Implied Total | 24.25 | ||
| 26.5 | 5 | Points/Gm | 25.5 | 9 |
| 22.0 | 19 | Points All./Gm | 26.0 | 27 |
| 62.8 | 11 | Plays/Gm | 57.8 | 26 |
| 59.3 | 11 | Opp. Plays/Gm | 62.5 | 24 |
| 6.8 | 1 | Off. Yards/Play | 5.9 | 9 |
| 5.3 | 16 | Def. Yards/Play | 5.2 | 15 |
| 54.98% | 2 | Rush% | 38.53% | 26 |
| 45.02% | 31 | Pass% | 61.47% | 7 |
| 32.07% | 2 | Opp. Rush % | 52.80% | 29 |
| 67.93% | 31 | Opp. Pass % | 47.20% | 4 |
- Cincinnati games are averaging 51.5 combined points per game, the second-most in the NFL.
- The Ravens are averaging a first down or touchdown every 2.89 plays on offense, second in the NFL.
- The Bengals are averaging a first down or touchdown every 2.96 plays on offense, third in the NFL.
- Cincinnati allows a first down or touchdown every 3.19 plays defensively, 28th in the league.
- 36.1% of the Baltimore set of downs have reached third down, the lowest rate in the league. The league average is 46.7%.
- On early downs (first and second), the Ravens average 1.5 more yards per play than their opponents, the largest differential in the league.
- Baltimore averages 162.5 more rushing yards per game than their opponent, the most in the NFL.
- The Ravens are averaging 3.4 more rushing yards per play than their opponent. The next closest team is at +1.8.
- The Bengals have a 47.7% success rate against opposing running plays, the lowest rate in the league.
Trust = spike production for that player
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson (TRUST): Jackson has been a top-10 scorer in all four games this season, the only quarterback that can make that claim to open the season.
The Ravens have found a sweet spot playing off the combination of Jackson and Derrick Henry’s rushing ability the past two weeks.
After throwing the ball 41 and 34 times to open the year, the Ravens have shifted to a heavy 2-back system, stemming everything off the ability of Jackson and Henry in the RPO game.
Jackson has only thrown the football 15 and 18 times the past two weeks, but he has completed 25 of 33 passes (75.8%) for 10.2 yards per pass attempt, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions.
He has rushed 20 times for 141 yards and a pair of touchdowns in those games.
Not just the rushing output, but 15 of those runs have been designed runs.
Before we even consider Jackson’s rushing ability, this is a great passing matchup for when the Ravens throw the ball.
We will follow up on Trey Hendrickson‘s status later this week, but f he does not play, the Bengals will be short-handed up front.
The Bengals are 28th in the league in pressure rate (28.4%).
The Bengals are 20th in passing points allowed per attempt (0.427) with a 5.4% touchdown rate (26th) allowed to passers.
Jackson was a top-10 scorer in both matchups against the Bengals last season.
Joe Burrow: Burrow has reeled off three straight QB1 scoring weeks after opening the season on a sour note back in Week 1.
He has thrown multiple touchdown passes in each of the past three games.
The past two weeks have been against the Commanders and Panthers, but the first one was against the Chiefs, so we do not have to completely dock him for this matchup, which could be more challenging than the past two.
This matchup has been a nightmare for Burrow for the past two seasons.
Before exiting last year’s matchup with a wrist injury, Burrow has averaged only 5.6 yards per pass attempt over his past four matchups with Baltimore with a high of 222 yards, throwing 1 or fewer touchdown passes in all but one game.
We discussed this before the season, but in 18 career games against division opponents, Burrow has posted a 33.3% QB1 scoring rate and a 22.2% rate of top-six scoring weeks.
The good news is that Mike Macdonald is gone.
The potential bad news is that the Ravens have been solid defensively the past two weeks, allowing a league-low 54.9% completion rate to Dak Prescott and Josh Allen in the past two games.
After allowing 8.6 yards per attempt the opening two weeks of the year (30th), they have allowed 6.8 yards per attempt the past two (12th).
I would tread lightly with Burrow in DFS but would not go entirely out of my way to stream for him in seasonal leagues unless I loved another available matchup.
The Bengals will have to pass here, so Burrow will reveal more about this defense from the past two weeks as opposed to the one from the opening two games.
Running Back
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Learn MoreMore Week 5 Fantasy Breakdowns From The Worksheet:
| Matchup | Time |
|---|---|
| Bucs @ Falcons -- FREE | Thursday Night Football |
| Jets @ Vikings | Sunday -- 9:30 a.m. ET (London) |
| Panthers @ Bears | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Ravens @ Bengals | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Dolphins @ Patriots | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Browns @ Commanders | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Colts @ Jaguars | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Bills @ Texans | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Raiders @ Broncos | Sunday -- 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Cardinals @ 49ers | Sunday -- 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Packers @ Rams | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Giants @ Seahawks | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Cowboys @ Steelers | Sunday Night Football |
| Saints @ Chiefs -- FREE | Monday Night Football |