The Baltimore Ravens are on Thursday night football and fantasy football owners have Justin Forsett and Bernard Pierce as start options against the Pittsburgh Steelers for Ray Rice at RB after the running back was released and suspended and those names along with Lorenzo Taliaferro are options to pickup to use as starters for the Ravens now that the team has gotten rid of their star offensive player.
The Ravens are wrapped up in this terrible situation and part of it is their own fault for the way they handled things and now they are down a top football player on their team. Justin Forsett looks to be the best short term option for fantasy football owners after playing well on Sunday, but Bernard Pierce is likely the better long term option for the season. Pierce was expected to be the main backup for Rice once he returned and he opened as the starter for the team before fumbling in the matchup against the Bengals.
Pro Football Talk writes that Pierce likely will end up as the back with the most carries on the Ravens this season, but for Week 2, Forsett is the best pickup option to start. Forsett played in nine games last season and had just six carries for 31 yards, but he already beat that on Sunday and he also could be a factor in PPR leagues. Last season Forsett had 15 catches for 82 yards and he had five catches on Sunday and now should get the start for the Ravens.
The 29 year old is a veteran and he understands how to jump in and get things done and his best season came back in 2009 when he had over 600 yards rushing and a career best four touchdowns. Forsett already scored a touchdown and after Pierce had his first career fumble, it was all Forsett for the game and at least for the time being, he is a better starting option.
Pierce came into the season as a major sleeper after basically taking over the starting job for Ray Rice last season when he was terrible and now he could get that again. Pierce fumbled on Sunday and was benched after going for six carries for 17 yards and he will get more chances and he comes in after rushing for 436 yards last season. Pierce also had 20 catches for 104 yards and he rushed for a career high 532 yards two years ago. The Ravens know that Pierce will be the starter eventually, but Forsett has the hot hand right now and will get that on Thursday.
Taliaferro is only an option in deeper leagues for now unless he somehow moves up in the depth chart. With Ray Rice out for good, there is a chance that Taliaferro gets some touches, but right now he is not considered a good starting option. The Ravens clearly did not care what Ray Rice did, as they had his wife apologize at their team facility for what happened and they only kept Pierce along with Forsett, as they felt it was fine to get Rice back after a two game suspension. Now they will have to figure out what to do moving forward.
