1. Joe Flacco - If it were not for the emergence of Matt Ryan, the fantasy football world would likely be showing a lot more love for Joe Flacco. The rookie showed poise well beyond his years as he commanded an efficient Ravens offense to the AFC Championship Game in 2008. In fact, he became the first rookie QB in the history of the NFL to lead his team to two playoff victories. Unfortunately, fantasy owners neither grade on a curve nor do they win trophies for moral victories. The bottom line was Flacco threw for just 2,971 yards and 14 TDs in 2008, rendering him little more than a fantasy backup. Flacco has a solid arm, a good football IQ, and should continue to develop into one of the league's better QBs in 2009. However, the team did little to improve upon one of the league's least prolific receiving corps in the off-season. While Flacco should have more freedom to open up the offense, expect only a modest improvement in production from his stats of 2008.

2. Troy Smith - Preseason reports in 2007 indicated Troy Smith had the inside track on the Ravens starting job prior to an untimely bout with tonsillitis. What a difference a year makes. Joe Flacco is now firmly entrenched as the team's starter. What's worse for Smith is that the team brought in former Dolphin John Beck to compete for the backup role. Beck, if you recall, was earmarked as the Dolphins QB of the future when now Ravens OC Cam Cameron was the head man in Miami. Smith may earn an occasional cameo in hybrid Wildcat packages in 2009, but he offers little, if any, fantasy value. The former Heisman Trophy winner is likely to lose his job as the backup to Beck and may be in search of a new team at this time next year.

3. John Beck - John Beck was somewhat of a hot commodity in dynasty circles when the Dolphins selected him in the 2nd round of the 2007 draft. Unfortunately, Cam Cameron's reign as Miami's HC lasted just one year, Beck fell out of favor with the Parcells/Sparano regime, and was given his outright release by the Dolphins in April. Cam Cameron, now the Ravens OC, obviously sees something in the kid and believes that he is a good fit to run his offense. While Beck poses no threat to starter Joe Flacco, he has a good chance to overtake Troy Smith for the primary backup role.

1. Ray Rice - The second year man out of Rutgers appears to have the inside track on the lead role in one of the league's most confounding backfield committees. Rice is a unique RB who boasts a quick burst, outstanding vision and nice patience. His tremendous lower body strength makes him an extremely powerful runner despite his 5-8, 205 lb. frame. The biggest concerns about Rice are his lack of breakaway speed and durability. Expect Ray Rice to emerge as a poor man's version of Maurice Jones-Drew in his second year.

2. Willis McGahee - The biggest name in the Baltimore backfield also continues to be the biggest disappointment. Reports out of Ravens camp last year were that McGahee showed up out of shape and less than eager to immerse himself in the team's new offensive scheme. McGahee quickly found his way into the new regime's doghouse and further slowed his progression when he had his knee scoped in mid-August. This year is shaping up as more of the same. McGahee recently had arthroscopic surgery on his knee (the same knee that he obliterated in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl), which has undoubtedly retarded his off-season training. With that, Willis will enter camp, once again, out of shape and having to play catch-up. Nonetheless, as the Ravens are financially handcuffed to McGahee, expect him to get his fair share of carries. If you are looking to snag a comeback candidate at a great value to make your draft a success, look somewhere else.

3. LeRon McClain - In the midst of Ray Rice's development and Willis McGahee's malaise, LeRon McClain emerged as one of the biggest surprises in football in 2008. The 6-0, 260 lb. bruiser out of Alabama checked into the feature role in the Baltimore backfield and cashed in with 902 rushing yards and 11 TDs. Do not expect a sequel. OC Cam Cameron has already made it clear he sees McClain returning to FB in 2009 and playing the role that Lorenzo Neal handled for Cameron in the past. McClain will still get a few looks at the stripe, but expect a huge decline in both yardage and TD totals in 2009. In short, let someone else in your league make the mistake of focusing too hard on last year's numbers.

4. and 5. **CAMP BATTLE** Cedric Peerman / Jalen Parmele - Cedric Peerman and Jalen Parmele are both powerful backs who have the potential to serve as short yardage specialists in the Ravens offense. While Ray Rice has the power to handle the bulk of the duties, his durability is still cause for caution and having either Parmele or Peerman in the mix should serve to keep the lead dog running at the head of the pack for a full season. Parmele spent much of 2008 on the Ravens' practice squad before earning two carries against the Jaguars in Week 17. Peerman was selected by the Ravens in the 6th round of this year's draft. If he can capably handle the team's blocking schemes, Peerman should have a slight edge over Parmele.

1. Derrick Mason - Derrick Mason remains one of the most consistent receivers in the league. He has been nearly a lock for 75 catches, 1,000 yards, and a handful of TDs each year for the better part of the last decade. However, while Mason has played a full 16-game slate in each of the last six years, at age 35, you have got to wonder when the wheels will finally come off. Apparently the Ravens front office is asking itself that very same question. With Mason set to be a free agent after the 2009 campaign, the team has been reluctant to offer a contract extension. Unless a lengthy holdout ensues, Derrick Mason remains the Ravens' most viable receiving threat.

2. Mark Clayton - Clayton enters a contract year in 2009 and should have plenty of motivation to finally justify the 1st round pick that the Ravens spent on him in 2005. While he developed somewhat of a rhythm with Joe Flacco as a deep threat, Clayton managed just 3 receiving TDs while turning in two 0-catch performances. Flacco will earn a bit more freedom to air the ball out in his 2nd season but the Ravens will remain a ground-based offense. Clayton will show up on the ESPN highlight reel with 2-3 long touchdowns, but he will be little more than fringe flex option in fantasy lineups in 2009.

3. Demetrius Williams - Williams has the size and speed to emerge as a deep threat for the Ravens, but he has been incapable of staying on the field to capitalize on those skills. Williams had surgery to repair an injured Achilles tendon last season. If he is healthy he could once again become a trendy, late-round sleeper. However, an injury prone receiver in a low-powered offense is not much of a recipe for upside.

1. Todd Heap - Keep an eye out for Todd Heap as a late-round sleeper in 2009. After an injury-plagued year in 2007, Heap put up lousy numbers in 2008. The reason? Heap devoted a good amount of his energy to supporting the Ravens' rushing attack. Heap is not the league's best blocking tight end but he stepped in for the injured Quinn Sypniewski and helped his team establish the league's 4th-best rushing attack. With Sypniewski ready to return, Heap should be freed up to exploit opposing secondaries in 2009. We are not suggesting that you target Todd Heap as a starter. However, Heap makes for a low-risk insurance policy in the final rounds of your fantasy draft. The fantasy football community has all but written off Todd Heap, but at age 29 he should still have plenty of tread on the tire.

2. L.J. Smith - If a player underachieves for an entire career, is it really underachieving? The Ravens signed Smith as a 1-year insurance policy for Todd Heap in March. Perhaps a change of scenery will do L.J. good. However, Smith has spent his last two years chasing a new contract in one of the most pass-happy offenses in the league and amassed just 59 catches and 4 TDs. Unless Todd Heap misses significant time, L.J. Smith will have little to no fantasy value in 2009.

3. Quinn Sypniewski - Quinn Sypniewski may not belong on your fantasy roster, but he will be the key to the production of the Ravens TEs in 2009. Sypniewski is a superior blocking TE, but suffered a season-ending ACL injury in April of 2008. If he is healthy and ready to resume his job as the team's primary blocking TE, Todd Heap and L.J. Smith should be free to make their bones in the passing game.