The Baltimore Ravens are heading into 2013 as Super Bowl champions, but after plenty of change in the offseason the team has new faces in new places and some injuries to deal with, making Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and Torrey Smith the top fantasy options for 2013.
Rice is a fantastic dual threat and after his season last year, Flacco is expected to put up better numbers. The biggest jump is expected for Smith, as he is stepping up into the number one spot after the team traded Anquan Boldin to the 49ers in the offseason. He should have plenty more opportunities in the passing game and could be a top 10 receiver.
The Ravens have dealt with a number of injuries this past offseason, including a very important one to tight end Dennis Pitta and the team made some moves in response. According to ESPN.com, the team signed both Stokley and Clark to contracts and it reunites the players with former coach Jim Caldwell, who is the offensive coordinator for the Ravens.
Clark comes to the team after playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, catching 47 passes for 435 yards and four touchdowns and now he is back in the fold after being released. Clark played for the Colts for nine seasons and was a very productive tight end and the Ravens needed someone after losing Pitta and he joins Ed Dixon on the roster.
The 34-year-old is a steady performer and despite his age, he made some nice plays last season and could use that as motivation for a big 2013. The Ravens had high hopes for Pitta, but he is lost for the season and with Dixon dealing with an injury as well, adding Clark was essential. The team also added Stokley for more support with Joe Flacco and he joins Torrey Smith at the position and he comes after playing with the Broncos and Peyton Manning.
Boldin has been a big loss for the team as they deal with injuries and they could go after Brandon Lloyd as a free agent after he starred with the Patriots last season and made over 70 catches. Stokley is 37-years-old and he returns to the team he won the Super Bowl with in 2001 in the Ravens and comes in with 384 catches for 5,224 yards and 39 touchdowns in 14 NFL seasons, including 45 catches for 544 yards and five touchdowns last year with Denver. Stokley adds toa crop that includes Jacoby Jones, Tandon Doss and Deonte Thompson and all could get on the field in spots this upcoming season.
The team also signed tight end Visanthe Shiancoe to a one-year contract to help with the loss. Head coach John Harbaugh announced that Pitta would be out over the weekend and said that it was too severe to come back from this season and now they have added Shiancoe to the mix. Shiancoe has been in the league for 10 years and joins a roster that also includes Ed Dixon and now he will be in on a minimum contract.
"I feel like I can move the chains," Stokley said. "I feel like I can help the club get in the end zone, keep the offense on the field and be successful."
