Justin Forsett, Bernard Pierce's Instant Fantasy Reaction After Week 4

Four games into the NFL season, here's what we know about the Baltimore Ravens backfield from a fantasy perspective: Absolutely, positively nothing. 

In Week 1, it was Justin Forsett who led the team with 14 fantasy points despite most owners believing Pierce would be the team's main option in the backfield. So Forsett quickly became one of the more popular waiver additions and promptly had just six points in Week 2 while Bernard Pierce rushed 22 times for 96 yards.      

But Pierce couldn't go in Week 3, so owners justifiably hopped back on the Forsett bandwagon, only to watch Lorenzo Taliaferro—who didn't have a carry in the first two games!—rush 18 times for 91 yards and a score. Again, Forsett only managed six points in that contest. 

Coming into Week 4, owners were naturally a bit confused as to what they should do. Pierce appeared to still be the team's starter, so he seemed the smartest fantasy play in Baltimore's backfield.

On Sunday, that theory was debunked, as Pierce didn't have a touch in the first half. Forsett was the main man in the first half, with nine rushes for 65 yards and a score and two receptions for 26 yards, while Taliaferro had just two rushes for two yards. 

Player	Touches	Rushing Yards	Receiving Yards	Touchdowns	Fantasy Points
Justin Forsett	17	66	31	1	15
Lorenzo Taliaferro	15	55	0	1	11
Bernard Pierce	0	0	0	0	0

So here's my advice—when setting your lineup, avoid the Baltimore backfield like the plague. Sure, on a weekly basis either Forsett, Pierce or Taliaferro might have a big week, but we really don't know which one it will be. And maybe the Ravens never really planned on using Pierce much in this game despite him dressing, to ease him back into the swing of things, but it's not like Pierce has separated himself in any way from the other two backs, either.

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Forsett's role seems the most defined, since he's used as a passing-down back, but there are no guarantees in this committee situation. So at this point, Forsett is likely the back in Baltimore you want, but that's mostly a guess. After the first four weeks of the season, trying to predict who will produce from Baltimore's backfield is nothing more than a coin flip.

Hit me up on Twitter—I'll answer your fantasy questions and make some corny jokes, too. It's more fun than a Jay Cutler Fumblerooski.