Ray Rice (RB for the Baltimore Ravens) is NOT expected to play Sunday reports Adam Schefter on Twitter. In his absence, backup RB Bernard Pierce will get the brunt of the load which could afford Pierce 25 carries or even more.
Fantasy owners have been put on alert.
The idea here is with Baltimore already wrapping up their playoff scenario, there is little reason to play Rice (and perhaps most of the other starters) in an effort to rest them and stave off injury.
Ray Rice has been a dream for fantasy owners this season—as expected—but owners who are savvy enough can still run out and grab Pierce off of most waiver wires and expect similar results from the bruising back.
Aside from Ray Rice missing the week's contest, owners can assume that QB Joe Flacco and WRs Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith will see limited to zero action, although no official news concerning the fact has come forth.
Cincinnati ranks 8th against the run suggesting that Pierce will have a tough time in this contest. But the Bengals are also expected to give a few players some rest on both sides of the ball.
This could be great news for owners starting Pierce.
Regardless of the matter, the Ravens are expected to focus heavy on the run which give Pierce owners plenty of opportunities.
Ray Rice will finish the regular season with 1,138 rushing yards and nine TDs alongside 478 receiving yards and a single score.
