Baltimore’s 2025 nightmare deepens as injuries derail a once-expected title run. A 44-10 loss to Houston drops the Ravens to 1-4, the defense yielding season-worst numbers while the offense, shuffled by Cooper Rush, stalled behind an injury-riddled depth chart. CJ Stroud torched the secondary for four TDs as Noel bagged his first NFL score, shadowed by Ray Lewis’ squirrel-dance nod before Jaire Alexander shoved the rookie. A major roster rebuild looks overdue.

With half the season still ahead, Harbaugh vows to “find ourselves” after the bye, while the Ravens lean on a young corps to grow up fast. Derrick Henry’s late TD tied Walter Payton for the fifth-most rushing scores, but Baltimore’s challenge isn’t just the scoreboard—it’s a roster-wide shortfall of impact talent as key veterans sit out and the defense struggles to generate stops.

Baltimore falters early in Week 5, trailing Houston 24-3 as injuries bite the defense and the run game struggles. C.J. Stroud heats up the Texans with three first-half TD passes, while Derrick Henry has been underutilized in a script that hasn’t favored the Ravens’ ground attack. The inactives (Jackson, Roquan Smith, Humphrey, Hamilton) compound Baltimore’s woes, amplifying Houston’s advantage and elevating Stroud’s fantasy stock in a game that could tilt further as the night unfolds.

Fantasy takeaway: Stroud looks primed for continued efficiency against a depleted Baltimore defense, making him a strong weekly bet. Houston’s balance keeps drives alive and cap space for big fantasy outputs, while Ravens’ absentee list suggests potential for Henry to rise in volume if the game flow shifts later. Monitor in-game adjustments and bench decisions accordingly.

Lamar Jackson is out with a hamstring injury for Baltimore's game vs. Houston, forcing Cooper Rush into his first Ravens start. Baltimore also carries a sizable injury list, with Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey and Patrick Ricard ruled out as the team fights to avoid a 1-4 start.

Rush, signed to back Jackson, brings starter experience and a week to prep, while the offense leans on Zay Flowers and the rest of the pass game to keep fantasy upside alive. Jackson's high QBR and scoring pace loom in the background, but this week could redefine the Ravens' fantasy path without their MVP.