According to Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, wide receiver Rashod Bateman is expected to be a "top receiver" in the NFL. "Rashod's been working to make plays," said Harbaugh, addressing the media following Monday's practice. "To see him come out and make those catches, those are great catches. Traffic catches, one catch he plucked off the ground there. I was excited, everybody was fired up about it." Bateman, who received a contract extension this offseason, hasn't met expectations since entering the league, amassing only 93 receptions for 1,167 yards and four touchdowns. He's also been limited to 35 games due to injury. With that said, the 24-year-old likely hasn't reached his ceiling from a potential standpoint. However, the Ravens offense is loaded with capable producers, so it could be tough for anyone not named Lamar Jackson to remain consistently involved for fantasy managers.
Rashod Bateman Struggling To Make Impact At Minicamp
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has struggled to begin his NFL career, racking up just 93 receptions, 1,167 yards, and four touchdowns in his first 35 games. According to Ravens reporter Jonas Shaffer, the former first-round pick has remained underwhelming this offseason. "Bateman has had a quiet start to minicamp. He had a short catch early in Tuesday's practice, but his snaps seemed to dwindle later in the session," Shaffer wrote. "On Wednesday, Jackson targeted him just once, when Bateman was well covered by Mullen on a shot play and his deep pass fell incomplete." Offensive coordinator Todd Monken said he expects a great year from Bateman, but the early reports from minicamp are less than ideal. Unfortunately, Bateman is likely capped as the No. 3 option in a low-volume passing attack, which limits his upside. The 24-year-old is a fine best-ball flier, but it would be a surprise if he's a weekly contributor in traditional fantasy football leagues.
Todd Monken Expecting "Tremendous" Year From Rashod Bateman
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has struggled and battled injuries since being selected with the No. 27 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Minnesota. Through his first 35 games, he's hauled in 93 receptions for 1,167 yards and four touchdowns. However, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken expects him to take a Year 4 leap in 2024. "You know, last year was interesting in the fact that we had Odell [Beckham Jr.] and Bate had missed the offseason and some of Fall camp," Monken said. "But as the year went on, Rashod really came on. I expect a tremendous year out of him." Although this is a positive sign, it's tough to find a path toward consistent fantasy production for the 24-year-old. Second-year wide receiver Zay Flowers and veteran tight end Mark Andrews are the clear No. 1 and No. 2 options in the passing game, and Baltimore will likely remain a low-volume passing offense like in previous years under Lamar Jackson -- especially after the addition of star running back Derrick Henry. Bateman might be worth a late-round flyer in fantasy football drafts, but his weekly upside figures to be limited.
The Baltimore Ravens signed wide receiver Rashod Bateman to an undisclosed contract extension on Wednesday that ties him to the team through the 2026 season. Bateman was able to stay healthy in 2023, but he was overshadowed by rookie first-rounder Zay Flowers and finished with a disappointing 32 catches for 367 yards and just one touchdown on 56 targets in 16 regular-season games (12 starts) in his third year in the league. The 24-year-old former 27th overall pick in 2021 out of Minnesota hasn't lived up to his first-round billing and has found the end zone just four times in three years. The Ravens continue to say that Bateman is going to have a bigger role in the passing attack in 2024, but fantasy managers will want to see it before they believe it.
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said that wide receiver Rashod Bateman is going to get the ball "a lot more" next season and said that he expects the wideout to take a big step forward in 2024. Odell Beckham Jr. may not return in free agency, which would help, but most fantasy managers will likely want to see it before believing Harbaugh's words. The 24-year-old disappeared more often than not in his third NFL season in 2023, finishing with just 32 receptions for 367 yards and one touchdown on 56 targets in 16 regular-season games. A lot more would have been expected of the former first-rounder had we known he was going to stay healthy all year. Unless Zay Flowers or tight end Mark Andrews miss time with injury in 2024, Bateman will have an uphill battle to climb again for consistent fantasy value.
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said that wide receiver Rashod Bateman will be a starter in 2024 and will be playing a lot of snaps. Harbaugh said Bateman has become a "great, great route-runner. Rashod Bateman has a great future." The former first-rounder's numbers weren't very great in his third year in the NFL in 2023, as he caught just 32 passes for 367 yards and one touchdown on 56 targets in 16 regular-season games. Rookie first-rounder Zay Flowers became quarterback Lamar Jackson's top target once tight end Mark Andrews (ankle) went down with an injury in Week 11. But even before then, the 24-year-old Bateman had taken a back seat to Flowers and was even overshadowed by Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor at times. Despite Harbaugh's words, Bateman has an uphill battle to climb for an expanded role as long as Flowers and Andrews stay healthy in 2024.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman found the end zone just one time all season, and that was in Week 11, which happened to be his only reception in that game. His best game in terms of targets and receptions was in Week 17, when the offense demolished the Miami Dolphins. He hauled in four of his six targets for 54 yards in that matchup. In Week 18, rookie Zay Flowers (calf) is doubtful and Odell Beckham Jr. is taking the week off. That means Bateman and Nelson Agholor come into the matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers as the top two receivers. They'll have quarterback Tyler Huntley throwing the ball instead of Lamar Jackson, but Bateman could receive enough targets to constitute a flex play.
Rashod Bateman Not On The Fantasy Radar In Week 14
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman shed any injury designation after popping up on the injury report this week due to an illness. That doesn't automatically make him a starting option in any fantasy format, however. Bateman hasn't scored double-digit fantasy points in any game this season in any format. He has scored one touchdown this season and that was his only catch in that game. His game-high reception mark sits at three and his highest yardage total is just 36. Fantasy managers can find better value elsewhere this week as Bateman goes up against a solid Rams secondary.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (illness) returned to a full practice on Thursday after he sat out with an illness on Wednesday. Coming off a bye, Bateman should now be good to go for the Week 14 contest versus the Los Angeles Rams. Even with tight end Mark Andrews (ankle) expected to miss the rest of the year, Bateman just hasn't done anything to show that he warrants much fantasy attention. The 24-year-old is clearly behind rookie first-rounder Zay Flowers in the pecking order in 2023, and he might be behind veteran Odell Beckham Jr. as well. Bateman has only one touchdown on the year, 22 receptions and 236 yards in 11 game. He doesn't have more than three receptions or 36 receiving yards in a single contest this season.
Rashod Bateman Misses Practice Wednesday With Illness
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman missed Wednesday's practice with an illness. The wideout is likely to return to practice as soon as Thursday, according to head coach John Harbaugh. Assuming that statement from Harbaugh comes to pass, Bateman should be in no danger of missing a Week 14 clash against the Los Angeles Rams. If for some reason Bateman ends up not playing this weekend, it would provide more chances for Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham Jr., and even Nelson Agholor.
