Last week, we dove into the fantasy profiles of Derrick Henry, Mark Andrews, Lamar Jackson, and Zay Flowers – if you missed any of those breakdowns, feel free to go read them.
Fantasy Preview: Lamar Jackson
Fantasy Preview: Derrick Henry
Today, my fantasy coverage comes to a close with one of the most polarizing guys on this team: Rashod Bateman.
I’ll preface this by saying that I am one of the so-called “Bateman truthers,” but I recognize that he has really struggled to put it all together. I was happy when the front office elected give him the three-year extension – especially at that price point! – because I think he has all the tools to be a good wide receiver in this league. He’s at least capable of being a solid WR2, and I’m hopeful that he finally grows into that role in 2024.
All that aside, let’s take a look at some of Bateman’s numbers:
Player Breakdown: Rashod Bateman, WR, BAL
2024 Rank (ESPN): 221 overall, WR85
2023 Output: 76.5 points (4.8 per game)
2023 Stats: 32 receptions (56 targets), 367 yards, 1 TD
Bateman gave fantasy managers exactly zero reasons to keep him rostered in 2023. His positional ranking puts him as a WR7/8, and if you have that many receivers on your roster, you might want to read a couple fantasy help guides.
I do feel, however, that there is reason for optimism in 2024. On a good fantasy team, Bateman likely won’t contend for a starting spot unless injuries or bye weeks force him into that role. On a really, really bad squad, he could maybe be in the FLEX discussion for a week or two. Maybe.
So, if Bateman in all likelihood won’t be a starting threat on any decent fantasy team, is there any reason to spend a roster spot on him? I believe there are a couple of reasons to keep him around on the bottom of your roster…
Bateman’s primary role on your team is trade chip. I liken trading a guy like him to NFL GMs nickel-and-diming each other for 7th round picks in trade negotiations. He’s a guy you can throw into a trade to sweeten a deal if the manager you’re working with is on the fence about the trade you’re trying to pull off, turning, for example, a two-for-one trade into a three-for-one. The other manager might be more inclined to accept your trade because they’re technically getting more than in your original offer. This especially will work if you’re trading with a fellow Ravens fan or a “Bateman truther” like myself. And you should have no qualms about shipping him away if it helps you get your guy. His spot at the bottom of the roster is highly replaceable.
Why would anyone want Bateman in a trade, though? I firmly believe that he still has significant upside to be a solid player in the NFL. He has great size and great speed; if in the right situation, he’ll be able to flourish as a solid slot (Y) receiver. If the Ravens find a way to actually get him involved in the offense, and if he can get on the same page as Lamar, I could see #7 picking up between 500-600 yards. Bateman has a knack for getting open (as well as a knack for being out-of-sync with LJ, but that’s besides the point), which leads me to believe that he can carve out a nice role for himself in this offense. Using your final roster spot on a guy like him isn’t the worst idea in the world; he definitely has a chance to pop in 2024. Bateman has been one of the stars of training camp, and I’m hopeful that he can build on that momentum as we creep closer to the start of the regular season.
Finally, Bateman is one injury away from becoming the WR1 in this offense. It’s unfortunate, but injuries are the reality of the NFL. If something bad were to happen to Flowers – and I pray nothing does – there would suddenly be ~10 targets per game up for grabs. Bateman would become the undisputed top dog in the receiver corps, suddenly vaulting him into the WR2/FLEX discussion on a weekly basis. Fantasy managers have to be prepared for scenarios like these; being opportunistic is key to bringing home a league championship. Again, I would be devastated if Flowers went down with an injury, but if something like that were to happen, Bateman would become a highly-demanded commodity.
So, am I drafting Rashod Bateman this year? Nope. Right now, he isn’t worth spending a draft pick on, unless it’s in the final round (but, hey, I took Raheem Mostert in the last round last year and that turned out pretty well). However, I will keep a very close eye on Bateman in free agency and would be open to adding him to the roster in the final slot in some weeks. Right now, the value isn’t there via the draft, unless you’re playing in an exceptionally deep league. If he’s showing steady progress week-to-week, though, make sure to at least file a waiver claim for him. It could be a sign that something’s about to pop.
And if it does, that move could win you your league.
