Rashod Bateman's fantasy outlook: Is the Ravens receiver playing tonight?

Rashod Bateman is a Baltimore Ravens wide receiver carrying considerable expectations. Fans have been looking forward to him breaking out since the Ravens selected the Minnesota University alum 27th in the 2021 NFL Draft. Bateman sure looks the part, as the 6 ft 1 in, 197 lb pass catcher is quick on his feet, elusive, and has a knack for spectacular catches once he hits his stride.

After missing some time with a foot injury, Bateman is expected to play tonight against the Cleveland Browns. Bateman said that he feels good and improves every day. If you have Bateman on your fantasy team, starting him could be a risk.

The Cleveland Browns do not have the proper facilities to stop a receiver as elusive as Bateman. Moreover, the Browns will be looking to counter the threat posed by Lamar Jackson and Kenyan Drake on the ground, so they are more likely to neglect the deep ball, which is where Bateman comes in.

However, Bateman is a big Q ahead of the game and there is a chance he will see a reduced number of snaps. Starting him could be a masterstroke or a colossal mistake and there is simply no easy way to predict which it will be.

Rashod Bateman's fantasy outlook

Minnesota Vikings v Baltimore Ravens

Rashod Bateman is the WR1 for the Baltimore Ravens with Devin Duvernay at WR2. Bateman and Duvernay are both good options for Lamar Jackson during drives but can often be neglected.

The problem is that the Ravens like to run the ball with their backs or with Lamar Jackson. When they do pass, Mark Andrews sees the lion's share of targets. Bateman doesn't see a huge number of targets, but when they do connect, they often seem to go a long way. Due to their style of play, Bateman often finds himself a deep threat and has scored two long touchdowns this season.

He can be a bit frustrating for fantasy managers, not because of his injury, but due to his lack of receptions. He's a player to keep hold of, but realistically you should wait until he is fit before starting him.

Rashod Bateman's timeline

Rashod Bateman - South Dakota State v Minnesota

Bateman showed the NCAA what he could do, and he stacked up a respectable total of 19 touchdowns in 31 college games. He regularly went for over one hundred receiving yards in games. Bateman has so far performed well below the expectations people had for him when he was selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Having been drafted early by the Ravens, many fans expected that he would have at least a touchdown every few games and record solid receiving numbers. That wasn't the case, as he was limited to one touchdown and 515 receiving yards in his debut season.

The 2022 NFL season has been significantly different, as Rashod Bateman has grabbed hold of the responsibility entrusted to him as a starting wide receiver. Although his injury is a set back, he will doubtless be one to watch upon his return.