Rashod Bateman: 7 catches, 88 yards, touchdown without Flowers
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THE FACT. Bateman drew nine targets and turned them into seven catches for 88 yards and a touchdown in Baltimore's 24-17 loss to New Orleans on Sunday, per CBS Sports. He was the Ravens' leading receiver with Zay Flowers out because of a hamstring injury.
THE VERDICT. Redraft: add him now, 12 to 15 percent FAAB, and start him as a WR3 next week. Nine targets from Lamar Jackson is a real role, not a fluke game script. Dynasty: the buy-low window on him is closing. DFS: playable in cash at his current salary for as long as Flowers sits. If Flowers returns, drop him back to a bye-week fill-in.
Twenty-plus years of chasing one-week wideout spikes has made me careful with this exact profile. Bateman's 7-88-1 on nine targets was a nice day, but CBS already has Flowers possibly back as soon as this week, and if Zay suits up in Dallas, Bateman slides right back into a supporting role. That's a one-week rental, not a 12 to 15 percent FAAB spend in Week 3. I'd bid mid-single digits and save the bullets for a back who falls into real volume. If Flowers gets ruled out midweek, then sure, fire Bateman up as a WR3 against Dallas.