Who Should I Start? Allen Lazard or Rashod Bateman

Saturday, November 22, 12:24 AM

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (coach's decision) has been inactive for the last two weeks, and he's trending toward being a healthy scratch again in Week 12 against the Baltimore Ravens. Lazard went from playing 78 percent of the snaps in Week 8 to being a healthy scratch for the Jets' next game, and he has been inactive ever since, even with the Jets trying to find ways to replace Garrett Wilson (knee). So far, Adonai Mitchell, John Metchie III, Tyler Johnson, Arian Smith, and Isaiah Williams have been the Jets' preferred replacements for Wilson, leaving Lazard as the odd man out. With all five of those receivers healthy, it looks like Lazard is heading for more of the same. Don't expect him to suit up against Baltimore.

Wednesday, November 26, 6:08 PM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle) upgraded to a full practice on Wednesday and has been removed from the final injury report in Week 13, according to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun. Bateman will put an end to his two-game absence due to an ankle sprain and will play against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving Day on Thursday night. The matchup against Cincy's porous defense is an excellent one for Bateman to return to, but he may not be able to take advantage of it. The 25-year-old is having another disappointing season for fantasy football purposes, having caught just 16 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns on 32 targets through nine games. At best, fantasy managers should consider Bateman to be a low-upside WR5/flex in deeper leagues in his return to Baltimore's lineup.