Should I Start Rashod Bateman?

Saturday, October 31, 8:42 AM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman is not among the top-50 fantasy receivers in half-PPR scoring through the first seven weeks of the season, having caught only 18 of his 26 targets for 266 yards and one touchdown in seven games played. Outside of his seven-catch, 88-yard performance with his only touchdown of the season in the Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints, Bateman has done very little for fantasy managers and has not been consistent enough to warrant consideration as a flex option in 12-team leagues. That is more true than ever now that rookie Ja'Kobi Lane is back from Injured Reserve following a wrist injury. Bateman played 73% of the offensive snaps in last week's loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, but in Lane's first game back from IR in Week 6, he played a season-low 30% of the Ravens' snaps. The return of starting quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) in Week 8 against the Buffalo Bills is good news for Bateman and the rest of Baltimore's pass-catchers, but it probably is not going to be enough to convince fantasy managers to throw Bateman into their starting lineups. RotoBaller has Bateman ranked as the No. 57 option at his position this weekend.