Who Should I Start? Marquise Brown or Rashod Bateman

Saturday, September 6, 12:20 AM

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown was targeted 16 times during Friday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He accounted for 42 percent of the team's targets and finished the game with 10 catches for 99 yards. Brown saw an expanded role with Rashee Rice suspended and Xavier Worthy (shoulder) exiting in the first quarter, but even with those players absent, nobody expected Brown to have 16 targets and 10 receptions. These totals represented the second-highest marks of his career, as well as the highest since September 2022. He should be a WR3/FLEX next week and would sneak into FLEX territory if Worthy is forced to miss extended time.

Friday, September 5, 10:20 PM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman finally flashed a bit of the talent last season that the team has been patiently awaiting. Entering his fifth year, Bateman more than doubled his career touchdown total last season as he hauled in nine touchdown passes. He also registered career highs in targets (72), yards (756), and yards per target (10.5). With that being said, Bateman is often third in the receiving pecking order, behind Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews. Isaiah Likely (foot) has already been ruled out, but the Ravens picked up DeAndre Hopkins in the offseason. That leaves Bateman as a touchdown-or-bust type of option against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. RotoBaller's projections currently have him down for around eight fantasy points in PPR formats, which would only make him relevant in deeper leagues.