Who Should I Start? Rashod Bateman or Breece Hall

Monday, July 28, 4:25 PM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (illness) was sent home on Monday due to an illness, according to Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. There's no reason to think this will be a long-term absence for Bateman, but he could conceivably miss the next few days of practice as well. The 25-year-old is coming off the best season of his career in 2024 when he recorded 45 catches for 756 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games. Baltimore added some talent to the wide receiver room with the offseason addition of DeAndre Hopkins, but Bateman still profiles as an important piece of the team's offense. The Ravens' low-volume passing offense limits Bateman's fantasy upside, but he has some boom/bust appeal as a flex option in deep leagues due to his ability to make plays down the field.

Saturday, July 26, 3:12 PM

After a lackluster campaign in 2024, New York Jets running back Breece Hall has his eyes set on proving his worth ahead of the 2025 season. The Iowa State product told reporters on Saturday that he has a chip on his shoulder and feels that it's his "last chance" to demonstrate his abilities. "We got a new head coach (Aaron Glenn), new GM (Darren Mougey)," said Hall. "Obviously, I wasn't drafted by them, I'm not their guy. So for me, like I said, I've got to prove it every day." The talk of a running back-by-committee has been loud this offseason, but the 24-year-old isn't letting that deter him from vying for a workhorse role. Hall has the talent to do so, and could be in store for a bounce-back season with quarterback Justin Fields (toe) at the helm. The added threat of Fields in the running game would benefit the fourth-year pro. However, his new signal-caller will need to get past his recent toe injury. Hall is a strong pick as a high-upside RB2.