Who Should I Start? Rashod Bateman or Chase Brown

Friday, September 12, 11:12 PM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman didn't join in on the scoring in Week 1 despite the team hanging 40 points against the Buffalo Bills. Despite seeing a new career high almost across the board last season, Bateman is the definition of boom-or-bust when it comes to fantasy purposes. That's personified in the two matchups against the Cleveland Browns last season, where he posted one reception for 28 yards in Week 8, and then had five receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown in Week 18. He's still a threat to go for a long touchdown, but he's a big risk as a flex play for those that aren't in deeper fantasy leagues.

Saturday, September 13, 12:17 PM

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown had only 43 yards off 21 carries in the Week 1 win over Cleveland. His 2.0 yards per carry was a tough pill to swallow for fantasy managers. Still, he at least found the end zone, so the afternoon wasn't a total flop. The same can't be said for the rest of the Bengals offense, with Joe Burrow throwing for 113 yards and one touchdown. To make matters worse, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for five receptions. Despite the subpar offensive showing, Cincinnati managed to pull off a narrow one-point victory. With a win in the books, Brown and company will host the Jaguars in Week 2. Without question, the Bengals have struggled to begin the season in the last few years. However, Brown and company have a great chance of turning things around. Although he sometimes struggles picking up yards on the ground, his versatility as a pass-catching back makes a difference. Sunday's game is expected to be one of the highest-scoring contests on the schedule, so both offenses may be clicking on all cylinders. All things considered, Brown should be more productive in Week 2, especially if Burrow can get the offense into the Red Zone more than he did against Cleveland. Keep Brown rolling in all fantasy lineups.