Who Should I Start? Rashod Bateman or Jack Bech

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.

Tuesday, July 22, 9:52 PM

Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Jack Bech "has some work to do to make up ground" in the battle for a starting role next to veteran Jakobi Meyers, according to Tashan Reed. Reed writes that Bech is competing with fellow rookie Dont'e Thornton and third-year speedster Tre Tucker for playing time. He also notes that Thornton stood out in offseason workouts and that Tucker worked ahead of Bech during OTAs. The Raiders drafted Bech in the second round out of TCU in April. He recorded 62 catches for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns in 12 games for the Horned Frogs in 2024. Bech is known as a slot receiver, but he's blocked by Meyers and star tight end Brock Bowers for that role in Las Vegas. He's still an intriguing late-round dart throw in re-draft leagues due to his talent and draft pedigree, but it appears Bech has improvements to make before he can be counted on for fantasy production.