Who Should I Start? Rashod Bateman or Joshua Palmer

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.

Monday, August 4, 8:58 PM

After sitting out Sunday, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer (groin) returned to practice on Monday. Palmer spent the first four seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers before joining the Bills on a three-year contract in free agency this past winter. While Palmer caught fewer than 40 passes for under 600 yards in each of the previous two seasons, he could be in for a bigger role on a Buffalo team that lacks a star receiver. The team's most productive wideout from last season, Khalil Shakir (ankle), suffered a high-ankle sprain last Friday and is considered "week-to-week." It'll be all the more important for Palmer and others to step up if Shakir has to miss any regular-season action.