Who Should I Start? Rashod Bateman or Luther Burden III

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.

Thursday, July 31, 11:53 AM

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III "looks outstanding," according to Adam Hoge of CHGO. Burden III was kicked out of practice by Bears head coach Ben Johnson on Tuesday after making a pre-snap alignment mistake, but it appears as though he's rebounded nicely from the mental error. Drafted in the second round out of Missouri, Burden III recorded 61 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games for the Tigers last season. He's expected to take over for the departed Keenan Allen as the Bears' primary slot receiver this season, so he must get up to speed quickly in training camp. Burden III will have plenty of competition for targets in Chicago. Wide receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze figure to be ahead of him in the pecking order, and tight ends Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland might be as well.