Who Should I Start? Rashod Bateman or Michael Wilson

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, August 7, 6:24 PM

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (concussion) was out of his non-contact jersey during Thursday's training camp practice, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. Wilson didn't take any contact in practice, but it's a good sign that he's on his way to being removed from the injury report, and he could play in the preseason opener this Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Nothing from Wilson's first two seasons in the NFL suggests that he's ready for a breakout in 2025 in his third year, as he has totaled 85 receptions for 1,113 yards and seven touchdowns in 29 games (25 starts) in his first two years. The former third-rounder in 2023 out of Stanford will be a distant No. 3 target for quarterback Kyler Murray behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Trey McBride. If either of the two miss time with an injury, though, Wilson will be a popular waiver-wire pickup.