Who Should I Start? Tyler Lockett or Rashod Bateman

Friday, August 15, 7:30 PM

Tennessee Titans wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett did not suit up for the team's second preseason game on Friday night against the Atlanta Falcons, according to Turron Davenport of ESPN. It remains to be seen if the Titans will allow Ridley and Lockett to take the field for the final preseason contest next Friday versus the Minnesota Vikings. Targets and volume shouldn't be an issue for Ridley as he goes into his second year in Tennessee, although he'll be working with rookie quarterback Cameron Ward. The 30-year-old caught 64 of 120 targets for 1,017 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games last year with poor QB play. Efficiency could once again be an issue in a weak Titans offense, which makes Ridley more of a WR3/flex in fantasy than a bonafide WR2 target. Ridley has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and 12 combined TDs.

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.