Who Should I Start? Xavier Smith or LaJohntay Wester

Saturday, September 26, 4:10 AM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester is likely to assume the team's WR2 role against the Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in Week 3. With Zay Flowers (hamstring) out of the lineup against the Ravens' Week 2 17-24 loss to the New Orleans Saints, Wester ran the second-most routes (22) of the Baltimore wide receivers. However, those routes led to only two targets and one reception for 14 yards. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman, alongside tight end Mark Andrews, were the primary beneficiaries of Flowers' absence, with Bateman hauling in seven of his nine targets for 88 yards and a touchdown. After Bateman, there was a massive drop-off in wide receiver production. Fellow wideout Chris Moore saw three targets on his 18 routes, and Devontez Walker had just one reception off two targets from 14 routes, but it was for 47 yards. LaJohntay Wester is a deep-field threat and, with the Cowboys' bottom-third quarterback pressure rate, quarterback Lamar Jackson should have time for Wester to get downfield. There is no clear number three wide receiver behind Flowers and Bateman, but Wester is likely to be on the field the most and run the most routes behind Bateman. If Zay Flowers, who remains questionable after having just one limited practice this week, were to sit out Week 3, then Wester profiles as a risky WR4/deep-Flex option for deep leagues.