The Baltimore Ravens are atop the AFC with a record of 12-3, and after last week’s decisive win over the San Francisco 49ers, they look like the favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl this season. QB Lamar Jackson is having an MVP season, the defense is playing lights out, and the RB room has managed to come together and bounce back after losing J.K. Dobbins to injury.
Another crucial part of the Ravens’ success this year has been the talented WRs, especially rookie sensation Zay Flowers. Flowers is currently the WR30 with 752 receiving yards and four TDs and has earned the respect of Jackson to become his first read when going through the air.
Unfortunately, Flowers has been dealing with an injury lately, putting his status for Baltimore’s important matchup with Miami this week in question.
Can fantasy football managers expect Flowers to be able to play?
Is Zay Flowers Going To Play Week 17?
Flowers was a surprise add to the injury report on Wednesday. Baltimore did not practice, but Flowers was listed as a non-participant in the practice estimate with a calf injury. He missed another practice on Thursday but did return on Friday to log a limited session.
Although it is good that he made it back to practice, the limited tag should cause a pause. He is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.
It is unclear how Flowers sustained the injury, as he had a solid outing in Week 16 against San Francisco, playing 78% of the snaps. He finished the game catching nine out of 13 targets for 72 yards and one TD. Flowers is WR26 in PFN’s Consensus Rankings this week.
Flowers was seen wearing a short walking boot in the Baltimore locker room on Wednesday before being listed as a non-participant in practice. Last week, he also missed the Wednesday practice, coming back to be limited on Thursday ahead of their Week 16 game, so he has shown the ability to play on a shortened practice week.
Potential Fantasy Options If Flowers Is Out Include Odell Beckham Jr. and Isaiah Likely
This week’s game is huge for Baltimore. The winner will hold all the cards when it comes to walking away with the No. 1 seed in the AFC and the only bye.
If Flowers is unable to go, Baltimore will have to pivot, and the most likely player they will turn to is Odell Beckham Jr. OBJ has been hit or miss this season for fantasy, but he knows how to perform in big games with massive playoff implications.
He has been relatively quiet in his last few games, but he was WR6 in Week 14 and has shown his ability to separate down the field and come down with the TDs.
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His playing time has also increased as of late; he has played over 50% of the team’s snaps in the last three weeks, illustrating that the team is anxious to get him more involved.
TE Isaiah Likely could be another beneficiary of targets if Flowers is out. Stepping in for Mark Andrews earlier this season when he went down due to injury, Likely has been pleasantly surprising for fantasy, finishing as TE4 in two out of the last three weeks. He may have to step up once again if Flowers cannot play.
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