As we close in toward the new season, the ever-changing NFL landscape has player fantasy values constantly on the move, with key events like free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft still to come. Whether you’re used to the dynasty platform or are still learning the rules, let’s dive into the latest dynasty fantasy football value of WR Rashod Bateman.
Rashod Bateman Dynasty Outlook and Value
Bateman is a forgotten name in dynasty, and I can’t blame anyone for it. Despite being a first-round pick in the majority of rookie drafts in 2021, that optimism hasn’t translated to on-field production.
Bateman played in 12 games in 2021 after starting the season on the IR due to a groin injury. When he made his debut, Bateman saw the volume we wanted.
He averaged 5.7 targets (28% WR target share) and caught 46 of his 68 targets for 515 yards with one touchdown. The volume, while elite in terms of target share, is low from an NFL standpoint because the Ravens are not a team that will throw 35+ times a game, as you see with Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and others. It’s just not their style, and it was one of the issues many had when Baltimore selected Bateman.
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2022 was a step back further. Bateman played in six games but suffered a Lisfranc injury that required surgery and ended his season. With Marquise Brown in Arizona, this was supposed to be Bateman’s breakout season, but that never came to fruition.
Still, there were some positives. Bateman recorded a 21% target share but a 48% WR target share in Weeks 1 through 7, with a 20.5% air-yard share.
Given the 4-6 month recovery timeline, Bateman should be back to full strength recovery-wise come training camp. Once he’s back in football condition, he should be back to full strength, and hopefully, his low-4.4 speed will come back as well.
Rashod Bateman Fantasy Ranking
Bateman is an absolute buy for me in dynasty. He just turned 23 years old, and the skill set that I, like many, loved coming out of Minnesota has gone nowhere. He knows the system, and as a first-round pick, he’s going to be the benefit of the doubt.
In updated dynasty rankings, Bateman is the WR29 in PPR formats and comes in as the No. 72 overall player in Superflerx rankings, where QBs see an increase in value due to positional scarcity.
I have seen him in the mid-30s amongst WRs, but for me, the talent is still too good to drop him down too far. If anything, for having done very little in two years due to injury, for Bateman to be in the upper WR3 range speaks to the talent he brings.
For Bateman to hit max value while in Baltimore, he needs Lamar Jackson back in the fold, as he can maximize the per-snap upside despite the low volume. However, if he were on a team that does up the tempo, Bateman could be a 7+ target-per-game player and can win at all three levels of the field.
If you can get Bateman for a mid-second-round pick, I’d be all in taking the discount. The upside is well worth the cost for someone of Bateman’s talent. Especially when considering he is only 23 years old, has the college pedigree/production, and this year’s class at wide receiver — while deep — is not as talented as we have seen in the past.