Fantasy Injury Update: Rashod Bateman and Keaton Mitchell Impacting Rankings

There is no shortage of injuries that fantasy football managers have to navigate. Among them are two Baltimore Ravens, WR Rashod Bateman and RB Keaton Mitchell. What is the latest on the injury statuses of these two players, and what impact, if any, should this have on fantasy lineups?

Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy

Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens

On Wednesday, Bateman practiced in full. He wasn’t even listed on the injury report. On Thursday, he popped up with a back issue.

MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

Typically, when previously healthy players suddenly appear on an injury report, it means the injury is something they picked up at practice. Given that we didn’t hear anything about Bateman from beat reporters as players arrived for practice, this is the most likely situation we’re dealing with.

Not all injuries are created equal, though. When someone like Tee Higgins pops up out of nowhere with a hamstring issue, that’s more concerning than a back issue. Nevertheless, a midweek injury is never good.

Given that the injury almost certainly happened at practice, beat reporters didn’t get a chance to ask head coach John Harbaugh about Bateman. As a result, we will have to wait and see what Bateman’s practice participation level is on Friday before we can draw any conclusions about his playing status.

If Bateman is able to get in at least a limited session on Friday, that would put him on track to play. However, if we see a DNP, that would make it exceedingly unlikely that he plays on Sunday.

For fantasy managers, this is probably a non-issue. Bateman is rostered in fewer than 20% of Yahoo leagues. Even in the leagues where he is rostered, I can’t imagine anyone is trying to start him. The only managers out there considering Bateman in lineups are those in super deep leagues and dealing with a confluence of bye weeks and injuries.

If Bateman can’t play, Nelson Agholor would see an uptick in snaps, particularly in three-receiver sets. Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. remain the starters in two-receiver sets.

Editor’s note: Bateman does not have an injury designation and he will play in Week 10.

Analysis last updated at 3:58 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 10.

Keaton Mitchell, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Last week, rookie UDFA Keaton Mitchell had his coming out party. After injuries limited him to seldom few snaps over the first half of the season, he broke loose for 138 yards on nine carries.

Mitchell may not have seen much work in the Ravens’ blowout victory over the Seahawks, but he wasn’t merely playing in garbage time. Mitchell saw action as early as the second quarter.

MORE: Kyle Soppe’s Week 10 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet

On Thursday, offensive coordinator Todd Monken spoke highly of Mitchell and went so far as to say, “Mitchell has earned more opportunities.” Unfortunately, Mitchell may not be able to capitalize on the momentum he created last week.

Much like Bateman, Mitchell’s name was nowhere to be found on Wednesday’s practice report. Yet, on Thursday, he was limited with a hamstring issue. That suggests he hurt the hamstring at Thursday’s practice.

This is bad news because it’s not the first time Mitchell has had hamstring issues. He missed several games earlier this season due to a strained hamstring. Hopefully, this is just a minor tweak, and he is able to practice on Friday. However, if we see the dreaded DNP, it is likely Mitchell will not be able to go on Sunday.

Mitchell’s absence would likely not have much of an impact on Gus Edwards, who remains in the lead role. Mitchell had been mostly stealing work from the underwhelming Justice Hill. If Mitchell is out, Hill would stand to see his workload increase to where it was before Mitchell burst onto the scene.

Regardless of Mitchell’s status, Hill is not a fantasy option. But if Mitchell is out, Edwards becomes a bit more appealing, but only marginally in light of the difficult matchup against the Browns’ suffocating defense.

Editor’s note: Mitchell returned to practice on Friday, but is listed as questionable going into Week 10.

Analysis last updated at 3:58 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 10.

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