Fantasy Football Player Notes

Rookie Zay Flowers quickly established himself as Lamar Jackson's go-to receiver in Baltimore, securing a 24% target share. He led the Ravens in air yards/target share, accumulating over 1,000 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 18 games. However, his final rankings as WR29 overall and WR31 in points/game hint that he may have underperformed relative to his opportunities. When Mark Andrews was active in the lineup (Weeks 2-10) Flowers averaged 8.2 points/game with a 22% target share. When the TE missed, Flowers posted a 24% target share and 13.2 points/game (WR14).

Before the switch to Mason Rudolph from Week 7-13 (when Diontae Johnson returned healthy), DJ led the team with a 26% target share and 9.2 points/game. After Johnson returned from his injury in Week 7, he was very effective with a 23% target share while scoring 5 TDs averaging 14 expected fantasy points per game. Despite the Steelers' offensive transitions and his own injuries to overcome, Johnson maintained his productivity, finishing the season with 127.2 fantasy points, averaging 10 points per game - 36th in points per game. Now in Carolina, Johnson will project for a boatload of targets in an offense that fueled Adam Thielen to WR25 finish. Johnson will be at worst a fantasy WR3 with potential ceiling unlocked if Bryce Young can take a step forward in 2024.

The Baltimore Ravens signed wide receiver Rashod Bateman to a 2-year contract through the 2026 season. Ravens OC Todd Monken says he's seen "tremendous growth" from WR Bateman and expects him to receive the ball a lot this season per Ryan Mink, Editorial Director for the Ravens.

Devontez Walker's college career showcased his explosiveness and knack for making big plays, especially evident in his remarkable dominator rating at Kent State. Despite his impressive physical attributes and speed, Walker's limitations in generating yards after the catch are notable. Drawing comparisons to Marvin Jones, he presents significant upside but also carries a boom-or-bust label, highly dependent on his landing spot for optimal performance. Joining the Ravens in the fourth round offers him the opportunity to work with Lamar Jackson, but he faces competition for targets in a crowded receiving corps led by Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews. Walker's success in the NFL may hinge on his ability to carve out a role in a balanced offensive scheme.