With a current ADP outside the top 130 picks in most formats, Bateman is a sharp, late-round receiver to target in your fantasy football drafts. After being a first-round pick in 2021, Bateman came alive last season, finishing with 45 catches for 756 yards and nine touchdowns in the regular season, with both those latter stats being career-highs. Then, the 25-year-old shined in the Ravens’ two playoff games, catching six passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns.
Bateman scored at least 15 FPTS in six of his 19 games last season and his role was excellent. Trailing only Zay Flowers, Bateman ranked second on the Ravens in target share in regular season at 17%. The wideout saw eight red zone targets, 15 targets over 20 yards and his 15.2 aDOT ranked 10th among all receivers.
Coming off this impressive campaign, Baltimore inked Bateman to a three-year, $36.75 million extension this offseason, which is a very telling sign that the Ravens heavily believe in the wideout. Baltimore also signed DeAndre Hopkins to a one-year, $5 million deal, but the veteran rapidly declined last year. Despite playing with Patrick Mahomes and the high powered Chiefs last season, Hopkins only appeared in 10 games and finished with 41 receptions, 437 yards and four touchdowns. The 33-year-old ended up playing a very small role for Kansas City in the team’s run to the Super Bowl, ranking fifth on the team in routes during the postseason, while Bateman flourished in the Ravens’ run to the AFC Championship.
These two wideouts are on opposite trajectories and Hopkins likely won’t affect Bateman’s role to any degree this season. He is locked in as the No. 2 receiver for this Lamar Jackson led Ravens’ offense that undoubtedly will continue to be one of the best units in football this season. Bateman could also get off to a hot start this fall with Isaiah Likely (foot) sidelined without a timetable for a return. Last season, Likely ranked fourth for Baltimore in targets (58) and in the lone game the tight end missed, Bateman had one of his best outings of the season, catching six of his team-high eight targets for 54 yards and touchdown vs. the Bengals in Week 10, resulting in 17.4 FPTS.
