Week 3 isn’t over until Monday night. This week’s matchup, Lions vs. Ravens, isn’t one you want to miss. Following a tough loss in Green Bay, Detroit rebounded with a 52-21 drubbing of the Bears. On the other side, Baltimore has Super Bowl aspirations with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson at quarterback. In this star-studded matchup, are there any lesser-known names that could step up? Here are two value plays fantasy football managers should consider in all DFS contests.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.5M Monday Special [$500K to 1st] (DET @ BAL)
WR Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens ($4,000)
2024 marked a career year for Rashod Bateman. The former first round pick caught 45 passes for 756 yards and nine touchdowns. Considering how run-heavy Baltimore’s offense was (and still is), that level of production is nothing to sneeze at. This season has gotten off to a poor start for the Minnesota alum. Through two games, he’s caught a total of four passes for 25 yards. Even more concerning, fellow pass catchers De’Andre Hopkins ($4,800) and Devontez Walker ($1,800) have scored multiple touchdowns.
In spite of the lackluster recent performance, don’t count Bateman out just yet. After all, no other wideout has more experience playing with quarterback Lamar Jackson ($11,800). In addition, the deep threat has garnered 70 total snaps so far. Only Zay Flowers ($8,400) has gotten more work at wide receiver. The Lions have been a boon for opposing wideouts, coughing up the eighth-most fantasy points to the position. In what could be a shootout, Baltimore’s secret weapon is a solid bet to bounce back.
TE Brock Wright, Detroit Lions ($2,400)
Finding a value pick on Detroit is easier said than done. After all, this offense revolves around the dynamic running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs ($10,600) and David Montgomery ($6,200). In the passing game, Jared Goff ($9,400) tends to look for the same three targets. Still, an offense this dynamic tends to create opportunities for several out-of-nowhere players. That was the case last week, when Brock Wright hauled in three catches for 28 yards and a touchdown (11.8 FPTS).
Expecting another double-digit fantasy performance from a backup tight end might be wishful thinking. Or is it? After all, Wright did take the field for over half of Detroit’s snaps in Week 2. On Monday, he’ll take on a defense that has looked shaky over the middle of the field. The Ravens have surrendered the third-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. That’s not too much of a surprise, as Baltimore was fairly generous to the position in 2024. For those looking to roster a boom-or-bust TE, Wright makes a lot of sense.
