While the Baltimore Ravens have some reliably elite fantasy football assets in 2023, other Ravens assets have their fair share of risk attached. The following three players have decent upside, but fantasy managers should be wary of the risks associated with the potential.
Read More: 3 Safest Baltimore Ravens Fantasy Football Options for 2023
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3 Riskiest Ravens Fantasy Football Bets in 2023
1. J.K. Dobbins
The riskiest fantasy football asset on the Ravens in 2023 is J.K. Dobbins. Dobbins is certainly a top running back on his day, but his current situation complicates his 2023 fantasy outlook.
The good news is that Dobbins remains Baltimore’s top back. Dobbins currently projects as the team’s workhorse in a new offense. While Todd Monken’s new system promises to throw the ball more, it will remain a run-first offense. This means Dobbins will still be given the volume to thrive. This is especially true given that Monken will utilize running backs as receivers much more than Greg Roman did.
Dobbins’ own play is a positive too. He has looked good since his return to full health last year. His 5.9 career YPC is very impressive and means that, even in games when he gets less volume, he will still make an impact.
What makes Dobbins risky is a culmination of multiple factors. The first is the contract dispute. Dobbins held out of off-season activities until earlier this month. Will this result in the team using him less? Does he enter the year less prepared than the likes of Gus Edwards and Justice Hill? Relatedly, is Dobbins a risk to sit out? Or could he even be traded?
Given that Dobbins is entering a contract year, the Ravens may also look to move on from him at the end of the season. After all, he is not Monken’s choice and is not an obvious scheme fit for Monken’s system. If this is true, Hill and Keaton Mitchell could take reps away from Dobbins as both are more effective pass-catching backs.
The final reason Dobbins is a risk is the obvious one. Dobbins has struggled with his availability in 2021 and 2022. Can he be trusted to remain a viable fantasy option on a week-to-week basis?
Once JK Dobbins finds his speed again, these will turn into touchdowns. 🤫🔥 pic.twitter.com/loABjN0ONP
— Ravens Nation LIVE (@LIVERavenNation) December 18, 2022
2. Rashod Bateman
Rashod Bateman is an unsurprising add to this list: he is one of fantasy football’s biggest dilemmas in 2023. If Bateman was not so highly rated, he would not be on this list at all, however. The former Minnesota wideout has flashed his high-end ability, but he has failed to turn it into any substantial output so far.
Entering his third season, Bateman faces a big year. This is one reason that Bateman’s upside appears as high as ever for fantasy football. This year, the Ravens must decide on Baltimore’s fifth-year option, giving Bateman extra incentive to perform.
That is accompanied with the fact that Bateman is due a breakout. He was the glue to Baltimore’s offense in the first four weeks of 2022. After his foot injury, the air attack noticeably struggled. On his day, Bateman is a bonafide WR1 for Baltimore and fantasy managers.
If Bateman can string together a full season of the talent he has flashed, he will be a premier fantasy asset. However, that remains a big ‘if’ at this juncture. The former first-round pick has struggled with injuries in 2021 and 2022.
Bateman’s over/under yards total sits at [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbp/nfl_season_receiving_yards” query=”nfl/rashod_bateman/player_91340″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”] currently. That shows how uncertain the markets are about Bateman, despite his immense upside.
THE LAMAR JACKSON ➡️ RASHOD BATEMAN CONNECTION IS HERE
pic.twitter.com/1GgyXjrAij— PFF (@PFF) September 11, 2022
3. Zay Flowers
The final name on this shortlist is Baltimore’s first-round rookie, Zay Flowers. The only reason that Flowers is here is because he is unproven in the NFL.
While all signs point to Flowers being an integral part of Baltimore’s offense, it really is impossible to know until the season starts. Will he perform as he has done at camp? Will he be given a consistent role on a week-to-week basis? These are all questions that need to be answered before considering the young Ravens wideout a ‘safe’ fantasy football bet in 2023.
With that said, Flowers presents incredibly high upside. Last Word On Sports’ own Mike Kashuba ranked Flowers in his 10 best rookies for fantasy football in 2023. Flowers has impressed this off-season. His run-after-catch ability and route-running abilities have stood out.
If Flowers winds up as Baltimore’s main weapon (outside of Mark Andrews), he is destined for a top fantasy season. The Boston College product’s ADP is currently 101, making him WR42, according to FantasyPros. Given the lack of assurance that Flowers comes with, drafting him in managers’ WR3 range makes perfect sense. His upside could end up winning games, but it may be hard to trust him right out of the gates.
[metabet_core_side_odds_tile query=”nfl/zay_flowers/player_187767″ size=”350×300″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”]
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