Rashod Bateman

After a career year in 2024 (45-756-9), Bateman cratered to 19-224-2 in 2025 (PPR #103) with single-digit target shares (3-10%) across his final games. The volume simply isn't there to support startable dynasty value.

Baltimore drafted Ja'Kobi Lane (R3) and Elijah Sarratt (R4) to push him, and the room already includes alpha Zay Flowers plus veteran DeAndre Hopkins. Bateman holds only the first crack at WR2 with little margin for another slow start.

Bateman is in the final year of his 3-year, $15M extension and is being floated as a trade candidate. His Baltimore future beyond 2026 is genuinely uncertain.

New OC Declan Doyle (from Chicago) is installing a brand-new offense, and Bateman has missed offseason install reps due to personal matters — exactly when route trust and role clarity get built behind the incumbents.

Despite the down year, Bateman enters camp as the projected WR2 ahead of the rookies and gets the first crack at the role in a Lamar Jackson-led offense that still funnels volume to its top perimeter targets.

A fresh OC and new scheme reset reset his usage profile; a contract-year motivation plus deep-threat fit could restore the TD efficiency that made his 2024 productive.