Two young players on the Ravens that fantasy owners should watch are Rashod Bateman and Isaiah Likely. The two have had moments since entering the league and could be late-round sleepers in 2024.
Here's what to know about Bateman and Likely ahead of your fantasy football draft:
Last Year's Production
Bateman's 2023 Stats: 32 receptions, 367 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD, 1 carry, 18 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 76.5 PPR fantasy points, WR85 (ESPN)
Likely's 2023 Stats: 30 receptions, 411 receiving yards, 5 receiving TDs, 101.1 PPR fantasy points, TE25 (ESPN)
Bateman played in every game last season besides Week 18 when Baltimore rested its starters, but he revealed on "The Lounge" podcast that he didn't know if he would play at all because of a foot injury until about two weeks before the season.
Likely played sparingly during the first half of the season, but he starred once Mark Andrews missed time with an injury. Over the final six regular season games, Likely averaged 53.7 yards per game and caught all five of his touchdowns.
Projected Role/Production
Bateman's ESPN Projection: 46 receptions, 603 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs, 121.1 PPR fantasy points (WR77)
Likely's ESPN Projection: 34 receptions, 382 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs, 90 PPR fantasy points (TE27)
With Odell Beckham Jr. in Miami, Bateman will be Baltimore's No. 2 wide receiver behind Zay Flowers. The Ravens inked him to a contract extension this offseason, so their belief in 2021 first-round pick is clear.
Likely be the No. 2 tight end behind Andrews, but he still will have a role in the offense. He said on "The Lounge" podcast that he thinks of himself more as a "chess piece" than a tight end.
Why He Could Outperform ADP
According to an average of major fantasy football websites, Likely's average draft position (ADP) is 179.8 and Bateman's is 216.3. That puts Likely as a late 15th-round pick in a 12-team league and Bateman as an early 19th-round selection.
Bateman is finally healthy after an injury riddled start to his NFL career. In a receiver room that lacks a ton of depth, Bateman could jump onto the scene and show why he was such a highly touted prospect.
Likely was arguably Baltimore's best player throughout training camp. He routinely made highlight reel catches and was a go-to target for two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. If he gets the opportunities, he'll make the most of them.
Potential Roadblocks
In a stacked offense, targets could be scarce for Bateman. He'll be heavily relied upon throughout the season, but he has pass-catchers like Flowers, Andrews, and potentially Likely ahead of him. Not to mention Derrick Henry will get the ball a ton.
Playing behind Andrews hurts Likely's fantasy stock a lot. Likely didn't get many balls thrown his way when Andrews was healthy, but after his strong showing last year and this offseason, Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken will try to get both his tight ends on the field together.
