The Baltimore Ravens’ receiving corps presents a fascinating fantasy puzzle for 2025, with three veteran targets competing for touches in Lamar Jackson’s explosive but run-heavy offense.
Zay Flowers Fantasy Outlook
Zay Flowers’ role in Baltimore’s offense looks pretty much set after two years in the league. Flowers is the undisputed WR1 for a future Hall of Fame quarterback, but is also the second-choice pass catcher for a run-heavy offense, and is not a consistent end zone threat.
The lack of touchdown upside limits Flowers’ ceiling in fantasy. With Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Rashod Bateman, and now DeAndre Hopkins likely ahead of him in that area, that isn’t likely to change any time soon.
ZAY FLOWERS HIT THE MOVES ON THIS 53-YARD TD 🔥💐
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/G1ZcvXpAW1— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 3, 2024
The former Boston College standout did record over 1,000 receiving yards in 2024, which shows progression, but he is still a player that many can happily pass on in fantasy. None of that is down to talent, but the offensive environment in Baltimore severely limits what he can offer.
Mark Andrews should be back to his best after struggling early last season following a significant injury layoff. Hopkins will be a peripheral figure in the offense, but will get his share of targets, and RB Keaton Mitchell is healthy again and will be a regular receiving threat.
Lamar Jackson’s 41 passing touchdowns from last year are also likely to regress, offering fewer scoring opportunities for his receivers. Flowers would arguably be a top-15 receiver on a different team, but is currently being drafted as the WR27, with higher-upside receivers being taken after him.
– Cameron Sheath, Fantasy Football Analyst
Rashod Bateman Fantasy Outlook
Did we finally get the rare year-four breakout from former first-round pick Rashod Bateman? Kinda, not really, but it is encouraging to see him play good ball. At just 25, it’s very possible for him to continue his ascension, especially if we see regression from TE Mark Andrews or RB Derrick Henry.
While he certainly looked more the part than he had previously, Bateman didn’t see a crazy change in usage, just better efficiency from himself and Lamar Jackson as a passer. He has a similar workload as he did in his rookie season, 72 targets and 45 receptions, only this time he had cleared his previous yardage by 200, and went from a single touchdown to nine in 2024.
Perhaps that’ll earn him more trust in this offense, but even if he does earn it, it won’t be his offense. WR Zay Flowers and Andrews will be the primary targets, and veteran WR DeAndre Hopkins should factor into the red zone. Moreover, Jackson probably won’t throw for 41 touchdowns again. I wouldn’t put it past him; he’s had 36 in a season before, but he tends to throw closer to ~25.
Bateman is going right near the end of drafts, so using your last pick on a WR in his prime, coming off a great season, and tied to a great offense is not a bad idea. You may go a little mad trying to guess which weeks are his and which aren’t, but he can serve as an admirable fill-in option and possibly quality trade bait.
– Mason LeBeau, Fantasy Football Analyst
DeAndre Hopkins Fantasy Outlook
Sadly, Father Time comes for us all. DeAndre Hopkins is entering the 13th season of his Hall of Fame career, having turned 33 this summer. He was last fantasy relevant in the first half of 2021, on pace to have double-digit touchdowns before injuries sidelined him. A suspension to start 2022 muddied his value, and a reasonable 1,000-yard season in 2023 with the Titans kept his name in the conversation.
Since then, the age cliff came hard for him. Even joining the Kansas City Chiefs for a Super Bowl run couldn’t salvage his value. Now, on the Ravens, we’re hoping he can fit into a specific role that would allow him to retain some value as a starter, as well as a short-yard, red zone, possession player. Will that translate to fantasy success? It’s unlikely.
QB Lamar Jackson is the Ravens’ offense, but RB Derrick Henry has a lot of pull in how it’s run. A successful version of this offense doesn’t need to pass the ball much, and when they do, it’ll be WR Zay Flowers, TE Mark Andrews, and TE Isaiah Likely first.
Even if Hopkins has a monster year in the red zone, he won’t see the volume as a usable asset from a reception and yards perspective. It’ll be a touchdown or bust. That does mean, however, that he is rosterable and could even slide into your FLEX in a pinch.
If he strings a few solid games early, his name value might just carry enough credit to be used as trade bait, especially to the Jackson manager. He’s worth a slot in leagues that start 3WRs or have deeper benches.
– Mason LeBeau, Fantasy Football Analyst
