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    Rashod Bateman Injury Update: Latest on Baltimore Ravens WR

    Rashod Bateman has been hampered by injury once again during training camp. What's the latest news on the health of the Baltimore Ravens WR?

    The 2021 WR draft class has had a big impact on the NFL. Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, and Amon-Ra St. Brown have all finished with at least one top-10 WR fantasy season since joining the league. Baltimore Ravens WR Rashod Bateman was anticipated by many to be a prospect that we would have included in that list.

    However, injuries have slowed down the former first-rounder in his first two seasons. And training camp hasn’t been much better in 2023. What is the latest on Bateman, and what does it mean for the Ravens and your fantasy football teams?

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    What Happened to Rashod Bateman?

    After a rookie season where Bateman missed the first five games of the year with a groin injury, he was only able to suit up in six games in his sophomore campaign. A Lisfranc foot injury hobbled him early on in the season. And after reaggravating it in November, the Ravens shut him down.

    Bateman was hoping to finally have a clean bill of health in 2023. But he began camp on the PUP list, still dealing with his nagging foot injury. Fortunately, Bateman was finally activated off the PUP list on Aug. 9 and has been able to start participating in practices.

    While still taking things slowly, it is a good sign that Bateman is involved in football activities. But have these injuries started to add up too much? And how long will Bateman remain on the field before the next issue or reaggravation pops up?

    What Are the Ravens’ Options if Bateman Misses Time?

    Having dealt with Bateman’s injuries the last two years, the Ravens made sure to make some additions this offseason to their wide receiver room. They brought in Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor in free agency to bolster the roster. They followed that up by using their first-round pick in the 2023 draft on Boston College WR Zay Flowers.

    Adding three new capable receivers to the room appears to be due to the necessity of having skilled options should Bateman go down again. Giving Lamar Jackson options in the passing game (other than his tight end Mark Andrews) will be important for the team to reach its goals on offense.

    Baltimore has had limited success at the wide receiver position for years. Since 2010, they have only had four wide receiver seasons of over 1,000 yards. With new offensive coordinator Todd Monken bringing in a more balanced offense, Beckham, Agholor, and Flowers could play a big role if Bateman continues to be hobbled.

    What Does This Mean for Bateman’s Fantasy Ranking?

    Bateman’s fantasy value has shifted quite a bit ever since he joined the league. Before his rookie season, his ADP was around WR35. His rookie year was only semi-successful, but owners could sell themselves on his injury being what stopped his full breakout. His ADP rose to around WR20 before his sophomore year.

    But after another disappointing and injury-plagued season, Bateman’s ADP fell back to around WR40 this spring. And the longer Bateman continues to be hampered by injury, the further his stock dips.

    If Bateman is able to stay on the field moving forward and build chemistry with his QB, he has the talent and traits to be a successful receiver in the NFL. But his work is cut out for him with every practice and game he misses.

    Now in his third year, Bateman needs to start establishing himself in the league if fantasy managers are going to see his stock rise. If his 2023 season is another injury-plagued campaign with only a few flashes of brilliance, many managers may have to finally concede that the Bateman breakout may never happen.

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