Rashod Bateman Breakout Is Coming

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Rashod Bateman – Baltimore Ravens

Rashod Bateman, drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft (pick 27) by the Ravens, is very much in play to have a breakout year. He showed flashes last season in his rookie campaign once he recovered from his groin injury that had him sidelined for the first five weeks. With Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, and Mark Andrews demanding a lot of targets, Bateman was put in the backseat as he had just 46 receptions (67 targets) for 515 yards and one touchdown.

This year, things have changed. Brown is no longer with the team, neither is Watkins. That puts Bateman in the forefront as the WR1 with only Andrews as serious competition. Bateman in a recent interview when asked about the departure of Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, stated, “All respect to him, and I’m going to miss him because he’s my brother, but it was like, it’s my time. I feel like Baltimore drafted me for a reason. They drafted me to be in this position. For me, all I’ve been waiting on is this opportunity.”

Hearing those words shows the hunger and willingness to take over the role the Ravens need him to fill. Although the stats aren’t glamorous, if you watched some of the catches/plays he made later in the season when they needed it most, you saw the potential and comfort level he was building with Lamar Jackson. After all, Bateman, via PlayerProfiler, best compares to Stefon Diggs. Not too shabby.

Marquise Brown was top-10 in the league last season in targets per game with 9.1

Per PlayerProfiler, Brown’s best comp is Taylor Gabriel

Rashod Bateman takes over as the alpha WR1 in Baltimore

His best comp is Stefon Diggs

Don’t overthink it, Bateman is going to the moon 🚀🌙
— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) June 10, 2022

Last season, Brown commanded 145 targets (91 receptions) which ranked ninth in the NFL with 1,008 receiving yards and six total touchdowns making him the WR22 on the year. Up until week nine, Brown averaged 76 yards a game, 7.7 targets, seven touchdowns and averaged 13.1 fantasy points. Watkins did little damage but did end up taking 49 targets after returning from his own set of injuries.

Reason for me bringing that up, is all the targets that were directed at Brown, that made him for most of the year a Top 20 receiver, are now going to Bateman. Yes, the run game will be more prevalent with J.K Dobbins and Gus Edwards both returning from injury, but even so, the targets will be there for him and Andrews. I’d also like to add that Jackson is a strong candidate to compete for an MVP award again this year. After last season not going as planned and the adversity they had to face, this team has a lot to prove and I’m confident Lamar can do it again. If that happens, Andrews will be a top two tight end and Bateman will crack the top-25 receivers or better.

PROJECTIONS TEMPLATE – GET NOW!

Allen Robinson – Los Angeles Rams

Robinson had a down year for the Chicago Bears last season with 38 receptions on 66 targets for 410 receiving yards. The previous two seasons (2019-2020) he averaged 150 targets,100 receptions and 1,100+ receiving yards. Dealing with an injury and limited to no practice reps with rookie Justin Fields, it became apparent as to why Robinson was underutilized. It’s also rumored that Chicago was trying to ‘phase him out’ and move on so they didn’t have to pay him. The numbers don’t lie.

Allen Robinson signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams worth 46.5 million, 30.7 million guaranteed. This will be a prove it year and he will succeed playing with the best quarterback he’s ever played with in Matthew Stafford. Robinson’s former quarterbacks include Blake Bortles, Andy Dalton, Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles. Stafford is a significant upgrade. Odell Beckham was struggling in his own right with the Cleveland Browns before joining the Rams last season. Beckham started showing why he was still a dynamic play maker with 27 receptions for 305 yards and five touchdowns in only eight games in LA. To add to that, he kicked it into another gear in the post season and had 21 more catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He is now a Super Bowl champion and was a huge part in that. Funny how that works when you go to a great team with great quarterback play.

You could say our offense is in good hands.

😏 @AllenRobinson https://t.co/foeXDzW6Cd
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 2, 2022

It is still unknown at this time whether Beckham and the Rams will work out a deal or not but as of now, it’s Cooper Kupp and Robinson as the WR1 and WR2. Having said all that, it shows that Sean McVay and Stafford can utilize their weapons and get maximum value out of their guys. Kupp will be the main focus for defenses and give Robinson room to work. Expect WR2 numbers from him this season.

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Mike Williams – Los Angeles Chargers

Yes, you’re probably saying Mike Williams already had plenty of weeks last year where he ‘broke out’. What if I were to tell you he is going to be the first option in that offense this season and get over 130 targets. Well, believe it. He just signed a three year, 60-million-dollar deal with 21 million guaranteed. Coming off a year where he finished WR13 with six top-15 finishes and eight top-20. Believe it or not, through the first five weeks of the season Williams was WR1! On the year, he was 10th in routes run (542), eighth in red zone targets (23), 14th in targets (129), 11th in receiving yards (1,146) and 10th in touchdowns (9). He averaged 15.4 fantasy points per game.

His teammate Keenan Allen, 30 years old and nearing the back end of his career, finished as WR11 with 1,138 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Allen was short eight yards of Williams with 28 more targets. With Williams getting more of those targets and red zone opportunities with his big frame (6′ 4″, 218 lbs), his upside is endless in this offense.

Keenan Allen has been awesome but he posted 4 year lows in:
– YAC (394)
– yards after contact (142)
– missed tackles forced (3)
– yards per route ran (1.77 – declined every year)

I still think he’s safe cause he’s tied to Herbert, but Mike Williams has the higher ceiling
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) June 15, 2022

Not to mention he has an MVP caliber quarterback in Justin Herbert, who was the QB2 on the year, second in pass attempts (672), second in passing yards (5,014), fifth in red zone attempts (112) and third in touchdowns (38). Every year Herbert has shown improvement and I expect that to continue. Everything is in place for Williams to dethrone Allen as the WR1 for the Chargers. Believe the hype.