Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely has been behind All-Pro veteran Mark Andrews to begin his NFL career, but his flashes of upside could lead the team to implement even more 12 personnel in 2024. According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Likely has continued to impress this offseason. "Likely's work in OTAs and minicamp gave Monken even more reason to polish those multiple tight end sets," Zrebiec wrote. "From making highlight-reel one-handed catches in the middle of the field, to finding openings underneath, to pulling away from defenders after receptions, Likely looked like a player who will be hard to keep off the field." The Coastal Carolina product averaged 13.9 PPR fantasy points per game in six contests with Andrews sidelined last season. He has top-five upside if Andrews has to miss any time this year, and he might even have rare value from a backup tight end in fantasy football.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is entering the final year of his contract and has every reason to make the most of his first season with second-year quarterback Bryce Young. If Johnson can strike up some chemistry with Young, the 27-year-old wideout could be in position to cash in on the open market next March. "It's crazy seeing everybody getting big contracts," Johnson said. "It just motivates me to keep working," Johnson said. The 2021 Pro Bowler wore out his welcome in Pittsburgh and will now be a part of an offense that was atrocious in Young's rookie season in 2023. Johnson had lots of volume with the Steelers but struggled for efficiency. In Carolina, that volume isn't guaranteed, lowering his fantasy floor as low-end WR3/high-end WR4.

Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and quarterbacks coach Tee Martin have made it clear this offseason that they plan to give quarterback Lamar Jackson more responsibility in the team's pre-snap operation this year. During practice on Wednesday, Jackson was challenged by an aggressive defense to change routes, run schemes and protections at the line of scrimmage, and Martin liked what he saw as the offense had one of its sharper practices of the offseason. Last year's NFL MVP will be given more freedom before the snap in 2024 to get the offense into ideal looks. The 27-year-old also showed up this year a little bit lighter as he looks for an encore performance. As long as Jackson is able to stay healthy again, the dual-threat signal-caller should be a top-five fantasy quarterback.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has struggled to begin his NFL career, racking up just 93 receptions, 1,167 yards, and four touchdowns in his first 35 games. According to Ravens reporter Jonas Shaffer, the former first-round pick has remained underwhelming this offseason. "Bateman has had a quiet start to minicamp. He had a short catch early in Tuesday's practice, but his snaps seemed to dwindle later in the session," Shaffer wrote. "On Wednesday, Jackson targeted him just once, when Bateman was well covered by Mullen on a shot play and his deep pass fell incomplete." Offensive coordinator Todd Monken said he expects a great year from Bateman, but the early reports from minicamp are less than ideal. Unfortunately, Bateman is likely capped as the No. 3 option in a low-volume passing attack, which limits his upside. The 24-year-old is a fine best-ball flier, but it would be a surprise if he's a weekly contributor in traditional fantasy football leagues.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and the reigning NFL MVP has been absent for four of the team's first five voluntary organized team activities, including the last one on Thursday. With Jackson gone, veteran backup Josh Johnson has led the first-team offense. "It's this time of year; it's a voluntary time," head coach John Harbaugh said. "It's really not something that we comment on. We can't, and that's just the time of year it is. So I can't speak for anybody that's not here." Jackson has been a regular at the team's OTAs, other than in 2022 when he was engaged in contract talks. He's in the second year of a five-year, $260 million contract. At age 27 last year, he became the youngest two-time NFL MVP since the merger, setting career-highs with 3,678 passing yards and a 67.2% completion rate. Fantasy managers shouldn't be concerned about Jackson's OTA absences.