The Baltimore Ravens don’t exactly have a very deep receiving corps. It’s basically Zay Flowers and then a whole bunch of unproven—or middling—talent behind him.
That’s why the 2024 campaign could represent a significant opportunity for rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker.
The Ravens selected Walker in the fourth round of the NFL Draft in April, and given the dearth of talent on Baltimore’s depth chart, he may have a great chance of winning the No. 2 receiver role this coming season.
As a matter of fact, Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus has named Walker as one of his top sleeper receivers for Fantasy Football.
Due to the departure of Odell Beckham Jr. and how much of a disappointment former first-round pick Rashod Bateman has been, Jahnke says that Walker is “worth a late-round flier in deeper leagues.”
Walker caught 41 passes for 699 yards and seven touchdowns at the University of North Carolina last season. He began his collegiate career at Kent State and spent two years there, with his best campaign coming in 2022 when he hauled in 58 receptions for 921 yards and 11 scores.
At 6-foot-2 and around 200 pounds, Walker has solid size for a wide out, and he also possesses blazing speed. His hands aren’t the best, and his route running leaves something to be desired, but there is no doubting Walker’s physical capabilities.
The Ravens have struggled to fill the wide receiver position
The Ravens have not exactly had much success with the wide receiver position in recent years.
Since Lamar Jackson took over as Baltimore’s starting quarterback midway through 2018, the Ravens have relied more on their tight ends than anything else in the aerial attack.
Baltimore did have a 1,000-yard receiver in Marquise Brown in 2021, but he asked for a trade after the season.
Flowers seems to have a great chance of hitting the 1,000-yard mark in 2024, as evidenced by the fact that he totaled 858 yards during his rookie campaign this past year.
However, there is no question that the Ravens have labored to find consistent production at wide out. Whether that is due to missteps by the front office or Jackson’s inability to properly develop receivers is the question. It could also be a combination of both.
Perhaps the potential duo of Flowers and Walker can break the concerning trend for Baltimore.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here . Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network .
The post Ravens Rookie Named Top Sleeper Candidate In Fantasy Football appeared first on NFL Analysis Network .
Local Baltimore, MD
Most Popular
Comments / 0