After months of waiting, Baltimore will play a meaningful regular-season game when they take on the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1. One position to watch is the revamped wide receiver group that could be among the most explosive in the NFL. Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman should dominate Baltimore’s receiver snaps, but the remaining hierarchy is less settled.
Flowers will move throughout the formation and remain Lamar Jackson’s primary target. Bateman should handle the largest share of outside routes and provide the offense with a vertical threat. After a strong training camp, rookie pass catcher Ja’Kobi Lane is the leading candidate for the third role. His 6-foot-4 frame provides a larger target on third down and near the goal line.
Elijah Sarratt
can also play inside or outside and should find key snaps behind Lane. His physical style could earn him an early role on running downs and possession routes. Devontez Walker remains one of Baltimore’s fastest receivers. His opportunities may come on designed vertical routes rather than a large weekly snap count.
LaJohntay Wester will contribute as a returner and could receive manufactured touches on screens, jet sweeps, and quick passes. Flowers and Bateman could each play more than 70% of the snaps. Lane should begin in the 35% to 50% range, with Sarratt, Walker and Wester dividing the remaining opportunities.
Baltimore does not need one young receiver to claim every available snap. Declan Doyle can use their different traits to create a situational rotation.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Projecting the Baltimore Ravens’ wide receiver rotation
