Wide Receiver – Boston College
5’9” 182 lbs
1st Round – 22nd pick (2nd Overall) – Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens continued to make Lamar Jackson happy on Thursday, adding former wide receiver Zay Flowers. The former Boston College star had an excellent 2022 season, totaling 78 receptions for 1,077 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
Flowers led the team in every category by a large margin. He had 49 more receptions, 689 more receiving yards, and seven more touchdowns than any other player last year. More importantly, the first-round wide receiver dominated the ACC.
The former Boston College star led the ACC in receiving touchdowns in 2020 with nine and last season with 12. Flowers finished with 29 career receiving touchdowns, the fourth-most in conference history since 1956. Furthermore, he finished top 10 in receiving yards in 2020, 2021, and 2022, finishing top four twice. Flowers also ended his career with the 10th-most receiving yards in ACC history with 3,056.
Fantasy Football Outlook
Some believe Flowers is the top wide receiver in the draft class. However, he was the third wide receiver drafted Thursday night. Yet, fantasy players should be excited about the former Boston College star’s future in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens.
Flowers might be on the smaller size for wide receivers, ranking in the 10th percentile or lower in height and weight, according to MockDraftable. Yet, he plays with toughness and strength. Meanwhile, the former Boston College star is an explosive receiver. He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine (82nd percentile) while posting a 127-inch broad jump (84th percentile).
Baltimore signed Odell Beckham Jr. a few weeks ago to pair with Mark Andrews at tight end and former first-round pick Rashod Bateman. Now Flowers will join that group, giving Jackson an excellent receiving core.
Unfortunately, the move will hurt Bateman’s fantasy value. The former Minnesota star has struggled to stay healthy in his career, missing nearly half of the games, including 11 last year with a foot injury. A few weeks ago, Bateman was the No. 1 wide receiver on the team. Now, he falls to third on the depth chart.
Meanwhile, Beckham has suffered multiple severe injuries in his career. He didn’t play at all last year receiving from a torn ACL. Hopefully, the former LSU superstar can stay healthy in 2023. Yet, the Ravens drafting Flowers suggests they aren’t banking on it.
Dynasty Outlook
Dynasty fantasy football players should love that Flowers landed with the Ravens. Beckham is playing on a one-year deal, while Bateman has struggled to stay healthy. While Andrews will remain Jackson’s go-to guy, Flowers could become the No. 1 wide receiver as a rookie.
Even if Beckham is the team’s top wide receiver this year, he likely won’t be around in 2024. The veteran will want to cash in one last time, and the Ravens won’t be able to pay the 31-year-old wide receiver. Therefore, fantasy players should expect Flowers to be Jackson’s new No. 1 wide receiver no later than the 2024 season.
The former Boston College star was a late first-round pick in rookie drafts before Thursday night. Fantasy players can draft Flowers as high as the 1.05 pick in PPR Superflex leagues.
For the latest free agent news, check out the Fantasy Football News Tracker.
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