Willie Snead, WR Baltimore Ravens

Fantasy Upside

After a strong first two seasons of his career, Snead had a forgettable 2017. Off-field issues led to him getting buried on the depth chart and he wound up with only eight catches all year, despite being active for 11 games. Snead remains a big-play threat, however, and the Ravens still have the strong-armed Joe Flacco slinging it downfield. Snead has upside because he may be the most talented receiver in Baltimore, and he should be given the opportunity to earn a starting job opposite Michael Crabtree.

Fantasy Downside

John Brown was also brought in, and he’ll be vying with Snead for snaps. Additionally, the Ravens drafted NFL-ready tight end Hayden Hurst in the first round. The Ravens threw the ball to the tight end position 134 times last season. Former first-round pick Breshad Perriman remains in the mix as well. If Snead doesn’t show he can be consistent and reliable on and off the field, he may find himself buried on the depth chart in Baltimore.

2018 Bottom Line

Snead is a good late-round option for owners looking for a boom/bust prospect at the back-end of a roster. He’s worth considering late in best-ball formats especially due to his big-play ability, but he’ll likely be a key waiver wire pickup in most leagues. Watch Snead’s status on the depth chart as the season progresses, particularly in relation to John Brown’s production. If Snead pulls away from the pack and becomes the clear starter opposite Crabtree, he could be a steal off the wire or late in drafts.