Week 5 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Maxx Williams has been on an every-other-week cycle so far this season, with double-digit fantasy points in Week 2 and last week against the Rams, and terrible games in between. It’s good to see him rack up 15 targets over his past three games, however, and fantasy managers should consider rostering him if they need help at the position, given the potential in this high-powered offense. Hopefully, he’ll even out his production a bit.
This week, Williams faces a 49ers defense that ranks sixth in aFPA to opposing tight ends, so it’s not the best time to gamble on him. Plus, he produced last week, so it looks like an off-week for him – I’m mostly joking. Still, take a wait-and-see approach with him. Eyes perked in his direction, but not setting him in lineups just yet.
Fantasy Upside
Maxx Williams showed flashes of his receiving skills as a rookie in 2015, catching 32 passes for 268 yards. He’s a big target at 6-foot-4 and he has the talent to develop into a nice red zone option for the Ravens. He had 13 touchdowns in two seasons at the University of Minnesota. With veteran Ben Watson coming back from a torn Achilles and Crocket Gillmore waived after a knee injury, Williams has a chance to earn a starting job in Baltimore.
Fantasy Downside
Williams is coming off a knee injury of his own, and the depth chart is crowded with Watson, Nick Boyle, and Larry Donnell all vying for snaps at the position. Williams will need to separate himself from the pack and will need to convince the coaching staff he can stay on the field and provide a consistent safety valve in the passing game in order to develop into a viable fantasy option.
2017 Bottom Line
Someone coming out of the Ravens crop of TEs may develop into a good fantasy option, but it’s hard to bank on any one of them right now with the depth at the position. Other than as a dynasty stash in leagues with large rosters, it’s hard to recommend banking on Williams in most league formats. He should probably go undrafted and remain on waivers until he carves out a prominent role.
Fantasy Upside
Maxx Williams had a disappointing rookie year after being grabbed in the second round out of Minnesota. Williams ended up with only one touchdown all season as he struggled to beat out Crockett Gillmore for the starting spot. He also struggled with injuries, but appears to be healthy this year and will be given a chance to earn time in the starting lineup. He finished the year on a high note with 13 of his 32 receptions in his last three games.
Fantasy Downside
The depth chart is awfully crowded and tight ends tend to take a while to put up big fantasy numbers. The Ravens brought in veteran Ben Watson coming off a career year with the Saints, and Gillmore is still around vying for snaps. Williams has an uphill battle to distinguish himself above the competition.
2016 Bottom Line
Ultimately, it’s hard to think Williams gets the starting job outright, although he’ll likely remain in the rotation for the Ravens. Baltimore has been looking for consistent receiving options for a while now, but with such a crowded depth chart, it’s very unlikely that Williams becomes fantasy viable this year. He still has some value in dynasty leagues as a stash option, but he should likely remain on waivers in most league formats.
Update: With Ben Watson tearing his Achilles and likely to miss the season, Williams will probably get more looks. Still, he's been outperformed by Gillmore in the past, making it unlikely that he becomes a legit fantasy option this year.
Week 12 at Cleveland
Maxx Williams had three catches and 20 yards against the Rams last week as the Ravens got a much needed win, but at the cost of their starting running back and starting quarterback. Williams’ numbers don’t pop out at you, but it’s good to see him on the field for more than 50 percent of the team’s offensive snaps, and he should continue in that TE2 role for Baltimore. With Crockett Gillmore still the main guy in the offense, Williams has limited value, but he’s starting to be worth looking at in dynasty formats again as a roster stash.
Week 5 vs. Cleveland
Maxx Williams split snaps pretty evenly with fellow rookie Nick Boyle in the absence of Crockett Gilmore last week against the Steelers. He ended up with only two catches for 17 yards and was targeted four times. Williams hasn’t yet established himself at the NFL level and could continue to split time with the other tight ends in Baltimore.
Williams will face a Browns team that has been vulnerable to the tight end position and gave up two touchdowns to the Chargers tight ends a week ago. He’s a risky option with the unclear role he has in the offense and he seems to still be a dynasty stash at best at this point. In most leagues, Williams should remain on waivers.
Week 4 at Pittsburgh
Maxx Williams got some extended playing time last week after Crockett Gilmore left with a calf injury, and he wound up with 44 yards on three receptions. He has a nice matchup against a Steelers defense that was torched by Rob Gronkowski in Week 1, but is a risky start as an unproven rookie who hasn't been able to beat out Gilmore for the job. Expect increased targets, but not enough to make him a viable fantasy starter.
Week 1 vs. Denver
Maxx Williams was the Ravens second round pick this year, but he failed to beat out sophomore Crockett Gilmore for the starting TE role. This is disappointing new for Ravens fans as well as fantasy owners who thought Williams might get the same amount of targets Owen Daniels got last year, but he's worth keeping an eye on if Gilmore struggles. Baltimore will look for ways to get Williams up to speed. For now, stash him or leave him on waivers, but his progress is worth watching.
Maxx Williams was the Ravens’ second round draft choice this year and will be the second rookie pass catcher, along with receiver Breshad Perriman, to get a look at a starting role in the Baltimore offense. Williams had limited production in college, but he played on a run first team in Minnesota, with a shaky talent group, and he exhibited playmaking skills with 50 yard receptions in each of his two years as a starter. He finished with 13 touchdowns in college, including eight last year, and the Ravens are hoping he can bring that kind of red zone scoring to their offense.
Fantasy Upside
The Ravens got a combined 76 catches, 800 yards, and five touchdowns from the tight end position last year, and that was with a guy with hip issues, an aging veteran who has since moved on, and a pair of young guys. If Williams can step in and become the main focal point at the position for the Ravens, as his talent suggests, he could be in line for a similar stat line sooner rather than later, and become a viable fantasy option in leagues with a separate tight end position.
Fantasy Downside
Rookie tight ends often struggle to make an impact, and Williams will still be vying for snaps with second year player Crockett Gilmore, a versatile player who showed flashes last year in a limited role. Williams will have an uphill battle trying to become a consistent fantasy option early in his development.
Bottom Line
Williams has too many unknowns to count on him if you’re looking for an every week starter at the tight end position, and most owners don’t carry two tight ends on the roster, making it difficult to suggest drafting him in most leagues. However, he’s a name to keep an eye on, and is a great option as a developing player in dynasty leagues. He has some upside this year too, due to the lack of elite receiving targets in Baltimore, which might give him more of an opportunity to make an early impact.
