Team news: Baltimore Ravens | Page 11

A big day for Ravens, who had three players return to Wednesday’s practice:

WR Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle)
CB Marlon Humphrey (foot)
WR Rashod Bateman (hamstring)

Also, OT Ronnie Stanley (knee) was back after missing Friday’s practice.

Huge news across the board for Baltimore, as Ronnie Stanley is also one of the best tackles in the game when healthy. Beckham has proven that he is going to be a headache for fantasy managers, as he is going to be nearly impossible to start in anything but a best ball league. Zay Flowers the only wide receiver we can start with confidence, but as a WR3 if both if his teammates are returning.

Ravens ruled out WRs Odell Beckham Jr and Rashod Bateman for Sunday’s game at Cleveland.

Related Players: Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, Nelson Agholor

To this point in the season, Beckham has been on the field long enough to garner seven targets, while Bateman has season more playing time but only has nine. In a twist, Nelson Agholor has outproduced both of them. Zay Flowers should be considered a WR3 with way better upside than that as we had into Week 4.

Ravens ruled out the following players for Sunday’s game vs. the Colts: WR Odell Beckham Jr., RB Justice Hill, CB Marlon Humphrey, OT Ronnie Stanley, C Tyler Linderbaum, LB Odafe Oweh, and S Marcus Williams.

Related Players: Gus Edwards, Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman

No one figured Beckham was going to remain healthy throughout the season but certainly didn't take him long. Edwards should be an immediate upgrade in Week 3, and should be a high-floor, low-ceiling RB2.

Ravens RB Justice Hill suffered a toe injury that could keep him out of the Week 3 matchup with the Colts but shouldn’t result in a lengthy absence. Baltimore signed vet Kenyan Drake as insurance.

Related Players: Gus Edwards

If Hill is forced to miss Week 3, it would be a full-go on Gus Edwards, regardless of the Kenyan Drake signing.

Q: Are we seeing the signs of what possibly this offense in the first year was missing a dual threat TE that stays on the field all 3 downs?

Indeed. Now, it’s all Durham Smythe. He played all but two offensive snaps in Sunday’s win over the Patriots, after playing every single one in the opener.

As the story said, and we witnessed last year, McDaniel always seemed uncomfortable having to work in Mike Gesicki last year, when his blocking didn’t fit everything the coach wanted to do with the tight ends, especially with the outside-zone runs.

The story added Smythe has six receptions for 67 yards in two games this season. While those are fantasy stud numbers at the position, Smythe could be an option in deeper leagues, or as a TE2, with a hope for improvement.

Ravens WR Odell Beckham Jr has an ankle injury.

Related players: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor

After the game, coach John Harbaugh described it as minor, Rapoport said. He added his understanding is Beckham is managing the issue and if all goes well, it shouldn't affect his availability going forward. The Ravens had just about everyone involved in Week 2 with Agholor leading the way and collecting a line of 5-63-1 on six targets. Flowers caught four balls for 62 yards and Bateman had a 3-18-0 line.

Ravens TE Mark Andrews (quad) was a full participant today, an indication that -- while he is questionable -- the plan is for him to play.

Related Players: Isaiah Likely

Much like with fellow elite TE Travis Kelce, if Andrews is in the lineup, you're starting him. Even if he's limited in Week 2, his upside is far greater than almost any other option in the league. If nothing pops up over the next two days, Andrews should be in your lineup.

Derrick Henry made it clear that he isn't frustrated about not getting the ball in the season opener as much as he usually does.

"I trust the coaching staff, what we do," Henry said. "Everybody needs to touch the ball. It's not all about me."

When asked about Henry's involvement going forward, Vrabel said the Saints game was an outlier.

"We're going to need Derrick and everybody so we can figure out what we can do consistently," Vrabel said. "Derrick will be a huge part of that, I can assure you."

Spears' 33 snaps were five more than Henry, who saw the field for 28 plays, the story pointed out. The team also used Spears in a spot with about six minutes left in the game and down by a point. Typically, that would have been Henry's time to shine, but Henry had just five carries in the fourth quarter for 12 yards. Spears only had three carries for the game, but did produce 27 yards. Spears also added a catch for one yard. Henry should still have a big part in this offense, but it looks like the Titans may have a back in Spears they also trust.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Melvin Gordon is "here for a reason."

Related players: Justice Hill, Gus Edwards

Harbaugh said the team likes the guys they have and that Gordon wants to be here, likes the environment and is a proven back. It sounds like the team doesn't plan to sign an RB heading into Week 2. That likely means the team rolls with a combination of Edwards and Hill, with perhaps Gordon also getting some work. Hill had eight carries but for nine years, however, two of those carries did go for touchdowns. One would expect Hill to be the back involved in the passing game while Edwards (8-32-0) is the early down back.