There are a lot of new faces fantasy footballers are trying to identify in Baltimore. One, a little more mysterious than most, is whose name will be slotted in the No. 3 wide receiver position.
To begin the season, receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman will be locked into the No. 1 and No. 2 roles, barring injury. But the Ravens have a decision to make with seemingly three guys fighting for that No. 3 role.
Why should you care about a third-string receiver for fantasy purposes on a run-heavy team? That third option belonged to Isaiah Likely for his four seasons in Baltimore, who was a heavy red zone target.
During Likely’s best years in Baltimore, 2023 and 2024, as a backup to Mark Andrews, he still started half of the team’s games, combined for 11 touchdowns and topped the 400-yard mark each season. He also averaged the two highest yards per reception marks of his career so far in those seasons, 13.7 and 11.4, respectively.
In those seasons, Likely was closer to Andrews’ yardage marks of 544 and 673, and had one fewer touchdown than him in 2023.
Meet the Bachelors
With no tight end threatening for the role, Baltimore finds three receivers on its depth chart this summer that should make the final 53-man roster: Devontez Walker, Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt.
Devontez Walker vs Ja’Kobi Lane vs Elijah Sarratt
Devontez Walker:
The good news? Nearly half of Walker’s career receptions (nine) have gone for touchdowns (four). The bad news? Walker played just 16.1% of Baltimore’s offense snaps in 2025.
Walker, especially with the struggles of Bateman, looked to have a pathway ahead of the draft to be a starter in his third year for Baltimore. Two tight ends head to new teams, and no dominant receiver added in free agency.
But then Baltimore took two wide receivers in the fourth round, and he now has more traffic to weave through to earn a starting spot on a team that doesn’t feel ready to commit to him.
Walker, in two seasons, has not developed better footwork, cutting, or contested catch strength. Those, paired with the inability to consistently track the football, seem to make it hard for Baltimore to trust him.
When he gets loose, though, Baltimore can trust him. Walker averages 27 yards per target and 22.7 yards per catch. Walker’s role is defined by extreme efficiency on minimal opportunities rather than sustained target volume.
The only problem is, the Ravens don’t need the deep threat or target volume. They need the slot and short field, something Walker will have to show this preseason if he wants the job.
Ja’Kobi Lane:
Lane was the first of two receivers drafted in the fourth round in April for the Ravens. Some may balk that Lane was taken over Sarratt based on their college careers, but Baltimore is only looking at it as hoping one of them fills the role.
While Sarratt – who we will get to in a minute – excels across the field, Lane’s strengths are in the red zone and tight field. The contrast of the two is why Roto Street Journal feels Baltimore specifically selected the two.
Lane’s height (6-foot, 4-inches) creates a mismatch in the red zone, and his cutting allows for a quick separation in the end zone. Both help him make adjustments late in a play and work in his favor of securing the rock.
Because Lane struggles with varying his speed on routes, he barely breaks the ‘threat’ threshold outside of the red zone. That, paired with his inability to often play through route contact from defenders, almost makes him not a candidate for playing time outside the red zone.
But considering Baltimore used Likely heavily in the same way, as they mirror physical attributes and playing styles, it can’t go unnoticed that the drafting of Lane could be the Ravens hoping it’s a one-for-one swap.
Elijah Sarratt:
Sarratt, who was often referred to as Allen Lazard throughout his draft process, grew up right down the road from the Ravens in Stafford, Virginia.
Drafted in the middle of the Round 4, Sarratt brings a bruiser mentality and helps his team by winning 50-50 balls in both man and zone coverages. Sarratt ranked in the top-7 in PFF Receiving Grade (amongst 250-plus WRs, min. 50 targets) in both the 2023 (James Madison) and 2025 (Indiana).
His 90.2 PFF Receiving Grade placed him ahead of both Tetairoa McMillan (86.9) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (89.6) in his Billetnikoff-winning season, while trailing just behind Luther Burden III (91.0) and Malik Nabers (93.1). In 2025, the only 2026 rookie wideouts that had higher PFF Receiving Grades than Sarratt (87.3) were Carnell Tate (89.0) and another Biletnikoff Award winner, Makai Lemon (91.4).
Although he struggles with separation, it speaks to his ability to make up for it, even when contested catches shouldn’t be needed.
Furthermore, to help out quarterback Lamar Jackson, Baltimore needs to develop its short game. Sarratt is built as a possession receiver, instead of a deep threat, which will set him apart from players on the Ravens roster who need speed to defeat defenders and make plays.
Sarratt’s first and second level-play, the short or underneath and intermediate, is often brought up when describing his strength. He can disguise his routes, giving him an edge in coverage by a few seconds, helping create the space he needs against defenders.
Want more breakdown on the Ravens’ wide receiver room? You can read RSJ’s reaction to Baltimore landing Sarratt after the draft here.
