MarShawn Lloyd or Rashod Bateman: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Bateman’s path to extra targets edges out Lloyd’s rushing-only floor
Bateman gets the call because his likely role expansion matters more than Lloyd’s narrow projection edge. Lloyd owns the rushing work and draws the better matchup, but Yahoo Sports 2026-09-14 confirms he had no catches and limited passing-down involvement, leaving little margin if Green Bay’s lead does not produce touchdowns. With Flowers doubtful, Bateman has the clearer path to becoming Lamar Jackson’s primary familiar outside option (ESPN 2026-09-18), though Baltimore’s low-volume passing attack remains the real risk.
What flips it: A confirmed return for Zay Flowers.
Sources: Yahoo Sports · Sep 14, 2026 · ESPN · Sep 18, 2026
AI editor
In standard and half-PPR scoring this is a coin flip.
MarShawn Lloyd
9.810.511.2 Projected Points
Rashod Bateman
7.18.710.3 Projected Points
MarShawn Lloyd’s market
Rashod Bateman’s market
Why MarShawn Lloyd
Toss-Up· mediumRB1-listed change-of-pace back. Explosive burst and receiving upside; minimal NFL sample due to injuries.
Owns 100% of the rushing-play snaps on a 5.5-point favorite, but RB33 at 11.2 with a 3% target share is pure flex — zero pass-game floor.
- Lloyd’s rushing-play control gives him touchdown equity if Green Bay turns its home favorite script into a lead.
- His elite matchup can overcome the lack of receiving work if the Packers keep him on the field near the goal line.
The call
- Role is the bull case: per Yahoo (9/14), Lloyd took all 13 of Green Bay's rushing-play snaps in Week 1 on a 44% snap share, so the carries funnel through him.
- Game script helps — a 24.0 implied total and a -5.5 spread point to a lead Green Bay can grind out, which means late-game handoffs.
- The cap is receiving work: 3% target share, seven pass-pro snaps and no catches means his PPR floor lives entirely on rushing volume and touchdown luck.
- Matchup grades tough (DvP 3 of 32, with 32 softest), but that's a one-game sample at 0.00 confidence — don't bench him on it. If he holds the full rush-snap share, he's a startable flex; if Green Bay splits the backfield, sit him.
Latest on Lloyd
Lloyd played 30 snaps in the Week 1 opener and got all 13 of the team's rushing-play snaps (13 carries), but only saw 16 passing-down snaps and pass-protected on just seven plays with no catches.
Yahoo Sports · Sep 14, 2026Lloyd is finally healthy and Josh Jacobs is on the commissioner exempt list, but how much of a workload can Lloyd handle in Week 1?
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Rashod Bateman
Start· mediumStarting outside WR2. Smooth route runner and vertical/red-zone threat in a low-volume passing attack.
Flowers doubtful clears the target tree for Baltimore's WR-2 — 78% snaps, best Lamar rapport, 27.0 implied total in a soft 24-of-32 matchup.
- Flowers’ likely absence can upgrade Bateman from a secondary route runner to Jackson’s most trusted outside target.
- His vertical and red-zone role gives him a better chance to beat a thin floor with one high-value play.
The call
- Zay Flowers is doubtful, and ESPN notes Bateman would be the Ravens receiver with the most familiarity with Lamar Jackson — that's a direct path from a 4% target share to real volume.
- He's already on the field: 78% snap share as the WR-2, so the role is locked in regardless of what happens with target competition.
- Baltimore's 27.0 implied total and -7.5 spread point to a comfortable, efficient offense, and the Saints grade 24 of 32 versus the position (1-game sample, so treat it as a nudge rather than a green light).
- Risk: the 4% target share from Week 1 is the whole case against him. If Flowers is upgraded and plays, this drops straight to a flex toss-up.
Latest on Bateman
If Zay Flowers cannot play, Bateman would become Baltimore's wide receiver with the most familiarity with Lamar Jackson.
Ravens looking for Bateman to step up if Flowers can't playESPN, baltimoreravens.com, BaltimoreRavens.com · Sep 18, 2026Bateman is still awaiting the NFL's investigation outcome regarding his June arrest on family violence charges.
Ravens looking for Bateman to step up if Flowers can't playESPN · Sep 18, 2026Ravens receiver Zay Flowers is doubtful for Sunday's game vs. the Saints after he aggravated a left hamstring injury and missed the majority of practices this week.
Jamison Hensley explains why Rashod Bateman is the Ravens wide receiver to watch going into Week 2.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | MarShawn Lloyd | Rashod Bateman |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 9.810.511.2 | 7.18.710.3 |
| Consensus rank | RB33 | — |
| Opponent vs position | NYJ · 3 of 321-game sample | NO · 24 of 321-game sample |
| Rushing Yards | 3 of 32 | — |
| Rushing TDs | 1 of 32 | — |
| Rushing Attempts | 1 of 32 | — |
| Receptions | 8 of 32 | 27 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 6 of 32 | 10 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 1 of 32 | 25 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | — | 25 of 32 |
| Targets | — | 31 of 32 |
| Target share | 3% | 4% |
| Reception share | 0% | 0% |
| Implied total · spread | 24.0-5.5 | 27.0-7.5 |
| Depth chart | RB1 | WR2 |
| Snap share | 44% | 78% |
| Start/Sit record | 0–1+1 toss-up | — |
Recent form
MarShawn Lloyd — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs MIN | 3.73.73.7 |
Rashod Bateman — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs IND | 0.00.00.0 |
Signal breakdown
- 11.2 vs 10.3 projected PPR pointsMarShawn Lloyd +
- Consensus position rankeven
- Opponent DvP rank 3 vs 24 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 24.0 vs 27.0 team pointsRashod Bateman +
- No injury designationseven
- 44% vs 78% snap shareRashod Bateman +
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