Rashod Bateman or Woody Marks: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Bateman has the clearer path to volume if Flowers sits

Bateman gets the nod because a likely vacancy beside Lamar Jackson would make him Baltimore's most familiar wideout, while his vertical and red-zone role gives the Ravens' strong scoring outlook extra upside. [ESPN 2026-09-18] Marks has a more fragile workload: Houston still views Montgomery as its top back, leaving Marks dependent on change-of-pace and two-minute work. [ESPN 2026-09-13] The risk is Bateman's limited established target history—and the unresolved NFL investigation—but Marks needs a role change before his talent matters here.

What flips it: Zay Flowers being cleared to play.

Sources: ESPN · Sep 18, 2026 · ESPN · Sep 13, 2026

AI editor

Rashod Bateman

Rashod Bateman

WRBALvs NO

Projected Points

Start· medium
Woody Marks

Woody Marks

RB44HOUvs CIN

Projected Points

Sit

Rashod Bateman’s market

REC
O/U 2.5
-137 / +107
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 36.5
-111 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+190
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Woody Marks’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 28.5
-113 / -113
Rushing Yards Props →
REC
O/U 1.5
+115 / -146
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 9.5
-108 / -116
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+215
Anytime Touchdown Props →
NO@
BALSun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
CIN@
HOUSun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Rashod Bateman

Start· medium

Starting 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' absence would give Bateman the best Lamar familiarity among Baltimore's wideouts. (ESPN 2026-09-18)
  • His vertical and red-zone skill gives a favored Baltimore offense a path to a spike week beyond routine volume.

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

Role

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, 2026

Bateman 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, 2026
Ravens' Zay Flowers doubtful vs. Saints; Nnamdi Madubuike out

Ravens 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.

ESPN · Sep 18, 2026
Why Rashod Bateman is the Ravens' WR to watch in Week 2

Jamison Hensley explains why Rashod Bateman is the Ravens wide receiver to watch going into Week 2.

VideoESPN · Sep 16, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Woody Marks

Sit

RB2 behind David Montgomery. Between-the-tackles committee back who carried 196 times for 703 yards as a rookie with light pass-game usage.

Sit — bench-tier RB at consensus RB44: 24.5 implied team total, 3% target share.

  • Montgomery's lead-back status leaves Marks dependent on change-of-pace and two-minute work. (ESPN 2026-09-13)
  • His between-the-tackles profile and light pass-game usage limit his ability to recover in PPR when carries fall short.

Latest on Marks

Role

Marks handled 10 touches for 40 yards in a clear change-of-pace role behind Montgomery in Week 1, including two-minute drill work, but Montgomery is now viewed as Houston's top back heading into Week 2 vs. the Bengals.

ESPN · Sep 13, 2026
Why the David Montgomery Trade Makes Woody Marks Better

Houston traded for a veteran back and John Harris explains how it'll make their second-year rusher even stronger.

houstontexans.com · Sep 10, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricRashod BatemanWoody Marks
Projected points
Consensus rank—RB44
Opponent vs positionNO · 24 of 321-game sampleCIN · 16 of 321-game sample
Receptions27 of 3230 of 32
Receiving Yards10 of 3227 of 32
Receiving TDs25 of 32—
Targets31 of 32—
Anytime TD25 of 3213 of 32
Rushing Yards—7 of 32
Rushing TDs—15 of 32
Rushing Attempts—4 of 32
Target share4%3%
Reception share0%4%
Implied total · spread27.0-7.524.5-2.5
Depth chartWR2RB2
Snap share78%51%

Recent form

Rashod Bateman — last 1 week

Week 1vs IND

Woody Marks — last 1 week

Week 1vs BUF

Signal breakdown

  • 10.3 vs 7.7 projected PPR pointsRashod Bateman +
  • Consensus position rankeven
  • Opponent DvP rank 24 vs 16 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 27.0 vs 24.5 team pointsRashod Bateman +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 78% vs 51% snap shareRashod Bateman +

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