The Athlon Sports 2023 Fantasy Football Annual magazine reached out to team insiders at all 32 NFL clubs to ask them three key fantasy questions heading into the season. As we count down to training camp, Sports Illustrated will publish their answers here. Today’s team: Baltimore Ravens
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After back-to-back injury-shortened seasons, do you think Lamar Jackson will run less often in 2023?
It seems likely, though it’s worth noting that Jackson’s injuries occurred on passing plays. With the addition of Odell Beckham Jr., Nelson Agholor and first-round draft pick Zay Flowers to Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay and All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews, the Ravens have the most explosive passing attack in Jackson’s six seasons in Baltimore. New offensive coordinator Todd Monken figures to be more pass-happy than run-first Greg Roman. Still, the potential for magic exists every time Jackson takes off. The Ravens would be foolish to completely get away from that.
- 2023 Season Outlook: Baltimore Ravens
What kind of production can we expect from Odell Beckham Jr.?
Beckham is 30 and coming off a major knee injury, but the Ravens aren’t paying him $15 million to sit on the bench. With a lot of weapons and only one ball, Beckham might not see 26 percent of his team’s targets, as he did playing for Monken in Cleveland in 2019, especially since Andrews has always been Jackson’s favorite target. But 750 yards and six touchdowns seem achievable.
Will this be a breakout season for J.K. Dobbins, or will the Ravens run the ball less with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken?
Can both be true? The Ravens are almost certain to run the ball less, but Dobbins has made clear that he wants the ball in key situations (read: goal-line). If there’s an element to Dobbins’s game that could break out, it’s receiving. In his previous NFL stops, Monken has usually had a running back top 40 targets. Dobbins is dangerous when he gets the ball in space, and Monken will find more ways for that to happen.
—Bo Smolka, PressBox
