Zay Flowers is questionable for Week 2 due to a hamstring injury, according to RotoBaller NFL. This is bad news for the Baltimore Ravens. The team already has two other receivers who cannot play. The receiving corps is pretty banged up heading into the home opener against the New Orleans Saints. Fantasy owners should expect a rough week for Baltimore’s passing game.
The Injury Timeline Is Concerning
Flowers left Sunday’s season-opening win over the Indianapolis Colts in the second quarter. He did not return to the game. Before he went down, he had a stellar line of five catches for 150 yards. That includes a massive 54-yard touchdown. He averaged 30 yards per catch. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that Flowers is currently designated as questionable. The team will get an MRI on Monday. This is the second time he has hurt this hamstring. He originally injured it during training camp joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings in August. Aggravating an old injury is never a good sign. It suggests the muscle is not fully healed or is very fragile.
Baltimore Has No Depth Left
The situation looks even worse when you look at the rest of the roster. Rookie receiver Ja’Kobi Lane also got hurt in Week 1. He suffered a wrist injury and did not return to the game. Devontez Walker was inactive for the opener due to a ankle issue. With Flowers, Lane, and Walker all out or unsure, the Ravens have very few options. The team might have to rely on rookie Elijah Sarrat. He was a healthy scratch in the opener but could play a key role if forced into the starting lineup. This is his potential NFL debut. It is a lot to ask of a rookie to step in against a tough defense like the Saints. The lack of experience here is a major problem for the offense.
Most fans thought Flowers would be the main target for Lamar Jackson. Now that he is questionable, the plan changes completely. The Ravens cannot run their normal passing concepts if their top receiver is hurt. The 41-23 win over the Colts looked great, but that was with a healthy group. Without Flowers, the passing game will struggle to move the ball. The Saints defense will focus on stopping the run and the remaining receivers. If Flowers cannot go, the Ravens might have to rely on short passes and the running game. This limits the ceiling for any fantasy player on the team. You cannot trust a player who is questionable with a hamstring injury. These injuries often linger and get worse if the player tries to push through pain.
The Ravens need to be careful with their young talent. Pushing Flowers too hard could cost them the rest of the season. The team will wait for the MRI results on Monday before making a final call. Until then, the status remains cloudy. The 54-yard touchdown showed what Flowers can do when healthy. Now the team faces the reality of a potential long-term absence. The receiving corps is pretty banged up going into Week 2, and that is an understatement.
