{"id":5701,"date":"2024-11-29T03:06:57","date_gmt":"2024-11-29T03:06:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=5701"},"modified":"2024-11-29T03:06:57","modified_gmt":"2024-11-29T03:06:57","slug":"breaking-lamar-jackson-names-new-wr1-for-the-ravens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=5701","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING : Lamar Jackson Names New \u2018WR1\u2019 for the Ravens"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"l-article__header\"><\/header>\n<div class=\"l-article__meta\">\n<div class=\"l-article__meta-item l-article__meta-item--dates\">\n<ul class=\"c-meta c-meta--post c-meta--list c-meta--dates\">\n<li class=\"c-meta__item c-meta__item--updated\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"l-article__content\">\n<div class=\"c-content entry-content\">\n<div id=\"post-featured-container-id\">\n<div id=\"post-featured\" class=\"wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"h-responsive\">\n<figure class=\"h-responsive__inner\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-featured-image size-featured-image wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/GettyImages-2187198785-e1732838705409.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 95vw, 780px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/GettyImages-2187198785-e1732838705409.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780 780w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/GettyImages-2187198785-e1732838705409.jpg?quality=15&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/GettyImages-2187198785-e1732838705409.jpg?quality=35&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1350 1350w\" alt=\"Lamar Jackson\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\" data-dom-ready-time=\"1003\" data-img-load-time=\"1056\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption-credit\">Getty<\/span>Lamar Jackson says the Baltimore Ravens have a new &#8220;WR1.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>There\u2019s a new go-to wide receiver for the\u00a0Baltimore Ravens, according to\u00a0Lamar Jackson. The two-time NFL MVP quarterback now sees fourth-year pro\u00a0Rashod Bateman\u00a0as his primary target.<\/p>\n<p>When asked about Bateman, Jackson confidently declared \u201cI look at him as WR1,\u201d per\u00a0The Baltimore Banner\u2019s Jonas Shaffer.<\/p>\n<div id=\"63c64b00fac987bc8f0bd6bda3c6fbe1\" class=\"embed_container\">\n<div class=\"tweet-container\">\n<article class=\"tweet-container_article\">\n<div class=\"tweet-container_header \">\n<div class=\"tweet-header-brand\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tweet-body\">\n<p>Lamar Jackson on Rashod Bateman: \u201cI look at him as WR1.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He expects greatness from his receivers, and they expect it from him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tweet-actions\"><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s quite a vote of confidence in an oft-injured former first-round draft pick who hasn\u2019t always made the grade. Bateman has been healthy and delivering this season,\u00a0earning the res<a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nfl\/baltimore-ravens\/rashod-bateman-lamar-jackson-statement-commanders\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">pect<\/a>\u00a0of the undisputed leader of the Ravens offense along the way.<\/p>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Content_2_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-content adthrive-content-2 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,25816858\/AdThrive_Content_2\/5ad7479721520f50ab7da88e_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"google-ad-manager-fallback-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Rashod Bateman Justifying Lamar Jackson Praise<\/h2>\n<p>The Ravens originally selected Bateman with the 27th overall pick in 2021 hoping he would quickly become a true No. 1 receiver for Jackson. Fate and circumstances conspired to ruin those best laid plans, with Bateman\u2019s lengthy injury record a major problem.<\/p>\n<p>He missed time with\u00a0groin, lisfranc and hamstring\u00a0injuries before working his way back into the mix this season. Bateman\u2019s vertical speed made him an intriguing prospect, but he didn\u2019t always fit the run-heavy schemes designed around Jackson\u2019s dual-threat skills.<\/p>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Content_3_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-content adthrive-content-3 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,25816858\/AdThrive_Content_3\/5ad7479721520f50ab7da88e_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"google-ad-manager-fallback-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Fortunately, the Ravens have become more proactive throwing the ball since Todd Monken replaced Greg Roman as offensive coordinator in 2023. Bateman has been one of the main beneficiaries of the schematic shift, emerging as a\u00a0premier separator against press coverage.<\/p>\n<p>Bateman\u2019s also started to win against other types of coverage as the season has progressed. He entered Week 12\u2019s games against the\u00a0Los Angeles Chargers\u00a0with \u201c0.9 yards per route run versus man coverage and 2.4 against zone coverage,\u201d according to\u00a0ESPN\u2019s Seth Walde<a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/insider\/story\/_\/id\/42487849\/nfl-week-12-predictions-fantasy-sleepers-upset-picks-stats-latest-buzz-2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">r<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As Walder predicted, Bateman proved a problem against a Chargers defense heavily reliant on zone coverage shells. His best play was this 40-yard touchdown catch.<\/p>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Content_4_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-content adthrive-content-4 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"31f3264bd2c3fd73508aad73b9515604\" class=\"embed_container\">\n<div class=\"tweet-container\">\n<article class=\"tweet-container_article\">\n<div class=\"tweet-container_header tweet-verified-business\">\n<div class=\"tweet-header__author tweet-header__author--verified\">\n<div class=\"tweet-header__meta\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tweet-header-brand\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tweet-body\">\n<p>Bateman fought through the penalty. Unreal catch.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tweet-actions\"><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Bateman made the tough grab under pressure to help a risky throw by Jackson pay dividends. That\u2019s what a WR1 can do for his quarterback, but Bateman isn\u2019t the only quality weapon at Jackson\u2019s disposal.<\/p>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Content_5_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-content adthrive-content-5 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,25816858\/AdThrive_Content_5\/5ad7479721520f50ab7da88e_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"google-ad-manager-fallback-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Ravens Have Core of Playmakers for the Passing Game<\/h2>\n<p>This is probably the first time Jackson has a core of genuine playmakers to aim for through the air. All-Pro tight end\u00a0Mark Andrews\u00a0is still a dependable safety valve, while roving understudy\u00a0Isaiah Likely\u00a0is more dynamic with the ball in his hands.<\/p>\n<p>When Jackson throws to his wideouts he can look for reliable veteran\u00a0Nelson Agholor. The latter can still win between the numbers and in the red zone.<\/p>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Content_6_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-content adthrive-content-6 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,25816858\/AdThrive_Content_6\/5ad7479721520f50ab7da88e_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"google-ad-manager-fallback-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Finally, second-year pro\u00a0Zay Flowers\u00a0is the player many would have called Jackson\u2019s WR1. Flowers is terrific after the catch and somebody capable of winning at multiple levels of the field.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s still pacing all Ravens receivers with\u00a087 targets and 57 catches. Bateman is still some ways off those numbers with\u00a055 targets and 35 receptions, but he\u2019s been targeted at least four times in all but two games so far this season, per\u00a0Pro Football Reference.<\/p>\n<p>The Ravens have surrounded Jackson with a contingent of complementary pass-catchers. What the group needs is an Alpha, somebody who can win individual matchups against the best defenses from around the league.<\/p>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Content_7_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-content adthrive-content-7 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,25816858\/AdThrive_Content_7\/5ad7479721520f50ab7da88e_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"google-ad-manager-fallback-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Bateman isn\u2019t there yet, but Jackson clearly believes the 25-year-old is finally on his way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GettyLamar Jackson says the Baltimore Ravens have a new &#8220;WR1.&#8221; There\u2019s a new go-to wide receiver for the\u00a0Baltimore Ravens, according to\u00a0Lamar Jackson. The two-time NFL MVP quarterback&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5705,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>BREAKING : Lamar Jackson Names New \u2018WR1\u2019 for the Ravens - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=5701\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING : Lamar Jackson Names New \u2018WR1\u2019 for the Ravens - 24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"GettyLamar Jackson says the Baltimore Ravens have a new &#8220;WR1.&#8221; There\u2019s a new go-to wide receiver for the\u00a0Baltimore Ravens, according to\u00a0Lamar Jackson. 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