Zay

Flowers

Flowers led the Ravens in targets, receptions, and yards in a somewhat pass-heavy game script for Baltimore. Flowers’ day could have been even bigger if he had held on to a couple easy receptions that would have likely included yards after the catch. His 124 receiving yards against the Steelers was the second highest total of the season for Flowers, who functions as a reliable top-24 weekly wideout without much upside. He’ll look to notch his second touchdown of the 2025 season next week against the miserable Bengals defense.

The good news is that Flowers’ seven targets led the team. He logged a 22 percent target share. The bad news? Everything else. The Ravens tried to get Flowers going downfield, but he and Lamar Jackson were seemingly never on the same page. The two-time MVP regularly sailed passes to Flowers and was visibly frustrated with the situation late in the game. To top things off, Flowers coughed up a fumble late in the fourth quarter, putting to rest any hope of a Baltimore comeback. Better days should be ahead for the young wideout, but he was looking like a potential WR1 a month into the season. Now he is fighting for a spot in the WR2 ranks heading into Week 14 versus Pittsburgh.

The Ravens mustered just 67 yards of offense in the first half, but their lone field goal was set up by receptions that Flowers took for 14, and 20 yards, respectively, to reach the target range. Flowers continues to make the most of his targets, topping 50 yards in four-straight games despite not seeing more than six targets in any of those outings, and remains the unquestioned No. 1 pass catcher in the Ravens’ offense. It would be nice if he scored a touchdown once in a while, as his first and only score of the season came back in Week 1, but Flowers remains in the mix as a strong WR2 play in Week 13 against the Bengals.

Flowers also rushed once for five yards. On the Ravens’ fourth drive, Flowers caught a pass on a short out route before turning upfield and getting into a foot race with Browns defensive backs. The latter group ultimately won, bringing Flowers down, after 45 yards, at the Browns’ three-yard line. A couple plays later, Flowers helped power RB Derrick Henry into the end zone with a shove from behind. After that, Flowers was held out of the box score until the fourth quarter, when QB Lamar Jackson began looking his way under pressure. Flowers should be more consistently involved against a lackluster Jets defense in Week 12.

It wasn’t a high-volume day for Flowers, but the Ravens’ WR1 still made the most of his limited opportunities. Flowers’ Longest play came on a 27-yard reception that helped set up a Tyler Loop field goal before halftime, which proved crucial in a game where the Ravens struggled to move the ball at times. Flowers will be back on the high-end WR2 radar in next week’s game against the Browns.

5/64 meant it was not a disastrous night in PPR leagues, but fantasy managers will lament that Lamar Jackson threw for four scores and none of them went his No. 1 wideout’s way. Then again, Jackson’s overdue return to the lineup means Flowers will have an enhanced floor and elevated ceiling going forward. That includes for Week 10 against a swarming Vikings defense that is nevertheless prone to surrendering big plays. Flowers is a strong WR2 who will mix in WR1 statlines.

Jackson was a full participant in practice throughout the week and told reporters on Tuesday that he was ready to go. It looked like Jackson would be back in Week 8 after the team listed him as a full participant on Friday, but that charade was quickly unmasked when it was reported that he worked with the scout team for the final practice of the week. The team then ruled him out and even retroactively changed his practice status, a move that could result in a fine. A final week of rest may have been for the best as Jackson appears to be fully healthy, putting him back at the top of the QB ranks for Week 9. His return will also push Zay Flowers up in the WR2 range while keeping Mark Andrews at the back of the TE1 ranks.

Flowers was leaned on early by Tyler Huntley in his return to Baltimore. The Ravens’ WR1 ripped off a 20-yard gain on the Ravens’ second possession that helped set up an eventual Derrick Henry touchdown, and was instrumental in moving the ball downfield on the team’s third possession, catching three passes for another 26 yards to help position them for a field goal. Most of Flowers’ production came in the first half, and his day could have been much bigger had Huntley not missed him on a deep throw down the middle of the field in the third quarter. Still, fantasy managers won’t be disappointed with the effort or the volume. Flowers will have high-end WR2 upside in Week 9’s tilt with the Dolphins, which should feature the return of Lamar Jackson.

Technically, Flowers’ second giveaway was credited to Cooper Rush, but it was Flowers who failed to handle a simple end-around handoff. That giveaway came one series after Flowers made about 17 too many cutbacks into the teeth of the Rams’ defense and got the ball punched out at the end of a 10-yard reception. Really struggling without Lamar Jackson under center, Flowers also hasn’t spiked a week since the opener. He has thankfully prevented his floor from falling out in PPR leagues, but the ceiling has been nonexistent. The hope is that changes after Baltimore’s Week 7 bye, where Jackson is expected to return for matchups with the Bears and Dolphins.

Flowers would seem to be at an elevated risk of re-injury, but he should be good to go for his normal role for as long as he can stay on the field. With Cooper Rush making another start in place of Lamar Jackson (hamstring), Flowers is probably better treated as a WR3 than WR2. Joining Jackson on the shelf are FB Patrick Ricard, WR Devontez Walker, OT Carson Vinson, ILB Roquan Smith and CB Chidobe Awuzie.