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Baltimore Ravens receiver Rashod Bateman
Baltimore Ravens receiver Rashod Bateman received an unflattering welcome home gift from the NFL less than 24 hours before a matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.
A product of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, Bateman figures to play a key role on Sunday as the No. 2 option in the passing game behind Zay Flowers. While the Vikings have handled opposing No. 1 receivers throughout the season, No. 2 receivers remain an exploit against a struggling Vikings cornerback group.
The Vikings have surrendered 66 yards receiving and a touchdown to Jameson Williams and 183 yards and a touchdown to DeVonta Smith since coming out of the bye week — both players cut from the same cloth as Bateman.
Bateman seems poised for a breakout, but he will have to keep his head on straight after the NFL fined the former Golden Gophers receiver $25,124. During a Week 9 matchup with the Miami Dolphins, Bateman was flagged on a play after approaching an official with harsh words that the league ruled as unsportsmanlike conduct, verbal abuse of an official. The league announced the fine on Saturday, which was the second-largest punishable fine from last week.
Selected 27th overall in 2021, Bateman is the only Minnesota receiver to ever be drafted in the first round. The Tifton, Georgia, native holds freshman records for receptions (51), receiving yards (704) and touchdowns (6). He ranks sixth in program history for receptions (147) and receiving yards (2,395) and fifth in touchdowns (19) despite forgoing his senior year to declare for the NFL Draft.
Bateman will not serve a suspension, and the Vikings’ cornerbacks may not change their approach in covering Bateman. However, if he is still running hot after the fine, it could be fodder for some head games come Sunday.
Vikings RB Aaron Jones Receives Massive Fine From NFL After Week 9 Conduct
Bateman isn’t the only player in Sunday’s game who was hit hard by the NFL’s gameday accountability program.
Running back Aaron Jones was fined $23,186 for unnecessary roughness (use of the helmet) for a play against the Detroit Lions last week. In the first quarter, Jones caught a screen pass and converted on 3rd-and-9 with a 14-yard gain that he finished with by leaning into a hit from incoming Lions safety Thomas Harper.
There was no flag called on the play, and it seems that Harper came crashing into Jones as he lowered his head to absorb the blow.
Vikings Deemed Underdogs Against the Ravens
J.J. McCarthy‘s return in a triumphant win over the Lions breathed new life into the Vikings’ season — but Minnesota has little margin of error moving forward.
The Vikings (4-4) continue their hopeful climb as underdogs against the Ravens (3-5), who are oddsmakers set as 4.5-point favorites on Sunday.
Analysts seem to agree. Nine of NFL.com’s 10-person panel picked the Ravens to win. Eight of 11 ESPN analysts also picked the Ravens to win.
Despite the doubt, the Vikings have reason to believe after proving oddsmakers wrong last week as 9.5-point underdogs to Detroit. The Vikings looked improved in all phases behind McCarthy’s first game back since Week 2 and third career game overall.
McCarthy may have to outduel Lamar Jackson, who has led the Ravens offense to 31.8 points per game when he’s played this season.
Trevor Squire is a sports journalist covering the NFL and NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks. Trevor studied journalism at the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities, making stops at the Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @trevordsquire. More about Trevor Squire
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