Ravens QB Lamar Jackson aims to be more elusive at lighter weight

Wed May 22 5:49pm ET
Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson, the most prolific running quarterback in the league, aims to make it even tougher on opposing defenses this coming season.

Coming off his second NFL Most Valuable Player award, Jackson has lost weight and appears slimmer at the team's OTAs this week. Though he didn't reveal his exact weight Wednesday, saying it was "two something," Jackson had said in a video posted by Complex Sports last week that he was at 205 pounds.

He was 230 pounds in 2022 and 215 last season, when he passed for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns, and rushed for 821 yards and five scores in leading the Ravens to a 13-3 record in 16 regular-season starts.

"I don't really know how many pounds I lost," said Jackson, 27. "I'm like two-something (pounds) right now. But I (will) just say it was important enough to be able to move around a little bit extra, that's all."

The 6-foot-2 Jackson said he lost weight "just so I can be more agile and be able to move more."

Jackson said he feels great at the lighter weight and as elusive as he's felt in years. He doesn't believe it will diminish his ability to take the physical pounding at his position -- particularly for running QBs.

"We sacrifice our body each and every game (and) practices," he said. "I believe it really doesn't matter about the weight."

His coach, John Harbaugh, doesn't sound concerned about a lighter -- and faster--Jackson.

"I think that's Lamar, he's a pro," Harbaugh said. "He knows what he's doing. He knows where he wants to be with that. My concern is that he is in shape, best shape of his life."

A three-time Pro Bowl selection and first-team All-Pro in 2019 and 2023, Jackson has passed for 15,887 yards and 125 TDs and rushed for 5,258 yards and 29 scores in 86 games (77 starts) since the Ravens selected him 32nd overall in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Louisville.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 3

Player Notes
Justin Herbert Sep 22 10:40am CT
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) is officially active for Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and will start under center, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Herbert, who has 274 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception this season, was questionable with a high-ankle sprain. The Chargers took the decision up until the final minute in order to evaluate the quarterback's injury pregame. In the end, he's suiting up. However, the Chargers are carrying three active quarterbacks (Herbert, Easton Stick, and Taylor Heinicke) for the first time this season, which means they have a contingency plan in case Herbert isn't able to play the full game. Fantasy managers should treat him as a low-end QB2 this week.

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Tyjae Spears Sep 22 10:40am CT
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Tennessee Titans running backTyjae Spears(ankle) is officially active for Week 3 versus the Green Bay Packers. Spears had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction heading into the weekend.Tony Pollardremains the top running back in this Tennessee offense, but Spears has still been able to carve out a role this year. Through two games, he has 10 carries for 41 yards on the ground, plus six catches for another 22 yards through the air. He ranks as the overall RB42 in fantasy football so far. Managers can deploy him as a solid RB3 or FLEX in leagues with at least 14 teams.

From RotoBaller

Joe Mixon Sep 22 10:33am CT
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The Houston Texans have declared RB Dameon Pierce, LB Jamal Hill, C Jarrett Patterson, RB Joe Mixon, WR John Metchie, CB Myles Bryant and DE Rashad Weaver inactive for Week 3.

From TheHuddle

David Njoku Sep 22 10:33am CT
David Njoku

The Cleveland Browns have declared QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, OG Javion Cohen, OT Jack Conklin, CB Kahlef Hailassie, TE David Njoku, RB Pierre Strong and WR Jamari Thrash inactive for Week 3.

From TheHuddle

Andy Dalton Sep 22 10:23am CT
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Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young's benching following the team's Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in favor of QB Andy Dalton is not considered to be permanent, according to multiple sources. The thinking is that Young will regain the starting role at some point later this season, although head coach Dave Canales did not detail how long he would remain on the sidelines. The organization still views Young as their long-term solution at quarterback and feels that he would benefit most from watching.

Fantasy Spin: Dynasty owners should continue to hold on to Young, who had recently attracted the interest of multiple NFL teams looking to see if the Panthers were considering trading him. Dalton should be viewed as a midrange QB2 option for as long as he is the starter, although his fantasy ceiling isn't very high.

From TheHuddle

Taysom Hill Sep 22 10:23am CT
Taysom Hill

New Orleans Saints TE Taysom Hill (chest) has been ruled out for Week 3's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Fantasy Spin: Hill logged a pair of limited practice sessions during the week but saw his injury report status downgraded from questionable to doubtful to out over the last 48 hours. TE Foster Moreau will likely receive the starting nod but he and the other New Orleans tight ends can be ignored for fantasy purposes this afternoon.

From TheHuddle

Taysom Hill Sep 22 10:20am CT
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New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (chest), who was doubtful to play in the Week 3 showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles, has officially been ruled out on Sunday. Hill suffered a chest injury in the Week 2 blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys and was even hospitalized shortly before being released. The do-it-all offensive weapon will now try to work his way back for a Week 4 meeting against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons next weekend. The 34-year-old is one of the most versatile players in all of football, but he has only eight carries for 53 yards and has caught two of his three targets for two yards in two blowout victories for the Saints so far in 2024, so it's hard to really rely on him in fantasy as anything more than a boom/bust TE2 on a weekly basis. With Hill sidelined against Philly, expect more targets for Juwan Johnson.

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Avonte Maddox Sep 22 9:50am CT
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Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (foot) is currently listed as questionable ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Gardner-Johnson was unable to practice on Thursday or Friday, which puts him in a bad spot ahead of Sunday's game. Despite that, the Eagles are hopeful that Gardner-Johnson will play, but they will have to wait until warmups. The loss of Gardner-Johnson would likely mean Avonte Maddox starts at safety. The absence of Gardner-Johnson would be a downgrade for this secondary and defensive unit as a whole.

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Miles Sanders Sep 22 9:40am CT
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Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders has been unable to get much going on the ground this season. He has rushed for 42 yards and hauled in three receptions for five yards through two games. The 27-year-old remains the primary backup to Chuba Hubbard. The Panthers figure to continue splitting up the workload, but Hubbard has been the much more effective back between the two. The hope is that the Panthers offense can finally get something going against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3. They've scored only 13 points, but a change at quarterback could help them. Possibly, Sanders gets more involved with Andy Dalton under center, but fantasy managers shouldn't take that risk. Sanders remains an avoidable option until he proves otherwise.

From RotoBaller

Easton Stick Sep 22 9:30am CT
Easton Stick

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Easton Stick could be asked to start under center during Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team is preparing to start Justin Herbert (ankle), but they haven't made a final decision. If Herbert sits, the Chargers plan to use some strategy that involves both Stick and veteran quarterback Taylor Heinicke. This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen against a tough Steelers defense. Stick threw for 1,129 passing yards with three touchdowns and one interception in five games (four starts) with the Chargers last season. The former fifth-round pick seems like a capable backup, but is not a recommended fantasy option if Herbert is unable to play.

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Emanuel Wilson Sep 22 9:20am CT
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Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson took a backseat last week with rookie MarShawn Lloyd (ankle) getting into the mix. Wilson only saw five carries for nine yards in the win over the Indianapolis Colts. However, he figures to take a slightly larger workload with Lloyd headed to the injured reserve. Wilson put together a decent performance during the season opener, but there won't be a significant workload for him with Josh Jacobs healthy. That being said, Wilson is worth stashing in deep leagues or dynasty formats, but isn't a reliable starting option for Week 3.

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Samaje Perine Sep 22 9:10am CT
Samaje Perine

Kansas City Chiefs running back Samaje Perine is likely to see an increased workload during the Week 3 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The Chiefs are expected to go with a running back by committee approach with Isiah Pacheco (leg) sidelined. The assumption is that rookie Carson Steele is going to be the primary back, but Perine should mixed in as well. The veteran back will probably take over the receiving duties in the backfield, which could be good news for fantasy managers in PPR formats. However, it's unknown exactly how the Chiefs plan to split up the workload on Sunday. That being said, Perine shouldn't be trusted as anything more than a low-end flex option in PPR formats.

From RotoBaller

Justin Jefferson Sep 22 9:00am CT
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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (quad) was removed from the injury report on Friday. The superstar wideout was dealing with a quad issue, but appears to be fine after getting in a full practice session on Friday. It sounds like Jefferson is a full-go for Sunday and won't have any lingering effects from his quad issue. That is great news for fantasy managers after Jefferson went down mid-way through Week 2. Fantasy managers should feel confident with Jefferson as a WR1 for Week 3 against the Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Whittington Sep 22 8:50am CT
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From RotoBaller

Christian Wilkins Sep 22 8:40am CT
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Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (knee) is expected to play during Sunday's Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Wilkins has been limited in practice all week due to a knee issue he picked up last week. The former first-round pick signed a hefty contract with the Raiders over the offseason. Wilkins and Maxx Crosby (ankle) are expected to dominate this defensive line. Wilkins is still seeking his first sack as a Raider, but has nine tackles through the first two games. The absence of either Wilkins or Crosby would be a significant blow to this d-line.

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Brian Burns Sep 22 7:40am CT
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Tyjae Spears Sep 22 7:30am CT
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Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (ankle) is expected to play in Week 3 versus the Green Bay Packers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Spears had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction heading into the weekend. Tony Pollard remains the top running back in this Tennessee offense, but Spears has still been able to carve out a role this year. Through two games, he has 10 carries for 41 yards on the ground, plus six catches for another 22 yards through the air. He ranks as the overall RB42 in fantasy football so far.

From RotoBaller

Bryce Young Sep 22 7:30am CT
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Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young will likely be re-installed as the team's starter later this season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The former No. 1 pick was benched earlier this week, but the team views the decision "as a break or timeout more than anything." Carolina reportedly still has confidence in Young, who has completed 55.3 percent of his passes for 245 yards, zero passing touchdowns, and three interceptions so far. He does also have 18 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to his name. Fantasy managers should hold Young in dynasty leagues but can drop him in single-QB redraft formats.

From RotoBaller

Greg Dortch Sep 22 7:20am CT
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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (hamstring) is expected to be active for Week 3 versus the Detroit Lions, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Dortch caught six of eight targets back in Week 1 but commanded just two targets on a 35 percent snap share last weekend. He is Arizona's No. 3 wide receiver behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, and he also has to compete with tight end Trey McBride and running back James Conner. Dortch can be left on waivers in most fantasy leagues this week.

From RotoBaller

Justin Herbert Sep 22 7:20am CT
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) is preparing as though he will play in Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. However, Herbert is still viewed as a game-time decision as the Chargers want to evaluate him further during pregame warmups. The former first-round pick has completed 31 of 46 passes for 274 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception this year. He also has 24 rushing yards and a lost fumble. Herbert ranks as a mid-to-low fantasy QB1 if he suits up. In the event that his high-ankle sprain is too much to play through, the Chargers would turn to either Easton Stick or Taylor Heinicke.

From RotoBaller