What can Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers do for an encore after an excellent rookie season?
The Athletic's Robert Mays thinks Flowers could put his name in the Ravens' record books.
Speaking on "The Athletic Football Show," Mays made what he called "an irresponsible player prediction" — i.e. a bold prediction that, as Mays said, he can't be held accountable for.
Mays' prediction was that Flowers would set the Ravens' single-season receiving yards record. Mays said he specifically means for wide receivers.
Former wide receiver Michael Jackson (not that one!) currently holds the record with 1,201 receiving yards in 1996. Tight end Mark Andrews holds the overall record with 1,363 yards in 2021.
"It's not that high!" Mays said, adding: "1,202 gets there for Zay Flowers, and I truly think he has a chance to take that sort of step in his second season."
On the same podcast, Mays laid out a compelling case for why the Ravens offense could be "scary" in 2024. Mays believes that with the addition of Derrick Henry and more familiarity in Todd Monken's pass-based offense, the Ravens will present a pick-your-poison dilemma for opposing defenses.
ESPN's fantasy football projections currently project Flowers to catch 78 passes for 971 yards and 6 touchdowns. That would be only one more catch, but 113 more yards than his rookie season. It may be possible, as Flowers has said he is hoping to connect on more deep balls with Lamar Jackson this season. With Henry, Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Rashod Bateman in the mix, Flowers might not see a jump in opportunities, but could make more of the opportunities he gets.
If Flowers does go for over 1,200 yards, then it's likely a sign that the Ravens offense really did explode as Mays projected.
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