Fantasy Upside
After a terrible 2015 season in Minnesota, Mike Wallace recorded the third 1,000-yard season of his career in Baltimore last year. In his first season with the Ravens, Wallace caught 72 balls for 1,017 yards and averaged 14.1 yards per reception – his highest total since 2011 with the Steelers. Wallace is a speed guy, and Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco likes to throw the deep ball. While he was miscast with the Vikings and the Dolphins before that, the Ravens offer an offensive system and quarterback that more fits his skill set.
Fantasy Downside
The Ravens WR1 has ranked 25th, 31st, 19th, and 22nd the past four seasons, making it unlikely the team will suddenly provide a prolific fantasy option at the WR position. While Wallace will have good weeks and has added bonus in quick-strike leagues, the track record doesn’t suggest a sudden and drastic uptick. Wallace is 30 years old now, which means his speed could start to decline at some point soon. Flacco is entering his 10th year, so he doesn’t seem to have an extra level to get to either as a producer of fantasy options.
2017 Bottom Line
Wallace will be an unpredictable but productive option in all fantasy leagues this year. However, he gets a bonus in both quick-strike and best-ball formats where his long-touchdowns and big plays are best taken advantage of. In most leagues, he’ll be worth considering as a WR3 option or bye week replacement. Wallace should see plenty of targets again, which gives him modest value, but at this point in his career, it’s hard to expect more than what he provided last season.