Fantasy Football: Will Lee Evans' Arrival Open Things Up for Anquan Boldin?

The Ravens made a big splash at wide receiver for the second straight season. Last year they brought in veteran Anquan Boldin from Arizona. This year it’s Lee Evans, who escapes from Buffalo. By joining a better offense with a better quarterback, along with a needed change of scenery, Lee Evans’ fantasy value is restored. I’m more interested in the effect it will have on Anquan Boldin.

Last year’s acquisition of Boldin gave Joe Flacco a tough receiver to catch the ball over the middle. Unfortunately that was the same role that Derrick Mason, who has since moved on to the Jets, specialized in. The same goes for T.J. Houshmandzadeh who is now a free agent.  That veteran trio, nor Ray Rice or Todd Heap, were not going to stretch the defense though and open things up for Flacco.

This year is different though. First the Ravens drafted Torrey Smith out of Maryland to give the Ravens a deep threat. While he may be a nice long-term solution, his usefulness this year is in question thanks to the NFL lockout that deprived the rookie of precious mini-camps and OTAs. If the Ravens were not a Super Bowl caliber team, perhaps they could live with the growing pains of Smith as their number two receiver, but that’s not the case.

They found a nice bargain when Buffalo decided to part ways with Lee Evans for a 2012 NFL Draft fourth round pick. Evans has underwhelmed the past two years, but the previous three years he averaged 1052 yards. Evans is not going to command double-teams or return to his 2006 form (1290 yards, eight touchdowns), but he should make life a little easier for Boldin. With Smith and Evans stretching the defense, Boldin should have more room to work underneath.

I consider Boldin a solid WR2 and Evans a decent WR4. Not only does Boldin have better helpers (on paper), he should be more comfortable in his second year with Flacco.

What are your thoughts on Anquan Boldin? Lee Evans?

Also check out:

• 2011 Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football RB Rankings - PPR
• 2011 Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football DEF Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football IDP Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football K Rankings