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Baltimore Ravens: Picking surprise stat-leaders for 2019

By Richard Bradshaw

CARSON, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 22: Tavon Young #25 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates an officials ruling confirming his fumble recovery for a touchdown, to take a 22-10 lead over the Los Angeles Chargers during a 22-10 Ravens win at StubHub Center on December 22, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
CARSON, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 22: Tavon Young #25 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates an officials ruling confirming his fumble recovery for a touchdown, to take a 22-10 lead over the Los Angeles Chargers during a 22-10 Ravens win at StubHub Center on December 22, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 16: Wide Receiver Willie Snead #83 of the Baltimore Ravens is tackled after a reception by cornerback Javien Elliott #35 and outside linebacker Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 16: Wide Receiver Willie Snead #83 of the Baltimore Ravens is tackled after a reception by cornerback Javien Elliott #35 and outside linebacker Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /

Receptions: Willie Snead

Mark Andrews is by far the best, and safest, answer as to who will lead the Baltimore Ravens in receptions in 2019. Still, we can’t just overlook the possession receiver the team currently has in Willie Snead.

Snead by no means had an incredible 2018 season, with just 62 receptions for 651-yards and one touchdown (caught in week one). One overlooked factor of his 2018 season, however, was his catch rate, sitting at 65.3%. That was good enough for him to be the second most reliable wide receiver with 25+ targets for Baltimore (number one being Chris Moore). Willie Snead did have some stupid drops in 2018, but other than that he was pretty dang reliable.

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As Lamar Jackson continues to develop into a better NFL passer, he’ll need players to count on. In Snead, Jackson has a veteran receiver who has played a half-season with him, and now has an entire off-season to keep working with him. There are few threats to Snead’s position towards the top of the Ravens wide receiver depth chart, giving him the most opportunities.

For a guy like Willie Snead, volume = production. We saw during his time with the New Orleans Saints that he’s capable of making big plays. Snead nearly had back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns with New Orleans. For the Baltimore Ravens, Snead could perhaps find that version of himself again and turn in a productive year-two for the team.

It’s also worth noting that Snead will be an unrestricted free agent following 2019, so a strong season is one more reason to show up in a big way. 60+ receptions is the bar he set, but over 70 is realistic. Depending on the volume, Snead could even flirt with 80+ receptions.

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