Just hours after receiving his release from Seattle, receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens.
Fantasy owners should take note of this on a number of levels.
First, quarterback Joe Flacco's stock continues to rise. He now has one of the best groups of skill position players in the AFC, and projections of a monster season seem more safe with another solid veteran receiver in the fold.
However, those skill position players could all take a hit with this news.
Anquan Boldin was added this spring to give Flacco a reliable target opposite Derrick Mason. Now both Boldin and Mason will lose catches to Houshmandzadeh. Similarly, tight end Todd Heap might lose some of his third down looks to Houshmandzadeh, who is a solid possession receiver.
The other player that could lose fantasy value in this transaction is running back Ray Rice. With Maurice Jones-Drew raising eyebrows with reported knee issues, Rice had jumped to the third spot on most draft boards. However, a big part of his value was tied up in his ability to make plays in the passing game; Rice lost touches int he red zone to Willis McGahee last year.
If Houshmandzadeh takes catches away from all of the other skill position players in Baltimore, the safest bet on the Ravens now appears to be Flacco.
