subject: Baltimore Ravens Tickets - Fantasy Spotlight: Anquan Boldin [print this page] Wide receiver Anquan Boldin has had a chip on his shoulder ever since coming into the league - a chip big enough to propel him to have an outstanding career despite being largely overlooked in the 2003 NFL Draft. Since being drafted near the bottom of the second round that year, Boldin has been one of the very best receivers in the entire league, though a tumultuous last couple of seasons with the Cardinals led to him getting traded to Baltimore. But now on an up-and-coming team, Boldin gets his chance to once again shine as the number one wideout, a role he is likely to relish.
In Boldin's very first game, it was fairly clear that he wasn't supposed to be a second-round receiver. Though rookie wideouts tend to struggle, Boldin exploded for 10 catches, 217 yards and two touchdowns in his first game in the NFL. The rest of the league soon began to take notice of his physical style of receiving, which made him as dangerous after the catch as he is before it.
But Boldin's career soon took a new course as the Cardinals drafted stud wideout Larry Fitzgerald in the 2004 NFL Draft, making Boldin the I-A option instead of the go-to guy. Over the years with Fitzgerald on the other side of the field, Boldin remained one of the top wideouts in the league, though his numbers were certainly cut short due to the amount of targets that a talent like Fitzgerald commands. Even with Fitz on the field, Boldin still had a few unbelievable seasons, including a 2005 season in which he had 102 catches and 1,402 yards receiving in just 14 games. In 2008, Boldin got to 1,000 yards receiving in just 12 games. But eventually Boldin became unhappy with the team, leading to his relocation to Baltimore.
In Baltimore, Boldin will certainly sell loads of Baltimore Ravens tickets due to his aggressive style and ability to get into the end zone, but he'll also be a major reason that they could be the favorite in the AFC North. Baltimore has always had a reputation as a smash-mouth team, and Boldin certainly fits that mold much better than he ever did in Arizona. With a young, talented quarterback in Joe Flacco, Boldin is the unquestioned number one receiving option, moving savvy veteran Derrick Mason to a supporting role in the two-slot.
The Ravens also have a nice balance on offense that should actually help Boldin's effectiveness in the long run. Running back Ray Rice is one of the best in the league already and is the type of versatile back that can cause nightmares for opposing defenses. Due to Rice's ability to tote the rock, safeties will be tempted to creep up to the line of scrimmage, which should open up deep routes for both Boldin and Derrick Mason.
Though the Ravens certainly won't throw the football as often as the Kurt Warner-helmed Arizona offense, Boldin's fantasy potential could actually be higher. Because of Fitzgerald's presence, Boldin has never had more than 11 touchdowns in his career, even though his receptions and yard totals have always been fantastic when he's stayed healthy. In the red zone, Boldin will be Flacco's main target, which could allow Boldin to be among the leaders in receiving touchdowns for the first time in his career.
Boldin is also switching teams at the precisely right moment. As the Cardinals' future seems uncertain with Matt Leinart taking over for Kurt Warner at quarterback, the Ravens are a team on the rise. After winning nine regular season games and reaching the second round of the postseason last year, the Ravens are a team that has Super Bowl potential for the next couple of seasons. And with Boldin sure to be targeted often in the Ravens' offense, fantasy owners will want to grab Boldin quickly.
