Falcons Rookie WR Calvin Ridley Involved Early and Often as Emerging Penny Stock

Opposite Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley is going to see coverage he should destroy.

With Julio Jones sitting, Calvin Ridley flashed his potential while operating as the clear top WR for the Falcons. The Alabama wideout hauled in 3-of-5 looks for a team-high 49 yards and a score, including a 36-yard bomb from Matt Ryan. In general, the Falcons moved the ball with ease, and seem ready for a rebound in Year 2 under Steve Sarkisian.

Ridley was quiet in his Falcons debut, but was heavily involved against the Chiefs. At 6’1″ with a 4.43 Forty, Ridley can be a mismatch terror — especially while facing second coverage opposite of Julio Jones. Teammates can’t stop raving about Ridley, both in his approach and ability:

“C-Rid always looks good,” receiver Marvin Hall said. “He has a motor. I’m so excited for him and it’s just the beginning of something special. He’s very humble, he acts like he’s been here before.”

“It’s hard to say he’s a rookie,” linebacker De’Vondre Campbell said of Ridley. “He came in really polished, he looked like a vet from the beginning. He has a ridiculous stride, he covers a lot of ground really quick. He’s a mismatch problem. We have a really good receiving corps. On almost any other receiving corps in the league, he’d definitely be a No. 1 receiver. He’s going to be able create mismatches and dominate.”

With immense ability and a juicy opportunity, Ridley drips in upside at his 114 price tag. This is especially true if Ryan and the entire Falcons bounceback in their second season under Sarkisian. On that note, expect Ryan to be an incredibly high-floor, sneakily high-ceiling QB2 option that’s a perfect late-round complement to a Patrick Mahomes start.

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  • Founder of Roto Street Journal. Lover of workhorse backs, target hog wideouts, and Game of Thrones. Aspiring to be the "Brady" and "Leo" of the fantasy universe.

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