The Atlanta Falcons haven’t had a lot to celebrate in 2019, and that became even more true when breakout TE Austin Hooper sprained his MCL in Week 10. But in the team’s first game without 2019’s TE1, 2nd-year wideout Calvin Ridley picked up the slack and then some. Ridley caught all 8 balls thrown his way for 143 yards and a TD, putting up his highest point total of the season that made him Week 11’s WR3. Ridley has at least 5 targets in 9 of 10 games this year, and with a decent remaining schedule, might be exactly the guy you want as your WR2/3 for your stretch run.
With Austin Hooper expected to miss at least another game or two and Devonta Freeman also out, Ridley and Julio Jones were options 1A and 1B in Atlanta’s offense, both being targeted 8 times and putting up solid numbers against a half-decent Carolina secondary. If the Falcons’ injury report stays unchanged for their upcoming matchup with Tampa Bay, Ridley and Jones will both be fantastic options against one of the worst secondaries in football.
After the Bucs, Atlanta will face New Orleans and Carolina, who they’ve beaten the past 2 weeks, before tough matchups against San Francisco and Jacksonville for the fantasy championship. Regardless, Ridley continues to be a great secondary WR option and one you should be starting if you’ve got him.
