Fantasy Football 2018: 7 rookie wide receivers you must target
By Jon Dove
2. Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons counted themselves lucky when Calvin Ridley fell to them in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. There was a point during the draft process that Ridley was getting some top-10 consideration.
Ridley brings a long frame and sound route running to the table. He plays with a great feel for the game that helps him disguise his routes and create separation.
His length gives him the ability to win in contest situations and make some acrobatic catches. This is something he had to do often while at Alabama due to iffy quarterback play. That ability to adjust to poor throws while in pressure situations will help at the next level.
Ridley is in a situation where he has to get past veterans Mohamed Sanu and Justin Hardy. Those two come with experience in the system and working with Matt Ryan. Having a highly productive and veteran quarterback like Ryan is something that plays into fantasy value.
It’s going to take some time for Ridley to earn trust and get consistent targets. However, he might be a great midseason add who could produce similar results as JuJu Smith-Schuster. A key might be his ability to learn both the outside and slot responsibilities.