Fantasy Football Today: Giving up Calvin Ridley not an option as more production is on the horizon

Calvin Ridley has averaged 19.66 fantasy points over his last three games, and assuming he stays healthy, there isn’t much reason to believe he won’t continue to put up big numbers. The Titans have yet to play the Texans twice this year, but they are the only team left on their schedule currently ranked in the top 10 in total defense.

Ridley seemingly accelerated after DeAndre Hopkins was traded to Kansas City and with Mason Rudolph in the lineup. In Week 9 against Detroit, he exploded with 10 receptions for 143 yards, which was good for 22 fantasy points. Ridley is averaging 10.6 goals per game since Hopkins’ departure and will continue to be the focal point of the offense as the season progresses.

Ridley is a starter in just 39% of leagues and, despite his recent production, remains on the roster only slightly longer than players like Jauan Jennings, who is in 33% of leagues. While Jennings is averaging more fantasy points per game with 13.7 compared to Ridley’s 11.2, it’s important to keep in mind how the season is starting to play out for each receiver. The 49ers have a much tougher road ahead of them in terms of schedule, and with McCaffrey back in the fold, it could eventually reduce the number of targets he ultimately receives. Meanwhile, Ridley is WR1 at Tennessee.

During this week’s Fantasy recap, Heath Cummings was asked his stance on Calvin Ridley vs. Jauan Jennings, and spoke glowingly about the explosive elements of Ridley’s game.

“It’s right in Jauan Jennings territory. Week to week, it’ll probably be their matchup and implied totals in Las Vegas that determine it. They’ll both be boom-and-bust No. 3s, but they’ll have weeks as high as No. 2 and weeks where you think, ‘Why did I start with that guy?’ but it was cool to see Ridley really have a fantastic day with Will Levis. He beat them (the Chargers secondary) several times. You’ll hate it when you watch the aDOT. I think it was 16. what he does with Will Levis.”

While there is no right answer to the question, expect Ridley to continue increasing his fantasy stock. In his Week 10 performance, he caught five of nine targets for 84 yards and two touchdowns. What Levis is discovering about Ridley is his elite ability to start and stop. When it comes to any route that includes a double move of any kind, it’s safe to assume that Ridley will re-accelerate faster than almost any defender in the secondary. Tennessee is also moving him in the slot and allowing him to run the slot fade in goal line situations, which is almost indefensible for any corner who can’t match his speed because there is too much field for a man to cover if there is no It is not a security point.

If the Levis-Ridley connection continues to grow, he could be a strong WR2 in your lineup for the rest of the season. He will be the focal point and the receiver that opposing defenses prepare to stop. He’ll win his one-on-one matchups whenever they’re presented to him, and so far Levis is doing a good job finding him against man coverage. Ridley is projected to score just 9.60 fantasy points in Week 11, and that’s a fair assessment, as the Vikings defense has caused a lot of problems for quarterbacks across the NFL with their costumes, and Levis could suffer a or two turnovers. However, Ridley should hit double digits in this contest due to how often he will be attacked.

For more on Fantasy, be sure to check out the full Week 10 Fantasy recap, or watch (and subscribe) on YouTube.