Getty Gallery: 2/7
Start: WR Calvin Ridley vs. Bengals
Sit: WR Amari Cooper vs. Browns
I realize our list has been heavy with Falcons players the last two weeks, but there is a reason for that. Atlanta is playing in their third straight home game, and the offense is finally starting to find a rhythm after early red zone struggles. The Falcons defense is depleted, which means the Falcons offense is going to continue to try to put up big numbers for the team to have a chance at winning. The Bengals defense has given up a good amount of yards and points this season.
After making zero catches in his NFL debut, Ridley has had 11 receptions for 210 yards and four touchdowns in Atlanta's last two games. While you are likely to be disappointed if you're expecting Ridley to score another three touchdowns this week, the Falcons receiver is going to be a WR2/WR3 the rest of the way as long as Matt Ryan continues spreading the ball around.
Ridley may have a little extra juice this week going against former Alabama player Dre Kirkpatrick. After his breakout Week 3 performance, Ryan spoke about how integral Ridley has become to the offense.
“He stepped up when he had the opportunity too,” Ryan said per AtlantaFalcons.com. “It was clear from the start the game plan would be having two guys to account for Julio and a safety coming down from the opposite side to account for where Mohamed was at. That leaves Calvin singled up in one-on-one coverage. I thought Sark did a great job of taking advantage of that ... calling plays to get him shots down the field. But at the end of the day, Calvin has to go out there and make those plays and he’s done that for us all season but today was special. I was proud of him.”
The Raiders Offense Is a Riddle, Wrapped in a Mystery, Inside an Enigma
If you can predict what the Raiders offense is going to do each week, you are doing better than most. Tight end Jared Cook had nine receptions and 180 receiving yards in Week 1.
Cooper had 10 receptions with 116 yards in Week 2 against the Broncos. Last week, he finished with just two receptions for 17 yards. Jordy Nelson was the player with the massive game in Week 3 for the Raiders. Nelson had six receptions and 173 yards along with a touchdown. Nelson previously only had 53 total yards in the first two games.
Sitting Cooper this week has less to do with him as it does the unpredictability of the Oakland offense. It is challenging to start any of the Raiders wide receivers with confidence right now. Cooper also has a difficult matchup against the Browns defense that has been surprisingly solid.
Leave Cooper on your bench, and after his next big game try to trade him. It is going to be a wild ride this season with the Raiders, and it is better to have players on your roster you can start with confidence each week. I'm recommending fantasy owners sit one Bama wide receiver for another if you have that opportunity.