This offseason Calvin Ridley was suspended for betting on NFL games during the 2021 NFL season, while injured. According to Ridley, it was only $1500 he bet. The NFL saw this as enough to suspend him for the entirety of the season. Ridley was the topic of trade conversations, and the Falcons held off on trades, presumably knowing this was coming out. The Eagles were one team floated as a landing spot (who traded for AJ Brown on draft day). The question comes in now, what is his value for dynasty leagues?
Right now, if he suits up in 2023, Calvin Ridley will be an Atlanta Falcon. The Falcons drafted Drake London with the 8thoverall pick this past NFL draft, and also drafted Desmond Ridder in the 3rd round (74th overall). Currently, Marcus Mariota is the starting quarterback for the Falcons. The Falcons currently are one of the teams overall with the lowest Super Bowl odds, and would likely be considered a favorite for the top pick in the 2023 NFL draft. The top of the 2023 draft is front-loaded with quarterback talents such as CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, and Anthony Richardson as of now at the front.
If Calvin Ridley returns next season, he has the possibility to line up with Kyle Pitts in year three, Drake London in year two, and himself. In a recent dynasty draft I did with Stack Attack Fantasy, I took Ridley 13.06 and really like that value there. If he were to be traded I don’t think it really affects his value at all, but right now I would try and buy low everywhere I can. The idea of catching passes from CJ Stroud or Bryce Young is very appealing, or even Desmond Ridder if he plays well (who was talked about as a potential first-rounder at one point this offseason).
Calvin Ridley will be 28 years old next season and turning 29 at the end of the 2023 season. Ridley will hit FA in 2024, as his 5th-year option was picked up for next season, and is under contract for the 2023 season. So he will be playing on a low-cap hit unless he works an extension with the Falcons.
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