Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley stole the show in Week 11, catching all eight of his targets for 143 yards and a touchdown during the team’s win over the Panthers.
Atlanta will look to keep things rolling on offense in Week 12 when it goes up against a Buccaneers defense that’s allowing an NFL-worst 31.3 points per game.
Let’s examine the Falcons’ Week 12 fantasy football projections, focusing on ESPN’s standard league scoring system.
QB: Matt Ryan
ESPN Projection: 21.2 points — 2 pass TDs, 306 pass yards, 1 INT, 9 rush yards
Season Total: 172.2 points — 18 pass TDs, 2,663 pass yards, 9 INTs, 1 rush TD, 77 rush yards
Week 12 Analysis: Ryan moved into tenth place on the NFL’s all-time passing yards list in Week 11, and is averaging 295.8 yards per game this season. While he’s still not 100 percent as he recovers from a nagging ankle injury, Ryan is facing a Tampa Bay defense that’s giving up 290.3 passing yards per game — the second-highest average in the league. Expect some big-time numbers from Ryan, who is ESPN’s No. 2 rated QB for Week 12.
RB: Brian Hill
ESPN Projection: 11.4 points — 43 rush yards, 2 catches, 19 rec. yards
Season Stats: 32.3 points – 131 rush yards, 4 catches, 32 rec. yards, 2 TDs (1 rec. TD)
Week 12 Analysis: Hill didn’t live up to his fantasy sleeper status in Week 11, but the Falcons haven’t been good on the ground all season. Devonta Freeman is still out, though, and Hill can be an effective play due to what is likely to be a heavy workload. Look out for Kenjon Barner and Qadree Ollison to steal some goal-line touches, however, Hill is the only Falcons RB worthy of making your lineup on Sunday.
WR: Julio Jones
ESPN Projection: 18.8 points — 6 catches, 91 yards, 1 TD
Season Stats: 170.9 points — 59 catches, 882 yards, 4 TDs
Week 12 Analysis: Julio Jones has a seven-week touchdown drought going, but ESPN likes him to break out of it against a mediocre Buccaneers secondary. Jones has consistently been the Falcons’ best offensive weapon, but hasn’t had the big performances fantasy players have come to expect. That could, and probably will change in Week 12.
WR: Calvin Ridley
ESPN Projection: 13.8 points — 5 catches, 56 yards
Season Total: 139.3 points — 44 catches, 614 yards, 5 TDs
Week 12 Analysis: Ridley came to play in Week 11 with star tight end Austin Hooper out, leading the team with 143 yards and a TD on eight catches. Mohamed Sanu is in New England and Devonta Freeman is hurt, so it’s basically just Ridley and Jones going up against one of the worst defenses in the league statistically. Don’t be surprised if Ridley has another dominant performance on Sunday.
TE: Jaeden Graham
ESPN Projection: 6.4 points — 2 catches, 26 yards
Season Total: 9.5 points — 4 catches, 55 yards
Week 11 Analysis: Jaeden Graham didn’t do much in Week 11 with Austin Hooper out, but neither did Luke Stocker. The Falcons can’t just plug someone else into Hooper’s role and expect similar results, but Graham is the better receiving threat of the two. He only saw two targets against the Panthers, but Graham should get a few more looks on Sunday, particularly in the end zone.
Kicker: Younghoe Koo
ESPN Projection: 8.4 points — 2/2 field goals, 3/3 extra points
Season Total: 25 points — 7/8 field goals, 4/4 extra points
Week 12 Analysis: Koo was perfect in his Week 10 debut, and 3-for-4 on field goals in Week 11. Tampa Bay’s defense will have trouble containing Atlanta’s offense, meaning it could be a big day for Koo. This is another chance for the 25-year-old to prove to the Falcons he can be their long-term answer at kicker.
