As we inch toward the new season, the ever-changing NFL landscape has player fantasy values constantly on the move. Whether you’re used to the dynasty platform or are still learning the dynasty rules, let’s dive into the latest dynasty value of Desmond Ridder.
Desmond Ridder’s Dynasty Outlook and Value
Although they were still technically in the playoff hunt, the Atlanta Falcons wisely gave Ridder a four-game audition to close out the 2022 season. All too often, we see teams play out a season clearly going nowhere with veterans that we already know.
While it’s certainly not the fairest thing in the world to fully judge Ridder based on four games, it’s all we’ve got. And what we saw wasn’t great.
Ridder was a third-round pick, which already puts him behind the eight ball in terms of ever becoming a viable NFL starter. Since 2000, the best third-round quarterbacks have been Russell Wilson, Nick Foles, and Jacoby Brissett.
Additionally, Ridder was operating in a 1970s offense that refused to throw the ball. The Falcons led the NFL in neutral-game-script run rate in 2022 at 56%, and Ridder averaged 28.75 pass attempts over his four starts.
In those four starts, Ridder averaged 177 passing yards per game. He didn’t throw any interceptions, which is great, but he also only threw two touchdowns (both occurring in Week 18 when the Bucs were resting starters).
MORE: Dynasty Rankings 2023 — Top Fantasy Options at Quarterback
Ridder also didn’t really showcase his rushing ability. He averaged 16 rushing yards per game but didn’t reach double digits again after rushing for 38 yards in his first start.
Entering his sophomore year, it’s unclear whether Ridder will be the Falcons’ Week 1 starter. He wasn’t drafted to be their QB of the future — he was drafted because when a team doesn’t have their long-term answer at quarterback, you take a shot on one. Atlanta took a shot on Ridder in Round 3 and likely missed.
The question entering this offseason was whether the Falcons give Ridder the entire season or go out and sign another veteran. I’m sure they’d love to draft one of this year’s top quarterback prospects, but that would require a trade-up since Atlanta won too many games to have a shot from their current draft slot.
The Falcons unsurprisingly released Marcus Mariota. They replaced him by signing a veteran, but not one who is any real threat to be their long-term starting quarterback.
Taylor Heinicke is about as good as it could’ve gotten for Ridder. Heinicke is definitively not an NFL-caliber starter (but he is one of the best backups).
Desmond Ridder’s Fantasy Ranking
In 1QB dynasty leagues, Ridder doesn’t need to be on rosters unless every starting quarterback is rostered. If your league is deep, that’s likely the case. But Ridder’s future in the NFL looks to be a career backup, at best.
In Superflex leagues, of course, every potential starting QB needs to be rostered. Yet, Ridder is unlikely to ever be someone fantasy managers want to start. In his four starts as a rookie, he averaged just 9.7 fantasy points per game. There just isn’t anything here from a fantasy perspective.
We currently have Ridder at QB27 (No. 114 overall) in our dynasty Superflex rankings. He is only that high because he’s currently a starter. To be perfectly candid, I do not expect he’ll be a starter in 2024.
Ridder is definitely someone I’d look to sell for whatever I could get in Superflex leagues. In dynasty startup drafts, I’m only drafting him if I’m desperately in need of a QB3.