We’re toward the end of the 2023 fantasy football season. Hopefully, fantasy players are still in the playoff mix and aren’t looking ahead to next year.
This week, fantasy players will have some difficult decisions, especially at the wide receiver position. One of those decisions could be between starting Courtland Sutton or Calvin Ridley. Let’s dive into it.
Should You Start Courtland Sutton in Fantasy This Week?
While many were excited to see what Jerry Jeudy would do this season, Sutton has been the far and away No. 1 wide receiver for the Denver Broncos. He is the WR21 for the year, averaging 11.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. By comparison, Jeudy is the WR54, averaging only 6.8 fantasy points per game this season.
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The former SMU star has been Russell Wilson’s go-to weapon. He has 75 targets in 2023. The next closest Bronco is Jeudy, with 57. More importantly, Sutton has been a touchdown machine. The veteran wide receiver has nine receiving touchdowns this year, the third-most in the NFL and a career-high. By comparison, he had only 10 receiving touchdowns over the previous four seasons combined.
Meanwhile, Sutton has an excellent fantasy football matchup in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The AFC West division rivals have surrendered 32.9 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the third-most in the NFL. They have given up over 210 receiving yards and 37 fantasy points to wide receivers in two of their past four matchups.
Should You Start Calvin Ridley in Fantasy This Week?
Many had high expectations for Ridley this year. The star wide receiver was joining up with Trevor Lawrence after a year-long suspension. He had an impressive Jacksonville Jaguars debut in Week 1, totaling eight receptions on 11 targets for 101 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 20.1 half-point PPR fantasy points in the win over the Indianapolis Colts.
However, he has been wildly inconsistent since the opening week performance. Ridley has been the WR32, averaging 10 fantasy points per game since the Week 1 matchup. The veteran scored fewer than 5.6 fantasy points in 54.6% of those contests, including last week against the Cincinnati Bengals. While Ridley did have back-to-back games with over 19 fantasy points before the matchup against the Bengals, his fantasy outlook this week is grim.
The veteran wide receiver takes on the Cleveland Browns. They have one of the top secondaries in the league. Cleveland has surrendered only 22.7 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season, the third-fewest in the NFL. The Browns held wide receivers to the eighth-fewest receiving touchdowns this year.
According to the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say Sutton is the player to start. He is projected to score 10.2 half-point PPR fantasy points. His projections include 5.1 receptions for 66.9 receiving yards and 0.2 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Ridley’s projection is for 10.1 fantasy points with 5.3 receptions for 53.4 receiving yards and 0.3 touchdowns this week.
I agree with the Start/Sit Optimizer. Sutton has the far superior fantasy-friendly matchup in Week 14. He faces a Los Angeles secondary that has struggled all year. Meanwhile, Ridley takes on an elite Cleveland secondary that has shut down most wide receivers.
More importantly, Sutton will have his starting quarterback under center. Ridley could end up catching passes from C.J. Beathard on Sunday instead of Trevor Lawrence, as the franchise quarterback is dealing with a high ankle sprain.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!