This Sunday, the best game of the 1 p.m. slot features a pair of AFC South teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, which are vying for first place in their division.
And in that contest, who is the better fantasy football start between Jaguars wideout Calvin Ridley and Texans rookie Tank Dell?
Should You Start Tank Dell or Calvin Ridley This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that Dell is the player to start. His projected 13.5 points include a projection of 5.4 receptions, 64.7 receiving yards, and 0.3 touchdowns. Dell is expected to slightly outperform Ridley, who is projected to have 5.2 receptions, 52.3 yards, and 0.3 touchdowns (12.5 PPR points).
My personal rankings align with PFN’s rankings that Dell is the better start this week. The Texans rookie is coming off a trio of straight big fantasy performances — he’s scored a touchdown in each of the last three games — and has elite chemistry with fellow 2023 draftmate C.J. Stroud.
Yes, Ridley is coming off a WR1 overall performance, but Dell has been the more consistent and productive wide receiver between the two. While both players are worthy of being fantasy starters this week, Dell is the better play between the two.
Dell’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
No wide receiver has more fantasy points over the past three weeks than Tank Dell. The Texans rookie has scored four touchdowns over that span and had at least six catches in each of those games; he’s also averaged 11.6 targets during that span. Stroud has found his No. 1 wideout in Houston; the two rookies have as strong of a connection as any two players in the league right now.
The rookie connection continues. CJ Stroud to Tank Dell!pic.twitter.com/0TNnPb12qE
— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) November 19, 2023
The Texans have an enormous division game this week against Jacksonville, where the winner will be in first place in the AFC South. The two clubs have already played once this season, with Houston pulling off the road upset in Week 3.
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In that Week 3 contest, Dell finished with five catches for 145 yards and a touchdown, his first true breakout game in the NFL. The Jaguars defense is allowing the 13th-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, so Dell appears in line to have a big performance once again in Week 12.
At this point in the fantasy season, Dell has proven enough to be an every-week start. For those fantasy managers still hesitant to start the rookie, it’s time to put full trust in Houston’s top wideout. You’ll regret it otherwise.
Ridley’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
It’s understandable if fantasy managers are reluctant to bench Ridley this week, given he’s coming off his best performance of the season last week against Tennessee (seven catches, 103 yards, two touchdowns).
Ladies and gentlemen, @CalvinRidley1 🥲#TENvsJAX on CBS pic.twitter.com/2SRmBxl3ht
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) November 19, 2023
However, the reality with Ridley this season is he’s been widely inconsistent. As a Ridley owner myself, trust me, I understand. In fact, Ridley has only posted back-to-back double-digit fantasy point weeks once this season. So, if history repeats itself, the Jaguars wideout could be in store for a quiet game.
Surprisingly, Houston’s defense has been pretty good against wide receivers this season, allowing the 13th-fewest fantasy points at the position. The Texans secondary did a solid job against Ridley when the two teams met earlier this season, holding him to just three catches for 40 yards (7.0 PPR points).
Even after last week’s blowup, Ridley remains a risky start this week against Houston. Fantasy managers debating between these two players should start Dell with confidence.
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!
