Falcons QB Desmond Ridder: Fantasy Football 'Sleeper'?

Could Atlanta Falcons' Desmond Ridder emerge as a sharp fantasy football quarterback?

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder has a lot of question marks surrounding him coming into the 2023 NFL season.

However, the Falcons belief in him is a reason why he is among Sports Illustrated's "sleeper" quarterback picks for 2023.

"Ridder is more of a “deep sleeper,” as he’s not being selected in the majority of traditional, one-quarterback leagues," SI writes. "The second-year field general has been given the keys to the Falcons offense, though, and he’ll have Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts at his disposal. Ridder will also face one of the five best schedules among quarterbacks in 2023."

The second-year quarterback is poised to lead the youngest offensive lineup in the league. Full of exciting playmakers like Ridder, Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson, the average age of Atlanta's projected starting offense would be 24.9 years.

In Ridder's four starts at the end of last season, the former second-overall pick completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 708 yards, two scores and zero interceptions. In his first two starts, the Falcons scored just 27 points - which he nearly doubled in his last two, combining to hit 50 points.

With a new-look roster, the Falcons hope to reach the postseason for the first time since 2017. Atlanta currently has middle-of-the-pack-odds(+116) to make the playoffs in 2023... But a massive leap is possible with the youthful core. 

If Ridder can continue riding this upward trajectory, the Falcons and him could catch a lot of teams (and fantasy players) sleeping in 2023.

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