Fantasy Football Player Notes

Find yourself someone who loves you as much as Falcons head coach Arthur Smith loves the running game. Smith's devotion to the smashmouth life doesn't exactly go hand-in-hand with QB fantasy value, so Ridder is a clear fade for Week 1 even in an above-average matchup against a Panthers defense that may be without disgruntled edge rusher Brian Burns. Ridder made four late-season starts as a rookie and posted a double-digit fantasy point total in only one of them. Ridder averaged 177 passing yards in those four starts and threw two TD passes. Ridder has intriguing rushing potential, but he ran only 16 times for 64 yards in 2022. Even in superflex leagues, Ridder is not an appealing Week 1 option.