2022 Fantasy Upside
Matt Ryan gets a fresh start in Indianapolis after 14 years in a Falcons uniform. Prior to last season, he had 10 straight seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards and he hasn’t thrown for fewer than 20 touchdowns since his rookie year. The former MVP will join an offense with emerging star wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and second-round rookie Alec Pierce. Most importantly for an immobile quarterback entering his 15th year, the Colts have a top-10 offensive line according to Justin Edwards.
2022 Fantasy Downside
Ryan had a down year in 2021, devoid of weapons and with struggles up front, passing for his lowest yards (3,968) since 2010 and tied for his second-fewest touchdowns (20) of his career. The Colts are built in a throw-back, grind-it-out and play good defense kind of way. They ranked 23rd in early-down neutral passing rate per rbsdm.com last year and boast arguably the best running back in football in Jonathan Taylor. Ryan is also 37 years old and while quarterbacks are playing later and later nowadays, it’s always a concern when they enter their late-30s.
2022 Bottom Line
Even though the Colts have been running the ball the past couple of seasons, Frank Reich uses talent as he has it. As such, expect him to unleash Ryan and his talented young duo at receiver with more confidence than he did with Carson Wentz last year. Ryan probably won’t be in his MVP-level form from 2017, but he’s likely to improve on his QB19 finish from 2021. We have him ranked as a QB2 option, but his 13th-round price tag makes him worth considering in deeper leagues and in 2QB formats.
Week 16 vs Lions
For just the second time in the last six games, Matt Ryan cracked 200 passing yards against the 49ers. He still hasn't had a multi-touchdown passing game since Week 9. He gets the Lions this week, who somehow found a way to quiet the Cardinals' offense last week. Still, Detroit ranks 25th in passing yards allowed per game. But this Atlanta offense just hasn't been too exciting, keeping Ryan as a QB2 as we advance deeper into the fantasy playoffs.
Week15 vs 49ers /strong>
Is age finally catching up to Matt Ryan? Does Matt Ryan miss Calvin Ridley? Probably a mix of the two. Ryan now is on a stretch of having less than 200 yards in five of his last seven games and has just two touchdowns in his last five games. Yet somehow, Atlanta is in the playoff mix at 6-7. Ryan just isn't playoff-worthy this season in fantasy and that's a shame. He's a deep QB2 if you're in a multi-QB league or Superflex.
Week 14 vs Panthers
Matt Ryan broke his string of games with less than 200 yards passing with 297 against the Buccaneers. But he was shut out of the end zone yet again, marking three games in the last four weeks without a touchdown. He gets the Panthers this week. While the Panthers, overall, seem in disarray, their defense has been quite good this season and held Ryan to 146 passing yards and picked him off twice back in Week 8. Ryan continues as a limited upside QB2.
Week 13 vs Buccaneers
it's been three straight games and four out of five with fewer than 200 passing yards for Matt Ryan. Obviously, not having Calvin Ridley has played a factor but this is still quite surprising to see from Ryan. At least he does have a strong game against the Bucs under his belt this season. He went 35/46 for 300 yards. two touchdowns and three interceptions back in Week 2. Tampa is still a bit banged up and now Mike Edwards is suspended for three games. But his recent games make it tough to fully put stock in Ryan this week, making him a low QB2 for the week.
Week 12 vs Jaguars
And we thought the Dallas game was bad? Woof. Sure, Matt Ryan had a little better of a stat line against the Patriots, but the end result was still a shutout at home. This offense has taken a nosedive. Ryan has thrown six interceptions in his last three games. Perhaps this could be a get-right game against the Jaguars, though the Jaguars haven't been terrible on defense. We're certainly not used to seeing Ryan this low in the rankings, but the recent play of the offense warrants it at this point. Getting Cordarrelle Patterson back should help tremendously, however.
Week 11 vs Patriots
Yikes. That was about as bad as you can get for the Falcons offense. Matt Ryan had his worst game of the season, going just 9/21 for 117 yards and two interceptions. He was pulled late in the third quarter for Josh Rosen because the Falcons were losing so badly. The funny thing about football is sometimes you have very little time to shake it off and turn right around to the next one. That's what Matt Ryan has to do as Atlanta plays on Thursday against what has become a very good Patriots defense. It likely won't be this bad again, but Ryan should still be considered just a QB2 this week.
Week 10 vs Cowboys
Matt Ryan has been rolling of late. He has 300+ yards and multiple touchdown passes in three of his last four games. He's been keeping the Falcons afloat and right in the playoff mix, as well as perhaps your fantasy team. He also has some pretty good recent history against his Week 10 opponent, the Cowboys, as he posted 273 yards and four touchdowns in Week 2 last season. Ryan is back to just outside being in the conversation as a QB1 in fantasy lineups, but absolutely a QB2/Superflex if you are so fortunate to have him.
Week 9 vs Saints
Matt Ryan had his worst outing of the season since Week 1 last week against the Panthers, throwing for a season-low 146 yards and his first multi-interception game since Week 2 with just one touchdown pass to boot. This week, he gets an improving Saints defense that, in fact, ranks No. 4 in our matchup rankings against quarterbacks. Ryan is going to need Russell Gage and others to really step up on the outside with Calvin Ridley taking time to himself away from the game. Ryan checks in at No. 20 in our QB rankings.
Week 8 vs Panthers
Matt Ryan has quietly been a very solid fantasy quarterback yet again. He has a 12:4 touchdown: interception ratio through six games and has back-to-back 300-yard games. He has a chance to make it three in a row against a reeling Panthers team. Ryan has yet to throw an interception at home this season to go with six touchdown passes. Even with just two teams on a bye this week, Ryan has worked his way into low-end QB1 territory and is a very fine replacement if you normally have Lamar Jackson or Derek Carr.
