Week 14 vs Chargers
Perhaps stepping out of the NFC South and out of the NFC will help Matt Ryan get some swagger back. He posted two average games against the games and has thrown just one touchdown pass in division games this season. However, in two games against the AFC West this season, Ryan has five touchdowns and two interceptions. The Chargers are ranked 30th in our matchup rankings against quarterbacks, though LA does carry the fifth-best pass defense in the league. This is also a team that just got embarrassed at home by the Patriots, so their confidence is shot and they have no hope of the playoffs. They're playing for pride at this point.
Week 13 vs Saints
Matt Ryan hasn't thrown for 300 yards in a game since Week 7 and has at least one interception in each of his last four games. That includes a two-interception game just two weeks ago against the Saints, who he draws again Sunday. Perhaps Week 13 will be lucky again for Ryan. Against the Saints in Week 13 last season, Ryan had 312 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Week 12 vs Raiders
It's been quite the odd season for Matt Ryan. Week 11 marked Ryan's fourth game of the season with zero passing touchdowns. It was also his first multi-interception game of the season as the Falcons struggled against the Saints. Now he gets the Raiders, who is among the top 12 in fewest points allowed to fantasy quarterbacks. Ryan did toss three touchdowns in his last home game against the Broncos and comes in at No. 12 this week among fantasy quarterbacks.
Week 11 vs Saints
Ryan got back on track two weeks ago against the Broncos with three touchdown passes. Now he faces a Saints team that Ryan has had some success over the last two years. He cracked 300 yards three times in the last four meetings with the Saints and has at least two touchdowns in all four of those games, including a five-touchdown performance in Week 3 of 2018. He's our No. 8 QB this week as the Falcons offense looks to stay on the right path and keep the momentum they built before the bye week.
Week 9 vs Broncos
For the third time this season, Ryan posted a goose egg in passing touchdowns. But he salvaged his day in Week 8 with a rushing touchdown in Atlanta's win over the Panthers. The short week certainly affected Ryan. Coming off a mini-bye and facing a good matchup against Denver, Ryan is still in the starting QB range as we begin the homestretch of the fantasy regular season.
Week 8 vs Panthers
Atlanta is a head-scratcher in 2020. Just when we thought the Falcons were back, they scale back against the Lions, at least through the air. Ryan threw for 338 yards but marked his fourth game out of the last five in which he threw one or fewer touchdowns in a game. In Week 5, Ryan threw for just 226 yards and tossed an interception in Atlanta's home loss to the Panthers. Now they head to Carolina on a short week and Julio Jones is banged up and limited again. Ryan sits 16th on the QB board this week as his up and down season continues and coming off the stunning way they lost to Detroit. Thursday could also be a game that favors Todd Gurley for the offense, as well, so bear that in mind.
Week 7 vs Lions
Matty Ice finally broke out of the funk he was in. Having Julio Jones back is a huge plus and Ryan is back in fantasy's good graces. He faces a Lions team in Week 7 that is 10th in our matchup rankings against quarterbacks, but with the Ridley/Jones combo back in action, Ryan is flying again and the Falcons are feeling good after getting their first win of the season in Week 6. Ryan is our No. 7 QB this week.
Week 6 vs Vikings
The Falcons have been in a funk and Matt Ryan has been right there with him, which is unlike Matt Ryan. He's now in a stretch of throwing just one touchdown and two interceptions in his last three games. It's also a new era now that Dan Quinn is gone. The Vikings have been ok against opposing fantasy quarterbacks. Ryan is still worth a start in superflex or 2QB leagues, but he's not as viable of a standard starting option as he was to begin the season.
Week 5 vs Panthers
While Matt Ryan certainly isn't near the top of the list in terms of reasons why the Falcons are 0-4, he is coming off, arguably, his worst output of 2020, with 285 yards and no touchdowns on Monday against the Packers. Still, Ryan has a solid 7:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio this season at the quarter pole. In Week 5, Ryan faces a surprisingly improved Panthers defense that currently ranks seventh in the league in passing defense. Julio Jones is also still dealing with a hamstring issue that severely limited him in Week 4 and Calvin Ridley is dealing with thigh and knee injuries. Ryan may have to carry the load if Atlanta is going to win this game, which should lead to another solid fantasy day on Sunday.
Week 4 vs Packers
Matt Ryan certainly felt the effects of not having Julio Jones or Russell Gage during Sunday's loss to the Bears. Ryan went 19/38 for 238 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Fortunately, Calvin Ridley has more than broken through to start 2020 and that gives Ryan some saving grace. Ryan faces a fierce Packers defense and one of the best young cornerbacks in the league in Jaire Alexander. Ryan is still startable in leagues, but doesn't have as much upside as some of these other QBs this week.
