Week 17 vs. Carolina Panthers
Matt Ryan completed 22-of-36 passes for 288 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Falcons’ Week 16 loss to the Saints. Ryan’s lone interception wasn’t his fault, as a great pass went off Marvin Hall’s hands and landed on the backside of a defender. The ball then laid there until a New Orleans defender picked it up for an interception.
Regardless, Ryan was good but not great. That seems to sum up his 2017 season. The Falcons have been in a fog since the Super Bowl and have never turned it up and the same goes for Ryan, who has been a low-end QB1 in fantasy all year. That will be the case on Sunday when the Falcons host the Panthers with a playoff berth on the line. Ryan ranks as our QB10 against Carolina’s No. 15-ranked defense against fantasy quarterbacks. View him as a low-end QB1.
Week 16 at New Orleans Saints
Matt Ryan completed 17-of-31 passes for 212 yards and 1 touchdown in the Falcons' Week 15 win over the Buccaneers. It was a pedestrian performance from Ryan, who has regressed following his MVP campaign in 2016. Even against a Tampa defense that was without three key defenders in linebacker Lavante David, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, and cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, Ryan barely got over the 200-yard mark and his lone touchdown went to Justin Hardy in the first quarter.
We would strongly recommend avoiding Ryan in Week 16. The Saints rank eighth against fantasy quarterbacks this season and despite the potential of a shootout in New Orleans this Sunday, Ryan has thrown for over 300 yards just three times this season. Ranked as our No. 14 QB for Week 16, Ryan is nothing more than a low-end QB1 in deeper leagues this weekend.
Week 15 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Matt Ryan completed 15-of-27 passes for 221 yards with 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions in the Falcons' Week 14 win over the Saints. Atlanta's defense had to overcome both Drew Brees and Ryan, who was atrocious until the fourth quarter. One interception wasn't his fault, as tight end Austin Hooper had a pass go off his hands and straight into the arms of a defender. That said, the other two picks were all Ryan, who gave one gift to Marshon Lattimore and the other to Marcus Williams. Apparently, Ryan wanted to make sure the two New Orleans corners got their presents early this year.
Ryan has thrown for just 394 yards and 1 touchdown over his last two starts. He'll face the Bucs' No. 14 ranked defense against fantasy quarterbacks on Monday night when the Falcons travel to Tampa. Ranked as our No. 10 QB for Week 15, Ryan is nothing more than a low-end QB1. He hasn't resembled the signal-caller that won the MVP last year.
Week 14 vs. New Orleans Saints
Matt Ryan completed 16-of-29 passes for 173 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions in the Falcons' 14-9 loss to the Vikings in Week 13. Ryan didn't play poorly but he failed to make enough big plays in a game in which the Falcons' high-powered offense was completely shut down. The game marked the end of Ryan's streak of at least one touchdown pass in 28 straight games, which was tied for 10th all-time.
The Falcons have a pivotal matchup with the Saints on Thursday night in Atlanta. New Orleans ranks 10th against fantasy quarterbacks this season, so while the matchup isn't as difficult as the one last week, it's still best to avoid Ryan if possible. Ranked as our No. 11 QB for Week 14, see if Jared Goff or Ben Roethlisberger are on your waiver wire to stream. They're better options for your fantasy playoffs.
Week 13 vs. Minnesota Vikings
Matt Ryan completed 26-of-35 passes for 317 yards with 1 touchdown and no interceptions in the Falcons' 34-20 win over the Bucs. He had another potential touchdown stolen from him from receiver Mohamed Sanu, who threw a 51-yard score to Julio Jones. It was the first time in five weeks Ryan didn't throw for multiple touchdown passes but he was highly efficient regardless. He's now completed at least 70% of his passes in three straight games.
Unfortunately for Ryan owners, he has a difficult matchup on Sunday when the Falcons host the Vikings. Minnesota ranks No. 6 against fantasy quarterbacks this season and boasts a pair of nasty pass-rushers, as well as play-making linebackers and an excellent secondary. Ranked as our QB11 for Week 13, Ryan is a low-end QB1 for Sunday.
Week 12 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Matt Ryan completed 19-of-27 passes for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Falcons' Week 11 win over the Seahawks. The yardage wouldn't indicate this, but Ryan played exceptionally well. Opposing quarterbacks have struggled in Seattle for years but Ryan was efficient, helping the Falcons build several leads throughout the night in a huge win. He has now thrown for at least 2 touchdowns in four consecutive games.
On Sunday the Falcons will host the Buccaneers, who rank 25th against fantasy quarterbacks this season. Ranked as our No. 8 QB for Week 12, Ryan has a nice matchup in what should be a high-scoring game.
Week 11 at Seattle Seahawks
Matt Ryan completed 22-of-29 passes for 215 yards, with 2 touchdowns and an interception in the Falcons' Week 10 win over the Cowboys. Ryan and Atlanta fans had a 'here we go again' moment in the first quarter when he was intercepted off a tipped pass. In fact, Ryan only had 94 yards passing and that interception at halftime, but the Falcons kicked it into gear in the second half. They opened the third quarter with a scoring drive that was capped off by a Ryan-to-Justin Hardy 3-yard touchdown pass, then Ryan found tight end Austin Hooper for a 1-yard score early in the fourth quarter. He now has multiple touchdowns in his last three games.
The Falcons travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks Monday night. With Richard Sherman out, the Seahawks defense doesn't look as intimidating as it once was. That said, Earl Thomas is supposed to return from a hamstring injury and it's still Seattle, a team opposing quarterbacks still struggle against. Still, ranked as our No. 12 QB for Week 11, view Ryan as a low-end QB1 in deeper leagues.
Week 10 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Matt Ryan completed 24-of-38 passes for 313 yards, with 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception in the Falcons' Week 9 loss to the Panthers. Ryan could have had a much bigger day but he overthrew Julio Jones on a potential touchdown in the first half and then Jones dropped a sure-fire score late in the game. (Jones had snuck past Carolina's defense on a 4th-and-7 but dropped the pass in the end zone with no defender within 10 yards of him.) As for the interception, Ryan targeted Austin Hooper, who fell down during his route.
From both a real-life and fantasy standpoint, Ryan has not had a great year. That's an understatement when you consider what he and the Falcons did a year ago. That said, he'll be a QB1 option on Sunday when Atlanta hosts Dallas. Ryan is our No. 6 ranked QB and has a nice matchup against a Cowboys defense ranked 20th against fantasy quarterbacks this season.
Week 9 at Carolina Panthers
Matt Ryan completed 18-of-29 passes for 254 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Falcons' Week 8 win over the Jets. He also added 17 yards on 6 scrambles but lost 2 fumbles in wet conditions.
Ryan is playing nowhere near the level of his MVP campaign a year ago and a lot of that has to do with losing play-caller Kyle Shanahan. Steve Sarkisian has never called plays at the NFL level and clearly doesn't have the same knack Shanahan did for designing ways to get receivers open. Still, Ryan needs to be better and he can start by taking better care of the football.
The struggling Falcons offense now travels to Carolina this Sunday to play a Panthers defense ranked third against fantasy quarterbacks. If you can help it, avoid Ryan this weekend. Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston might be on your waiver wire and if so, they're better options than Ryan, who is only a fringe QB1 at the moment.
Week 8 at New York Jets
Matt Ryan completed 23-of-33 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons' Week 7 loss to the Patriots. Ryan became the first quarterback this season not to throw for 300+yards against New England's defense. He salvaged his fantasy night by luckily throwing a late touchdown pass to Julio Jones in garbage time that should have been intercepted. If it weren't for Jones ripping the ball out of the defender's hands, Ryan would have posted a goose egg in the touchdown column. Ryan struggled all night, missing several throws deep inside New England territory that could have turned the game in Atlanta's favor.
Ryan and Atlanta's offense is in a deep funk. Before Jones caught that touchdown, the Falcons had gone nearly six full quarters without scoring a single point. While Ryan isn't the most trustworthy fantasy option at the moment, he does have a great matchup Sunday when the Falcons travel to New York to take on the Jets (No. 28 against fantasy quarterbacks this season). Ryan is our No. 10 ranked QB for Week 8—view the struggling signal-caller as a QB1.
