Can Calvin Ridley Outshine League-Wide Receiving Yards Predictions?

• Odds put Calvin Ridley as a -135 favorite to receive for over 955.5 yards in the 2020 NFL regular season.
• Ridley received 866 yards last season while battling injury and missing three games
• The odds are not in his favor (+2200) to lead the league’s receivers in yards for the year

ATLANTA - For the upcoming 2020 NFL season, oddsmakers seem to predict that Calvin Ridley will have a big year but not an All-Pro one.

Though Ridley is coming off a season where he fought through injuries, many believe he will have a rise in production for the Atlanta Falcons in his third year.

He finished with 64 catches for 821 yards and 10 TDs in his rookie year of the NFL. He also received seven TDs on 63 receptions and 866 yards in 13 games last season.

Last year, his receiving yard stats proved that, when healthy, he could produce a 1,000-yard season and next season may be his opportunity.

The wideout plays on the same team with one of the league’s top receiver in Julio Jones. This brings a lot of attention away from Ridley, providing an opportunity to be a threat down the field and gain massive receiving yards.

Taking advantage of the matchups on the field is not the only key for production for Ridley. He is a very fast and shifty route-runner which allows him to find holes in defenses to gain more yardage on receptions.

Ridley is not expected to have what it takes to surpass his teammate and lead the league in receiving yards.

NFL betting sites and coaches are predicting a leap in his stats for the upcoming year.

"I think he's always been able to beat his man just by pure speed and athleticism, and I think as he gets a little more consistent in his route-running and understanding what is landmarks are, his depths of his routes are, I think you're going to see a jump in his game," said Dirk Koetter, Falcons offensive coordinator. "Now, you say that, but we're also talking about a guy who, in his first two years in the league, has put up some pretty substantial numbers. But I think his talent is even higher than that."

With a rise in production from Ridley, the Falcons can have their powerful WR duo topping the league in receiving yards this coming season.