Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones has been a model of consistency through nine years in the league, but lately it’s been the team’s No. 2 WR, Calvin Ridley, who’s getting the attention.
Ridley, a first-round pick in 2018, enters his third season and has already done considerable damage with 17 touchdown receptions in 29 games. His ability as a deep threat helps keep opposing defenses from giving Jones too much attention.
According to NFL.com’s ranking of the top five receiving duos entering 2020, Jones and Ridley are the NFL’s best one-two punch. Check out what David Carr wrote about Atlanta’s dynamic duo.
I can’t say enough about Julio Jones’ dominance over the last six seasons. Since 2014, Jones has 623 receptions and 9,388 receiving yards (both most in the NFL), and he’s posted six consecutive seasons with at least 1,300 receiving yards, which ties Torry Holt for the longest such streak in NFL history. He can do it all even when double- or triple-teamed, which he often is, providing Matt Ryan a reliable target in tight windows. The one knock against Jones over the last few seasons has been his relative lack of touchdown production, an area in which Ridley has excelled, logging 17 TD receptions in his first two seasons. The third-year pro, who thrives after the catch and has improved his route running, is hungrier than ever to hit the 1,000-yard mark for the first time. He can accomplish that feat with Jones garnering so much attention from defenses. After ranking fourth in receiving yards among WR duos last season, Jones and Ridley are poised to climb the ladder in 2020.
Ridley has been unafraid to set high expectations for himself this season. The biggest potential reason he may break out — other than his outstanding speed and route-running ability — is the Falcons’ addition of running back Todd Gurley.
The former tenth-overall pick in the 2015 draft can help the team improve upon a rushing attack that averaged just 85.1 yards per game last year. If Gurley can force extra defenders into the box, quarterback Matt Ryan should easily find either Jones or Ridley in favorable coverage.
Atlanta’s season kicks off in a month at home against the Seattle Seahawks.
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