Calvin Ridley Update Boosts Kyle Pitts and Cordarrelle Patterson Week 8 Fantasy Outlook

Updated (Sunday, Oct. 31, 3:45 p.m. EST): Calvin Ridley announced he will temporarily step away from the Atlanta Falcons and NFL to focus on his mental health. It's unclear the length of his absence, but Kyle PItts and Cordarrelle Patterson will continue to hold large fantasy loads throughout his absence. Ridley announced the news via his personal Twitter.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been ruled out in Week 8 due to a personal matter. It is the second time this season Ridley will miss time under that designation after sitting out Week 5 as well.

This update on Ridley boosts the fantasy outlook of both Kyle Pitts and Cordarrelle Patterson in Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers.

Kyle Pitts Fantasy Outlook

Pitts will now be Matt Ryan's clear No. 1 option on Sunday, sending his fantasy potential through the roof.

The rookie has already been on an upward trend in recent weeks, scoring at least 23.3 PPR points in each of the last two games. Pitts has seen a combined 18 targets over that span as he's shouldered the load in the pasisng game.

Pitts finally broke out in Week 5 when Ridley first missed time. He turned 10 targets into 9 receptions for 119 yards and 1 TD. Now the tight end is coming off of a career-high 163 yards on 7 catches in Week 7.

Pitts is in excellent position to keep up his recent play, especially against a Panthers defense that's looked vulnerable after a hot start.

Cordarrelle Patterson Fantasy Outlook

Patterson should thrive as well with Ridley sidelined.

The gadget weapon has been unlocked in Atlanta this season, currently ranking as RB8 in PPR scoring.

Patterson has become a featured option in all facets of the Falcons' offense. He boasts a whopping 15.2 opportunities (9.2 rushes plus 6 targets) per game, seeing plenty of use on the ground and as a receiver.

Patterson's involvement exploded in Week 5 with Ridley out. He converted 14 rushes into 54 yards, and turned 9 targets into 7 receptions for 60 yards.

The fantasy upside for Patterson in a game without Ridley is apparent, making him a must-start.

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Isaiah De Los Santos is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Isaiah De Los Santos also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username zayyy05328. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.