Who Should I Start? Calvin Ridley or George Pickens

Thursday, September 25, 3:53 PM

Tennessee Titans wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert said that wide receiver Calvin Ridley is targeted more than any other receiver in practice and catches more balls than any player on the team, between JUGS work and targets in practice. Tolbert thinks more reps will get Ridley's confidence back after a tough start to the 2025 season. The 30-year-old veteran caught just one pass for 27 yards in the Week 3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and he has eight grabs on 21 targets for 111 scoreless yards through the first three weeks of 2025. The good news is that rookie quarterback Cameron Ward is targeting Ridley more than anyone else on the team, but it just hasn't resulted in much production so far. Ridley has struggled with drops, and it hasn't helped that the Titans have struggled to sustain drives. There could be more frustrating games as Ward finds his footing in the NFL. Ridley has become a boom/bust WR4/flex.

Monday, September 22, 10:18 AM

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens was targeted nine times in Week 3, finishing with five catches for 68 yards and a touchdown in his team's 31-14 loss to the Chicago Bears. Pickens could be in for a significant target increase over the next few weeks with the news that top Dallas wideout CeeDee Lamb (ankle) suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3. Pickens has now logged nine targets in back-to-back weeks, although it's worth noting that he could still be behind Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson in the target pecking order in Dallas. If Lamb cannot play in Week 4, Pickens would likely profile as a must-start fantasy wide receiver in Week 4, even in a tough matchup against the Green Bay Packers.