Atlanta Falcons: 3 Players that must shine vs. Buccaneers in Week 12

2. Calvin Ridley

Through 10 games this season, Calvin Ridley has built off of a strong rookie campaign in 2018 while being a nice complementary piece alongside Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones in the passing attack in Atlanta.

Entering Week 12 this Sunday, Ridley has tallied a total of 614 receiving yards on 44 receptions, averaging 14 yards per catch so far this year. With five touchdown receptions, Ridley has recorded a season-long reception of 36 yards.

With the Falcons being faced with some injuries over the past week while awaiting the return of both tight end Austin Hooper and running back Devonta Freeman, Atlanta has needed another player to step up to counter what Jones is able to do on the outside of the field for the Falcons.

In the Week 11 victory on the road against the Carolina Panthers, Ridley certainly stepped up and rose to the occasion while helping boost his team to their second straight road victory. The wide receiver finished the contest with a season-high 143 yards receiving on eight receptions. While averaging a season-high 17.9 yards per catch, Ridley hauled in his first touchdown pass since Week 6 in the victory.

With Hooper still out for Atlanta and Freeman’s status not officially known yet for this weekend’s matchup against Tampa Bay, if the Falcons are going to accomplish pushing their winning streak to three in a row to grab their fourth win of the 2019 campaign, they are going to need Ridley to once again string a solid performance together and help boost Atlanta in front of its home crowd.