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Should I drop Calvin Ridley for fantasy football Week 5? Is Calvin Ridley a safe player to cut? Read the fantasy football waivers outlook.
As we enter Week 5 of the NFL season, fantasy managers are faced with tough decisions on which players to potentially cut and replace. Calvin Ridley is one of those players, and fantasy managers are understandably frustrated.
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Ridley enjoyed a productive 2024 campaign despite having subpar QB play. However, with former No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward joining the offense, Ridley has seen his production decline and is trending toward drop territory in fantasy football.
Should fantasy managers drop Ridley from their roster as we look towards Week 5? Let's dive in!
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Should I Drop Calvin Ridley in Fantasy Football?
Over the last two games, Ridley has caught just three of his 10 targets for a modest 57 yards. During this stretch, he has even taken the backseat to rookie Elic Ayomanor, who has brought in six passes for 82 yards and a touchdown (on 12 targets).
Given that Ward has struggled to move the ball downfield on a consistent basis, it appears this current version of the offense cannot sustain two wide receivers and is trending towards centering around the rookie, and not the veteran Ridley. While Ridley could eventually find himself in a position to benefit from his footwork and connect with Ward, for the time being, Ward is favoring his young wideout instead.
He also exited this contest with an undisclosed injury, which could put him in danger of sitting out in Week 5
As a result, managers in shallower 10-team formats should look to drop Ridley this week in favor of options with not only a safer floor but also a higher ceiling. The Tennessee offense has only hit the 20-point mark once this season, and given Ridley's current production, he may not turn the corner in this situation.
Calvin Ridley Working Through Early-Season Struggles https://t.co/f3B88fenIC
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) September 25, 2025
Who Should I Pickup for Fantasy Football?
While managers in deeper 12+ team formats should continue to hold the former 1,000-yard WR on their bench for the time being, shallower league managers should look to swap Ridley for Wan'Dale Robinson or Darius Slayton. Both New York WRs have a path to immediately operate as the team's clear WR1, with Malik Nabers (knee) suffering a torn ACL.
While Robinson has struggled to produce over the past two weeks, in Weeks 1 and 2, Robinson caught 14 of his 18 targets for 197 yards and a touchdown. Slayton also began to have a role in the offense last weekend as he led the team in yards, catching four targets for 44 yards.
Also, fellow teammate Ayomanor is worth looking to target as he is currently the team's top wide receiver.
In addition, for those in shallower leagues, breakout WR Quentin Johnston is still available in 80% of leagues and would be a priority target if you can drop Ridley. Johnston has emerged as Justin Herbert's No. 1 WR and is on pace to enjoy a career season. Through four games, Johnston has caught 22 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns.
However, managers in deep formats should continue to view Ridley as a bench stash, as he could see his value significantly increase if the Tennessee offense can begin to turn the corner.
Who Should I Pickup Tool
Trying to decide who to pick up off the waiver wire instead? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool here:
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Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
Looking for a replacement? Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2025 for Romeo Doubs, Elic Ayomanor, Darius Slayton, Marquise Brown, Tre Tucker, Josh Downs, Malik Washington, KaVontae Turpin:
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