DECEMBER 22, 2021 • AJC.COM
TAJAE SHARPE
Falcons' Zaccheaus ready if needed with Sharpe's injury FLOWERY BRANCH -- With wide receiver Tajae Sharpe’s status up in the air, backup wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus could see an expanded role...
Falcons' Gage emerging as Ryan's latest go-to wide receiver
Russell Gage is providing the Atlanta Falcons much-needed stability at wide receiverDECEMBER 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Considered day-to-day Sharpe (foot) is considered day-to-day and won't practice Wednesday, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Impact Sharpe suffered the injury during Sunday's loss to the 49ers, exiting early before he caught a pass. He's been working as the No. 2 receiver but without many targets, and an absence could open up more work for Olamide Zaccheaus and Christian Blake.
DECEMBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Red-zone woes move Falcons closer to another losing season
Red-zone failures have left the Atlanta Falcons facing elimination from playoff contentionDECEMBER 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Broncos QB Bridgewater in hospital with head injury
Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was taken to a hospital for a head injury after he was carted off the field in the third quarter of Denver’s 15-10 loss to the Cincinnati Beng...DECEMBER 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
49ers beat Falcons 31-13 for 5th win in 6 games
Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 235 yards and a TD, San Francisco ran for three more scores and the 49ers won for the fifth time in six games, beating the Atlanta Falcons 31-13DECEMBER 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Questionable to return Sharpe is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the 49ers due to a foot injury, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Impact Sharpe sustained his foot injury late in the third quarter Sunday, and it's not yet clear whether he'll be able to return to the contest. If he remains out, Olamide Zaccheaus and Christian Blake could see increased looks late in the game.
DECEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Catches one pass Sunday Sharpe caught one of his two targets for seven yards during Sunday's 29-21 win over the Panthers.
Impact Sharpe once again took a backseat to slot man Russell Gage (four catches for 64 yards) and tight end Kyle Pitts (five catches for 61 yards). Matt Ryan also continues to rely heavily on his running backs in the passing game, as Mike Davis and Cordarrelle Patterson combined for 11 targets, seven catches and 43 yards. As long as Ridley (personal) remains away from the team, Sharpe is expected to garner plenty of snaps, but his meager production makes it difficult for fantasy managers to trust him on a weekly basis.
DECEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Sees five targets in loss Sharpe caught three of his five targets for 10 yards during Sunday's 30-17 loss to the Buccaneers.
Impact Sharpe finished tied with Olamide Zaccheaus and Cordarrelle Patterson for third on the team in targets, but Sharpe's 10 receiving yards were only better than Qadree Ollison and Keith Smith. The 6-foot-2 wideout continues to operate as the No. 1 wide reciever while Calvin Ridley (personal) remains out, but the designation has not yielded the expected results. Matt Ryan continues to rely on slot man Russell Gage (11 receptions for 130 yards), tight end Kyle Pitts (four receptions for 48 yards) and his trio of running backs (eight receptions for 99 yards) in the pass game. As long as Ridley is away from the team, Sharpe is expected to garner plenty of snaps, but his sporadic production makes it difficult for fantasy managers to trust him on a weekly basis.
DECEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Two more catches Sunday Sharpe caught two of his three targets for 22 yards during Sunday's 21-14 win over the Jaguars.
Impact Sharpe continues to operate as the No. 1 wideout while Calvin Ridley (personal) remains out, but the designation has not yielded the expected results. He has caught two passes in back-to-back games, but he continues to be out-paced by slot-man Russell Gage (six receptions on seven targets) and rookie tight end Kyle Pitts (two receptions on six targets).
NOVEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Catches two passes Thursday Sharpe caught two of four targets for 21 yards during Thursday's 25-0 loss to the Patriots.
Impact Sharpe continues to operate as the No. 1 wideout while Calvin Ridley (personal) remains out, but the designation has not yielded results. The 6-foot-2 wide receiver registered his most targets, receptions and yards since Week 8, but he was still out-paced by Russell Gage, Kyle Pitts and Olamide Zaccheaus. As long as Ridley is away from the team, Sharpe is expected to garner plenty of snaps, but his sporadic production makes it difficult for fantasy managers to trust him on a weekly basis.
NOVEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
UMass alum Tajae Sharpe could have increased role for Falcons vs. Patriots Sharpe is UMass' career leader in catches
NOVEMBER 18, 2021 • MASSLIVE.COM
Non-factor once again Sharpe caught his only target for zero yards during Sunday's 43-3 loss to the Cowboys.
Impact Sharpe continues to operate as the Falcons' No. 1 wideout while Calvin Ridley (personal) remains out, but that designation has not resulted in increased production. Shape was out-targeted by Russell Gage, Olamide Zaccheaus and Frank Darby on Sunday and has been a non-factor in Atlanta's passing game the last two weeks. As long as Ridley is away from the team, Sharpe will likely earn plenty of snaps, but his sporadic production makes it difficult for fantasy managers to trust him on a week-to-week basis.
NOVEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Non-factor in Week 9 Sharpe caught his only target for 12 yards during Sunday's 27-25 win over the Saints.
Impact Sharpe continues to operate as the Falcons' No. 1 wideout while Calvin Ridley (personal) remains out, but that designation has not resulted in more production, as Matt Ryan continues to rely on his running backs and tight ends in the passing game. Slot man Russell Gage led all Atlanta wide receivers in targets and yards Sunday, while Cordarrelle Patterson (six catches for 126 yards) led all pass catchers in receiving yards. As long as Ridley is not with the team, Sharpe will likely garner plenty of snaps, but his sporadic production makes it difficult for fantasy managers to trust him.
NOVEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Tasked with replacing Ridley Sharpe is expected to retain a regular spot in Atlanta's starting lineup Sunday in New Orleans after Calvin Ridley (personal) was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list Fri...
Impact Atlanta will also rely on a combination of tight end Kyle Pitts, running back Cordarrelle Patterson and slot man Russell Gage to handle some extra targets while Ridley is away from the team for at least the next three games, but Sharpe should be Ridley's direct replacement in the lineup. Sharpe filled in when Ridley was a surprise scratch ahead of last week's loss to the Panthers, finishing with a team-high 58 receiving yards while hauling in five of his six targets.
NOVEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Falcons place WR Ridley on reserve/non-football injury list
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley will miss at least three games for the Atlanta Falcons after being placed on the reserve/non-football injury listNOVEMBER 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ryan looking for committee approach to fill in for WR Ridley
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan says he expects a committee approach to emerge at wide receiver as the team plays without Calvin Ridley this week at New OrleansNOVEMBER 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Leads team with 58 receiving yards Sharpe caught five of his six targets for 58 yards during the Falcons' 19-13 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Impact Sharpe was thrust into a starting role, as Calvin Ridley was absent due to personal reasons for the second time in three games. The 26-year-old Sharpe now has 158 receiving yards on the season, and 111 of those came during the two games that Ridley sat out. If Ridley remains away from the team, Sharpe will continue to be an option, but he likely will take a backseat if the star wideout returns to the team.
NOVEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Falcons WR Ridley misses game to deal with mental health
Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley has missed his second game of the season and says he's dealing with mental health issuesOCTOBER 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Starting for Ridley Sharpe will start Sunday's game against the Panthers.
Impact Calvin Ridley was a late scratch for Sunday's contest due to a personal matter, and Sharpe will receive the start in his absence. Sharpe also started Week 5 for the Falcons and caught four of five targets for 53 yards while playing 80 percent of the offensive snaps. Russell Gage and tight end Kyle Pitts should also have increased target shares with Ridley unavailable.
OCTOBER 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Catches both targets in Week 7 Sharpe caught both of his targets for 18 yards during Sunday's 30-28 win over the Dolphins.
Impact Sharpe played the third most snaps (14) of any Falcons wideout, but he finished fifth on the team in receiving yards, as Atlanta continues to rely heavily on their tight ends and running backs in the passing game. Atlanta's offense has scored 30, 27 and 30 points in their last three contests, and if they can continue to score at a high clip and move the ball, then more passes might get disbursed to the receivers.
OCTOBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Does well with opportunity Sharpe recorded four receptions on five targets for 53 yards in Sunday's win over the Jets.
Impact Sharpe vaulted up the wide receiver depth chart with both Calvin Ridley (personal) and Russell Gage (ankle) sidelined. He took advantage by logging a season-high number of targets, receptions and yards. He operated primarily in short to intermediate areas of the field, though he did manage a 17-yard reception late in the third quarter. Sharpe may sink back down the depth chart, however, as the Falcons enter their bye week, which should give both Ridley and Gage a chance to return to the field in Week 7.
OCTOBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Ryan locates Sharpe on the sideline for third-down conversion Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan locates wide receiver Tajae Sharpe on the sideline for third-down conversion.
OCTOBER 10, 2021 • NFL.COM
Highlight: Ryan locates Sharpe on the sideline for third down conversion Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan locates wide receiver Tajae Sharpe on the sideline for third down conversion.
OCTOBER 10, 2021 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM
Likely set to start in London Sharpe is expected to serve as one of the Falcons' starting receivers in Sunday's game against the Jets in London with Calvin Ridley (personal) and Russell Gage (ankle) ruled out f...
Impact While Gage was sidelined for both of Atlanta's last two games, Olamide Zaccheaus stepped in has his primary replacement alongside Ridley. With that in mind, Zaccheaus is probably a better bet than Sharpe to lead the way for the Falcons' receiving group Week 5, but Sharpe and perhaps to a lesser degree, depth wideouts Frank Darby and Christian Blake, should all be in store for added opportunities on offense. Considering that Sharpe has only produced four receptions for 29 yards across 56 snaps this season and is averaging a poor 6.9 yards per target for his career, his fantasy upside would seem fairly modest, even with an elevated role on tap. Rather than peppering any one pass catcher with looks, quarterback Matt Ryan could prefer to spread Ridley's and Gage's vacated targets around among the wideouts, tight ends Kyle Pitts and Hayden Hurst and running backs Mike Davis and Cordarrelle Patterson.
OCTOBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
