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QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

HT: 6-4, WT: 228, Born: 5-17-1985, College: Boston College, Drafted: Round 1, Pick 3

2008 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of June 28th. [Full ADP list]

Overall: E Wilford (205), S McDonald (206), Matt Ryan (207),
Position: K Warner (183-QB26), T Jackson (184-QB27), Matt Ryan (207 - QB28),
Click here for a comparison of these players.

 Click here to go to the Matt Ryan spotlight, our staff's most detailed analysis.

Best Case

To ensure the best 2008 campaign possible, Ryan's agent and the Falcons should swiftly agree to a contract and allow Ryan to participate in the full slate of camps and other organized team activities. With a full offseason, Ryan could be ready to step into the starter's role from Week 1 of the regular season. If he manages to build a strong connection with Roddy White, Laurent Robinson, and the rest of the Falcons' offense, Ryan could impress the coaches, win over the fans, and lead the offense to respectability. In the best of all possible worlds, Ryan might earn a few appearances on a fantasy starting roster during his rookie season depending on his matchup that week.

Worst Case

There are many worst-case scenarios from the fantasy perspective. Ryan could hold out of training camp, fall behind the learning curve, and never see meaningful action during 2008. Ryan could arrive to camp in time, but he could struggle to make the transition to the NFL level and never see meaningful action during 2008. Ryan could arrive to camp in time, do well learning the offense, and be handed the clipboard during regular season anyway. Ryan could impress in camp, earn a start, and then fail miserably during the regular season. As is the case with all rookie quarterbacks, any of these scenarios are possible outcomes.

Outlook

We expect to see Ryan under center at some point during the 2008 season. Once he's on the field, he'll suffer through the usual rookie learning curve, with a lot of modest outings, statistically speaking, that are sprinkled with turnovers of various types. He might be worth starting in a pinch during November or December, but we wouldn't be surprised to see Ryan fail to finish as a top-24 fantasy QB this season.

Relevant Articles

2008 Schedule