The 2025 season has been nothing short of horrific for injuries to start the year. Four weeks down, several star quarterbacks, receivers, and running backs have already been sidelined with significant injuries.
The Tennessee Titans have endured a difficult start to the season, and now veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley’s availability is unclear after multiple missed practices. With Ridley listed as questionable for the team’s matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, we analyze his and teammate Elic Ayomanor’s Week 5 fantasy football outlooks.
Is Calvin Ridley Playing This Week?
The Titans head into Week 5 looking for their first win of the 2025 season, following an embarrassing 26-0 divisional loss to the Houston Texans. Through four weeks, the Titans’ offense ranks dead last in points scored (51), yards per play (3.7), total touchdowns (three), and points per drive (1.16).
Cam Ward’s 614 passing yards rank 27th, second-fewest among quarterbacks with four starts, and his 51.2% completion percentage is dead last among 33 qualifying quarterbacks. His two passing touchdowns rank behind Marcus Mariota, Tyrod Taylor, Carson Wentz, Jayden Daniels, and Brock Purdy, who have all started just two games.
For context, Ward’s PFSN QB Impact score of 50.0 ranks 36th among 37 qualifying quarterbacks this season, while the Titans’ offense ranks dead last in Offense Impact.
Things may not get any easier this weekend, with Ridley missing almost all of the team’s practices during the week. Ridley has been struggling with knee and elbow issues and only returned to practice on Friday as a limited participant.
Although his snap share was significantly reduced, Ridley played through injury in Week 4. His limited participation on Friday gives him a chance to play on Sunday, though, and it’s more likely that he will than that he won’t. On Friday night, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that “Ridley is trending toward playing.”
However, even if Ridley is playing, there’s a good chance you’ll be benching him anyway, after a miserable start to the season. The veteran hasn’t finished inside the top-50 receivers in any week this year, and has topped 30 receiving yards just once.
Factor in that he may be limited, and it’s challenging to make a case for Ridley to start for you in fantasy, unless injuries and bye weeks have left you short of options. Many have already cut him, something I’d personally hold off on for another week or two, but moving on at this point is completely understandable if you need to free up space.
Elic Ayomanor’s Week 5 Fantasy Outlook
While Ridley hasn’t greatly affected the box score, his presence is still significant in terms of snap share and target distribution. There are several other receivers on the Titans’ offense, including Seattle Seahawks legend Tyler Lockett, but Ayomanor is the most likely beneficiary of Ridley’s missing time.
If Ridley is declared out for the trip to Arizona, Ayomanor would be an intriguing flex option. The rookie’s fantasy output has been largely touchdown dependent to this point, having caught both of Ward’s touchdown passes this season. However, his floor would be significantly higher with Ridley out, with his targets potentially reaching double figures.
The Titans aren’t the only team to be sweating on the health of some key players. Will Johnson (four) and Denzel Burke (three) are tied for first and third, respectively, in passes defended for Arizona this season. Both are listed as questionable for Sunday, and their absences would be a massive blow to Arizona’s secondary.
There is a lot to factor in if you’re thinking of starting Ridley or Ayomanor this week, but here is a simplified breakdown: If he starts, Ridley is a desperation play, but you can feel slightly more comfortable if Johnson and Burke are ruled out, particularly Johnson.
Ayomanor becomes a sneaky-good flex option if Ridley is ruled out, especially if Johson is a no-go for Arizona. If all three questionable players suit up, both receivers can be comfortably passed on, but Ayomanor is the more intriguing longshot in a pinch.