Desmond Ridder's comments highlight poor Falcons draft strategy

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder isn't concerned about his lack of a connection with tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Drake London in Week 1. After the team spent top-10 picks to land them, maybe he should be. 

"I've told you guys several times I'm not [a] stat person, so I don't care how many I throw the ball or whatever, I just want to win at the end of the day," Ridder said on Wednesday, echoing comments head coach Arthur Smith made after the team's 24-10 win in Week 1 over the Carolina Panthers. (h/t Pro Football Talk)

"Let the fantasy guys worry about that," dismissed Smith on Sunday.

Soon enough, a problem for fantasy football players is going to be Smith's biggest headache.

Atlanta's Week 1 win highlighted a major deficiency. Despite spending premium draft capital in two of the past three NFL drafts on London and Pitts, neither was much of a factor. Pitts had two receptions on three targets while London failed to register a catch and only received one target.

The Falcons are the first team since the AFL/NFL merger in 1970 to have a running back, tight end and wide receiver they selected in the top 10 of the NFL Draft on their roster at the same time, but instead of utilizing his various weapons, Smith is doubling down on the team's run-heavy approach.

Ridder and Smith can say one thing, but at a certain point, Ridder is going to need to throw the ball to win games. So far, he hasn't shown anything to indicate he can.

The Ringer's Danny Kelly pointed to a Fantasy Points article addressing some of the most notable stats of Week 1, with London's and Pitts' quiet starts raising immediate concern due to what it says about Ridder, as well as Smith's offense.