Atlanta Falcons News

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Kirk Cousins  • QB  •  Falcons

Kirk Cousins Benched By Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are benching quarterback Kirk Cousins heading into their Week 16 game against the New York Giants in favor of first-rounder Michael Penix Jr., according to head coach Raheem Morris. Despite signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in the offseason, the Falcons are turning the page as they try to secure a playoff spot in the final three weeks. In the last five games, the 36-year-old Cousins has really struggled, throwing only one touchdown and nine interceptions. He went 11-for-17 for only 112 yards with a touchdown and interception in Monday's win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Cousins leads the NFL with 16 interceptions and has failed to give the Atlanta offense the boost he was expected to provide. Penix, 24, has lots of upside as the eighth overall pick, but he's raw -- he's played in two games and has gone 3-for-5 for 38 yards. The strong-armed lefty will be a low-end QB2 with upside.
1 hour ago   
Younghoe Koo  • K  •  Falcons

Younghoe Koo Nursing Injury

Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo (undisclosed) reportedly hurt himself a bit during Monday's game, according to head coach Raheem Morris. It doesn't sound like too serious of an injury, but fantasy managers should stay tuned for another update on Wednesday. Koo made his lone extra point attempt and connected on 2-of-3 field goal attempts in the win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Possibly, the injury was part of the reason Koo missed his field goal attempt in the fourth quarter. Regardless, fantasy managers will have to wait another day or two before getting a better update. Fantasy managers who have Koo rostered might want to get a backup plan in place in case he misses the Week 16 matchup against the New York Giants.
3 hours ago   
Michael Penix Jr.  • QB  •  Falcons

Michael Penix Jr. Named Starting Quarterback

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been named the starting quarterback moving forward, according to head coach Raheem Morris. This news comes a day after the 15-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Kirk Cousins was able to pull together a victory, but has one touchdown and nine interceptions over the last five games. The Falcons playoff hopes are quickly evaporating so they've decided to make a change at quarterback. Penix helped lead the Washington Huskies to an undefeated season and a trip to the National Championship game in 2023. Afterwards, the Falcons used the No. 8 overall selection on Penix in this year's draft. That seemed like an odd decision at the time given they'd just signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract. The hope is that a change at quarterback will jumpstart this offense. Penix will get a plus-matchup in his first career start against the New York Giants in Week 16. Although, fantasy managers can't be certain what they'll get right away, which makes Penix a risky streaming choice in the fantasy playoffs.
3 hours ago   
Kirk Cousins  • QB  •  Falcons

Falcons Non-Committal On Kirk Cousins Starting In Week 16

When asked if quarterback Kirk Cousins was still the Atlanta Falcons' starter heading into Week 16 against the New York Giants this Sunday, head coach Raheem Morris was non-committal. "We just got back. We still have to go through that process. All those things will happen over the course of the week. We didn't play well enough at the quarterback position," Morris said. The Falcons didn't really need the arm of Cousins in their 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night, and he went 11-for-17 for 112 yards, one touchdown and a league-high 16th interception of the season. In the four previous games, the 36-year-old veteran failed to throw a TD while tossing eight interceptions. Atlanta could probably get away with another similar game script against New York this weekend, but Cousins' downfall could lead the team to turn to rookie first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. Stay tuned.
6 hours ago   
Ray-Ray McCloud III  • WR  •  Falcons

Ray-Ray McCloud III Quiet In Monday Night Win

The Atlanta Falcons didn't need to throw the ball much to defeat the lowly Las Vegas Raiders 15-9 on Monday Night Football to close out Week 15 action. On a night where quarterback Kirk Cousins attempted only 17 passes and threw for 112 yards, wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III caught one of his three targets for a gain of 14 yards. It was a disappointing performance in a great matchup after McCloud set season-highs across the board in catches (eight), targets (11) and receiving yards (98) in the Week 14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He also had 95 receiving yards the week prior. The 28-year-old is Atlanta's clear No. 3 wideout behind Drake London and Darnell Mooney, but with the way the Falcons' offense has struggled this year, he's not a realistic weekly flex play for fantasy managers. Keep in mind that Cousins has thrown one touchdown in the last five games.
12 hours ago   
Tyler Allgeier  • RB  •  Falcons

Tyler Allgeier Logs Double-Digit Carries For Fourth Time This Season

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier carried the ball 12 times for 43 yards in Monday's 15-9 win over the Raiders. Bijan Robinson was given 22 carries, so Allgeier was spelling his backfield mate at times throughout the game and helping to kill the clock late when it seemed clear that the Falcons did not want Kirk Cousins throwing the ball if he didn't need to. It was the first time since Week 10 that the 24-year-old earned double-digit carries, but without finding paydirt, it was an unremarkable fantasy performance. Without a consistent workload or goal line role, the former fifth-round draft pick is hard to justify as even a flex option, more so now that we're in the fantasy playoffs. The Falcons get the Giants at home next Sunday and Allgeier will probably again only be used sporadically, especially given how good Robinson has looked this season.
22 hours ago   
Darnell Mooney  • WR  •  Falcons

Darnell Mooney With A Zero-Catch Performance On Monday Night

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney garnered a single target in Monday's 15-9 win over the Raiders, but failed to haul it in, finishing with zero catches on the night. Mooney had been limited in practice by a foot injury earlier in the week but was cleared to play, so the dud seemed to be more a result of Kirk Cousins lobbing up just 17 passes on the night and completing only 11 of them. It is a punch in the gut for managers who were relying on the wideout in the fantasy playoffs after he'd received six targets in 10 of Atlanta's prior 13 games coming into Monday night and caught at least three passes in 11 of 13. For fantasy managers that were able to survive this showing, the fifth-year pro will be hard to trust in next week's home matchup versus the Giants, especially given how poorly Kirk Cousins looked in Week 15 against a softer pass defense.
23 hours ago   
Kyle Pitts  • TE  •  Falcons

Kyle Pitts Reappears For Four Catches, Mediocre Yardage In Monday's Win

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts recorded his first multi-catch performance since Week 10 on Monday night, catching all four of his targets for a modest 28 yards in the 15-9 win over the Raiders. On a night when Kirk Cousins completed just 11 passes, Pitts' four targets and four catches were both a team-high. It was good to see the 24-year-old involved again, although the Raiders had been poor against TEs this year and Cousins wasn't looking downfield much in this one so it's not all that surprising to see him resurface. Between Pitts disappearing from the passing attack most weeks and Cousins looking dysfunctional at quarterback over the last several games, fantasy managers vying for playoff championships will want to look elsewhere next Sunday. The Falcons take on the Giants who have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to TEs on the season, and the former first-round pick figures to be a low-end TE2 in that matchup.
23 hours ago   
Bijan Robinson  • RB  •  Falcons

Bijan Robinson Carries The Load, Gains Over 100 Yards In Win On Monday

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson carried the offensive load in Monday's 15-9 win over the Raiders, racking up 125 yards on 22 rush attempts and he caught one pass for 10 yards. The 22-year-old's rushing total was more than Kirk Cousins' passing yards total of 112 yards. Unfortunately, the second-year back wasn't afforded the opportunity to punch one in for a score as the Falcons never really got down close to the end zone in this one. It was the fourth time in the last five games that the former first-round draft pick recorded 20 carries or more, however, he's seen less work in the passing attack the last two weeks, catching just three passes during that time after logging at least three receptions in nine straight games before that. Regardless, Robinson will once again be a high-end RB1 in next Sunday's home matchup against the Giants who are bottom-third in terms of fantasy points allowed to running backs.
23 hours ago   
Drake London  • WR  •  Falcons

Drake London Records Falcons' Only TD In Monday Night Win

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London caught all three of his targets for 53 yards and a touchdown in Monday's 15-9 win over the Raiders. It was London's first touchdown reception since Week 9, now with seven TDs on the season. While that was a positive, fantasy managers with playoff matchups on the line were surely hoping for much higher totals after averaging over 11 targets per game in the four previous contests. With quarterback Kirk Cousins struggling for five weeks running now, Atlanta's receivers will be risky fantasy plays in the remaining weeks. The Falcons take on the Giants in a home game next Sunday, and the 6-foot-4 wideout figures to be more of a high-end WR2 again rather than the WR1 he was in the first half of the season.
Yesterday   
Kirk Cousins  • QB  •  Falcons

Kirk Cousins Finally Throws A TD, Hands Game Off To Ground Attack In Win

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins threw his first touchdown pass since Week 9 in Monday's 15-9 win over the Raiders, however, the team leaned heavily on the run game in this one, tallying 168 rush yards between Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Cousins completed only 11 passes but was asked to throw the ball just 17 times in the contest, racking up a paltry 112 yards passing. The 36-year-old threw the touchdown pass late in the first quarter, but also tossed an interception and looked out of sorts outside of the lone TD, which seemingly exacerbated the need to lean on the run and was the reason for so few pass attempts. Despite the win, it was not an encouraging performance if you're a Falcons fan hoping for a playoff run. The veteran will take on the Giants in Atlanta next Sunday, but for fantasy, hopefully managers have other options available at this point with fantasy championships on the line.
Yesterday   
Younghoe Koo  • K  •  Falcons

Younghoe Koo A Top-12 Option Again In Week 15

Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo knocked through a pair of short field goals and a couple of extra points last week, restoring some faith in the kicker's abilities. The 30-year-old went through a rough patch from Weeks 5-10 where he missed seven field goals, however, over the last three contests he's 6-for-7 while remaining perfect on extra point attempts, going 25-for-25 on the season. Week 15 brings a favorable environment for the kicker, as the Falcons take on the Raiders in Las Vegas. The Falcons are 4.5-point favorites in this game and the Raiders have allowed the most fantasy points in all of football to opposing kickers. Atlanta, despite Kirk Cousins' recent struggles, should be able to move the ball down the field on Monday night, and Koo is tentatively back in the circle of trust, looking like a top-12 option this week.
2 days ago   
Ray-Ray McCloud III  • WR  •  Falcons

Ray-Ray McCloud III Under Flex Consideration In Week 15

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III has had a consistent -- albeit small -- role in the offense all season long, but has seen it grow over the last three weeks, averaging nearly eight targets and six catches per game along with back-to-back performances of 95-plus yards. The 28-year-old is not a red zone threat having scored just once all season, which limits his upside, but the involvement makes him highly useful in PPR leagues. The Falcons take on the Raiders in Week 15 who have been generous to wide receivers as of late, allowing six touchdowns and the second-most receiving yards over the last four weeks. McCloud in particular has a favorable matchup with Darnay Holmes expected to cover him out of the slot. Atlanta is favored in this contest and with Drake London and Darnell Mooney attracting coverage, the Clemson product should again see a healthy workload. The veteran wideout has WR3 upside in PPR leagues and is a potential Flex option in all other formats for Monday Night Football.
3 days ago   
Kyle Pitts  • TE  •  Falcons

Kyle Pitts A Fantasy Gamble Even In Favorable MNF Matchup

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts continued his stretch fantasy futility last week, catching just a single ball from Kirk Cousins, which was the fourth time in the last five contests that the 24-year-old has caught one pass or fewer. The former first-round draft pick has fallen to a distant fifth option in the passing game, well below Ray-Ray McCloud III who earns nearly 17% of the team's targets compared to Pitts' 14%, with running back Bijan Robinson garnering 23 looks over the last five weeks compared to Pitts' 18. The Falcons play the Raiders this week, a defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to TEs on the season, so if there was any week to use him in the final weeks, this would probably be it. With the road to fantasy championships hanging in the balance, however, Pitts can't be trusted as a fantasy starter. The fourth-year pro is nothing more than a low-end TE2 for Monday Night Football, although the favorable matchup does give him some slight upside.
3 days ago   
Drake London  • WR  •  Falcons

Drake London To Get Another Healthy Dose Of Targets In Week 15

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London has seen a drop in fantasy production as Kirk Cousins has failed to throw even a single touchdown pass in each of the last four games, however, the 23-year-old has remained heavily involved in the passing attack, garnering double-digit targets in three of the last four games. The former first-round draft pick has a robust 75 receptions and six touchdowns on the season, however, he's topped 100 yards just once in 13 games. Without big yardage totals, a quarterback struggling to throw the ball in the red zone, and the emergence of Darnell Mooney (57-873-5), London makes for more of a high-end WR2 than a WR1, although his matchup versus the Raiders on Monday should prove to be a favorable one. The Raiders have been poor against wide receivers over the last four weeks, allowing six touchdowns and the second-most yards allowed. The Falcons are 4.5-point favorites in this one with an implied total for the team of 24.5, suggesting there will be a few opportunities for the 6-foot-4 wideout to find paydirt.
3 days ago   
Bijan Robinson  • RB  •  Falcons

Bijan Robinson A High-End RB1 For Monday Night Football

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has gone over 100 total yards rushing and receiving in seven of the last eight games and nine of 13 overall. Heavy involvement in both the running and the passing attack, along with finding the end zone on nine occasions, has propelled the 22-year-old to top-five fantasy running back status on the season. The passing work in particular has provided a solid weekly fantasy floor for the second-year pro. He's hauled in the third-most receptions (53) out of all running backs in football to this point, with at least three receptions in 11 of 13 games. The former first-round draft pick will take on the Raiders on Monday night in Vegas, a defense that has been middle of the pack against the run this season and also over the last few weeks. Quarterback Kirk Cousins hasn't thrown a TD pass in four consecutive weeks, so should the Falcons get down close, they may again try to punch it in via the rush. Regardless, Robinson projects as a high-floor, high-end RB1 in Week 15 in a game that has the Falcons as 4.5-point favorites.
3 days ago   
Kirk Cousins  • QB  •  Falcons

Kirk Cousins Draws Favorable Matchup, But A Risky QB2 In Fantasy Playoffs

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins hasn't thrown a touchdown pass since Week 9, a stretch of four consecutive games without one, while throwing eight interceptions during that time. The 36-year-old has struggled mightily outside of the three games played against the Buccaneers and Cowboys. In those other 10 contests, the veteran signal-caller has a 6:14 TD:INT while averaging 239 passing yards per game. The silver lining is that the Falcons take on the Raiders this week, a team that has yielded the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks on the season but have been even worse as of late, with 16 TD passes allowed in their last six games alone. It's possible that the Falcons rely on the run game when in a position to score, as they did last week with all three touchdowns coming via the rush. However, with Atlanta as four-point favorites in desperate need of a win to keep playoff hopes alive, in addition to Cousins possibly playing for his job and with an extra day to prepare, this could be the week to take a flier on the 4x Pro Bowler. It's a risky proposition though, as he projects as a low-end QB2 in Week 15 on Monday night.
3 days ago   
Darnell Mooney  • WR  •  Falcons

Darnell Mooney On Track To Play On Monday Night

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (foot) upgraded to a full practice session on Friday after he was limited in the team's first official practice of Week 15 on Thursday. Barring a setback in the team's final practice on Saturday, Mooney should be cleared from the final injury report and be good to go for Monday night versus the Las Vegas Raiders. Even in another disappointing loss in Week 14 to the Minnesota Vikings, the 27-year-old Mooney was a bright spot for Atlanta, catching six of his seven targets for 142 yards. In the last five weeks, Mooney has been the WR44 in average half-PPR scoring with 16 catches for 285 yards on 27 targets. He'll be facing a Raiders defense that has allowed the third-most half-PPR points to wideouts in the last five weeks. Mooney should have a strong fantasy floor as a WR3/flex given his 96 targets on the year, which are tied for the 13th-most among receivers.
4 days ago   
Darnell Mooney  • WR  •  Falcons

Darnell Mooney Is Limited On Thursday

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (foot) was listed as a limited participant during Thursday's practice. Fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked by this news considering Mooney has been banged up for a few weeks now. Despite that, Mooney continues to play and is coming off one of his best performances of the season. Last week, Mooney hauled in six of his seven targets for 142 yards in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Fantasy managers shouldn't read too much into Mooney sitting out on Thursday, but should stay tuned for more information. The 27-year-old could offer WR2 value for a plus matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders defense in Week 15.
5 days ago   
Kirk Cousins  • QB  •  Falcons

Falcons Sticking With Kirk Cousins

Despite their fourth straight loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14 that has dropped them out of the division lead in the NFC South, Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris doesn't plan to replace struggling quarterback Kirk Cousins with rookie Michael Penix Jr. "Everything is always discussed, but Kirk Cousins is our quarterback," Morris said. Cousins has thrown eight interceptions and no touchdown passes in his last four games. Up until 2024, he had never gone more than two straight games without a TD pass. In a homecoming game in Minnesota for Cousins, he threw for 344 yards on 23-for-37 passing but threw another two picks. He leads the NFL in interceptions with 15, the most he's thrown in a single season in his career. Although it's fair to expect fantasy managers to avoid Cousins with how bad he's been, he does have a get-right matchup in Week 15 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Dec 9   
LEGEND
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