Atlanta Falcons News

The NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reports that when Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) recovers from his torn ACL, it will be an "open competition" at QB between Penix and Tua Tagovailoa. Both signal-callers have struggled to stay healthy -- Penix with three torn ACLs and Tagovailoa with multiple serious concussions -- but Tagovailoa has more experience and a Pro Bowl nod under his belt in his six years in the NFL. The former fifth overall pick out of Alabama led the league in passing yards in 2023, but has struggled the last two seasons and has failed to top the 3,000-yard mark. It's low risk for the Falcons since Tagovailoa will be on a veteran's minimum in 2026, and it gives the team a chance to push Penix once he's healthy and ready to go. The problem for Penix is that if he's not physically ready to play to begin the season and Tagovailoa looks good as the starter, he might not have a chance to win the job back. It will be an interesting battle to watch later this summer in an offense with plenty of weapons now being run by a bright offensive mind in Kevin Stefanski.

Retired All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. believes that new Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jahan Dotson "has developed enough" to handle the No. 2 receiver role behind Drake London, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. The Falcons have released Darnell Mooney and KhaDarel Hodge, leaving only London, Casey Washington, and Deven Thompkins under contract in 2026. In addition to Dotson, the Falcons signed Olamide Zaccheaus on Monday. The 25-year-old former 16th overall pick by the Washington Commanders in 2022 out of Penn State only has 1,519 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 121 catches in his first four NFL seasons with the Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles, but his speed means he'll be "expected to play the field-stretcher role" that was handled the last two years by Mooney. Given Atlanta's big question mark at quarterback, Dotson figures to be a boom/bust WR4/5, at best, in fantasy in 2026.

The Atlanta Falcons announced on Monday that veteran tight end Hayden Hurst is announcing his retirement from professional football. Hurst will hang up his cleats after not being signed with a team during the 2025 season. In his final NFL campaign in 2024 with the Los Angeles Chargers, the 32-year-old caught a career-low eight passes for 73 yards and no touchdowns on 13 targets in nine regular-season games. Hurst was originally the 25th overall pick in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018 out of South Carolina. He finishes his seven-year NFL career with 203 receptions (294 targets) for 1,975 yards and 15 touchdowns in 88 regular-season games (41 starts). In addition to the Chargers and Ravens, Hurst suited up with the Atlanta Falcons (two years), Cincinnati Bengals (one year), and Carolina Panthers (one year). He was at his best in 202 in Atlanta, posting a 56-571-6 line in 16 games.

Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa plans to sign an undisclosed one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Falcons will now have two left-handed signal-callers in Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) as they head into the 2026 season. Tagovailoa, the fifth overall pick by Miami in 2020 out of Alabama, was benched late last year in favor of rookie QB Quinn Ewers. He completed 67.7% of his pass attempts for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and a career-high 15 interceptions in his 14 starts just two years after leading the NFL with 4,624 passing yards. Opponents quickly adjusted to Miami's speed-based offense, with Tagovailoa rarely challenged secondaries deep down the field. The 28-year-old also has a scary history with concussions, so much so that his career could be in danger if he suffers one more head injury. Tagovailoa will have a chance to win a starting job with Atlanta if Penix isn't healthy following ACL surgery, but even if he does, he'll be no more than a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues until he can prove otherwise.

The Arizona Cardinals agreed to terms on a two-year, $12.25 million deal with former Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier on Monday, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Allgeier had a career-low 514 rushing yards on 143 rushing attempts in 2025 in his final year in Atlanta, but he still managed to score a career-high eight rushing touchdowns. The 25-year-old added 14 receptions for 96 additional yards as the backup to superstar back Bijan Robinson. The former fifth-rounder in 2022 out of BYU will now head to the desert to give the Cardinals more backfield depth with both James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) coming off season-ending injuries a year ago. It's not the best landing spot for fantasy football purposes for Allgeier, but he should at least be a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex option while being paired with Conner in a rebuilding Cardinals offense. The addition of Allgeier is certainly bad news for Benson's dynasty stock.

The Atlanta Falcons are expected to make a "strong push" for former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in a deal that could come together as soon as Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. There is mutual interest with the Falcons potentially needing a veteran QB with starting experience since Michael Penix Jr. (knee) might not be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season this fall. The Dolphins owe Tagovailoa $54 million guaranteed despite releasing him, so the Falcons can sign him for the veteran minimum in 2026. At the very least, Tagovailoa would be competing with Penix for the starting job in Atlanta this summer. The former fifth overall pick out of Alabama in 2020 led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and a career-best 29 touchdowns in 2023, but he has dealt with multiple concussions and has regressed over the last two years, leading to his release. Tua would have some interesting weapons on offense if he starts for the Falcons, but in fantasy football, he'd still only be a low-end QB2 looking to bounce back with a change of scenery.

CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reported this week that NFL teams will be calling the Atlanta Falcons to make trade offers for tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., per The Athletic's Josh Kendall. "Whether or not they listen is another question," Kendall writes. He adds that new head coach Kevin Stefanski has sounded like he wants to coach Pitts this year, and he's the only real pass-catching TE on the roster. If the Falcons were to trade Pitts for a couple of mid-round draft picks, Kendall thinks they'd have to turn around and use the additional draft capital to take a rookie tight end in this year's NFL draft. The dynamic around trading Pitts could change if Atlanta is able to land a starting-caliber TE in free agency, such as David Njoku or Darren Waller. New general manager Ian Cunningham said recently the Falcons want another year to decide on whether Pitts is worth a long-term deal, which is why they placed the franchise tag on him. The former fourth overall pick broke out for 88 catches, 928 yards, and five touchdowns in 2025, but with potential issues at the QB position, Pitts could be a volatile TE1 in fantasy.

The Atlanta Falcons are planning to release wide receiver Darnell Mooney, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Mooney is set to count $18.4 million against this year's salary cap and caught just 32 passes for 443 yards and one touchdown on 72 targets in 15 starts last year in his second year with the team. He's still only 28 years old, though, and has averaged better than 13 yards per catch in each of the last three seasons, so he should generate some interest on the open market from receiver-needy teams. Mooney was heading into the final year of a three-year, $39 million contract he signed with the Falcons in March of 2024. By releasing him, Atlanta will save $7.4 million in salary cap space in 2026. In his first year in Atlanta, Mooney was great, catching 64 of his 106 targets for 992 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. Mooney's lone 1,000-yard season came in his second year in the league in 2021 with the Bears.

The Athletic's Josh Kendall writes that Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. is expected to "play this season on the franchise tag," which Atlanta officially put on him on Tuesday. The Falcons can still attempt to sign Pitts to a long-term deal, "but that's not the vibe" the team is giving when it comes to the tight end. "I just felt (the franchise tag) was best to give us some time to evaluate," new general manager Ian Cunningham said. Pitts had 68 catches for 1,026 yards as a rookie in 2021, but then had three straight years where he averaged 542 receiving yards before bouncing back in 2025 with a career-high 88 receptions for 928 yards. The Falcons are basically telling the 25-year-old former fourth overall pick that he needs to do it again in 2026 before they seriously consider inking him to a long-term extension. Pitts certainly has the skills to be a high-end TE1 again in fantasy, but the quarterback situation might not do him any favors with Michael Penix Jr. coming off a serious knee injury and facing pressure to prove he's the franchise QB.

Atlanta Falcons impending free-agent running back Tyler Allgeier will be looking for a contract in the neighborhood of three years and $22 million this offseason, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. Kendall adds that it's almost certainly "more than the Falcons will be willing to pay" with Bijan Robinson's second contract looming down the road in one or two years. Robinson will try to reset the RB market when he begins negotiations. Allgeier had 676 carries for 2,876 yards in his four seasons in Atlanta and set the franchise's rookie rushing record of 1,035 yards in 2022 after he was taken in the fifth round. The 25-year-old was a frustrating play in fantasy because of the unpredictability behind Robinson, but he did have a career-high eight TDs in 2025, and he should be in line for an expanded role in 2026 in a new location.

The Atlanta Falcons informed former Pro Bowl special teams player KhaDarel Hodge (shoulder) that he will be released, a source told Marc Raimondi of ESPN. The 31-year-old veteran wide receiver appeared in 12 games in 2025 in his fourth year in Atlanta and caught just three passes on 10 targets for 31 yards and no touchdowns on offense. Hodge finished the season on Injured Reserve due to a shoulder injury, but he should be good to go for the start of next season this fall. Regardless of where Hodge lands in free agency, the former undrafted free agent won't be on the fantasy football radar and will most likely contribute more on special teams as a kick returner. In Hodge's eight NFL seasons with four different teams, he's never gone over 232 receiving yards, one touchdown, or 14 receptions.

Three years into his NFL career, Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has established himself as arguably the best all-around player at his position in the NFL. Across 17 games played in 2025, Robinson recorded a league-leading 2,298 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns on 366 touches. He made big strides as a receiver out of the backfield this past season. After failing to crack 500 receiving yards in either of his first two seasons, Robinson hauled in 79 catches for 820 yards on 103 targets in 2025. Falcons RB2 Tyler Allgeier is now set to hit free agency, which could mean Robinson is in line for more short-yardage and goal-line opportunities in 2026. Even if Allgeier returns or Atlanta brings in another back, the team's willingness to rotate running backs could be a positive for Robinson overall. He's yet to miss a game to this point in his NFL career. At just 24 years old, Robinson should have a long window of production ahead of him and profiles as a worthy 1.01 player across all fantasy formats heading into 2026.

The Atlanta Falcons continue to be non-commital on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) being their starter under center in 2026, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. "I'm not big on giving out positions in February. I think you guys know how I feel about Michael, and I'm excited about his trajectory. I also know he's focused on his rehab, which is the right thing to do," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. Penix is recovering from a torn left ACL in 2025, so it's understandable for Atlanta's new front office and coaching staff to be non-committal on him going into next season. Penix expects to be ready for Week 1 of the regular season this fall, but the reality is we won't have a better idea of his availability until this summer. The former first-rounder wasn't all that impressive in 2025 before his injury, and he's now rehabbing from his third torn ACL. Penix is determined to heal up and return as the starter, but he'll have to prove it to the team's new brass first. Now might be a perfect time to buy low on Penix in dynasty/keeper leagues, although his injury history dating back to college is worrisome.

The Atlanta Falcons officially placed the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. on Tuesday, according to Tori McElhaney of AtlantaFalcons.com. It's just the fourth time in franchise history that the team has used the franchise tag, with defensive tackle Grady Jarrett the last recipient of the tag in 2019. Officially, the tag is a non-exclusive franchise tag, which means Pitts "is free to negotiate with other teams." It buys the Falcons and new general manager Ian Cunningham a little more time to evaluate what they want for the future of Pitts in Atlanta. The projected franchise tag value for TEs in 2026 is around $16 million. The 25-year-old played on a fifth-year option in 2025 and had one of his best seasons to date, finishing second among tight ends in catches (88) and receiving yards (928), and he tied his career high with five touchdowns. The former fourth overall pick was a top-five fantasy TE, but a repeat could be difficult in 2026 if Michael Penix Jr. (knee) isn't ready for the start of the regular season.

Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said that the team plans to release veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins on the first day of the new league year on March 11. If Cousins were on the roster for the start of the new league year, the Falcons would owe him $67.9 million guaranteed. It's highly unlikely that the Falcons will find a trade partner for Cousins before the start of the new league year. The 37-year-old veteran lost his starting job to Michael Penix Jr. (knee) late in the 2024 season and was the backup last year until Penix suffered a season-ending knee injury. In 10 games (eight starts) in 2025, Cousins completed a career-low 61.7% of his passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions for Atlanta. The four-time Pro Bowler is nearing the twilight of his career, although he could have a chance to compete for a starting job in 2026, depending on where he lands in free agency.

The Atlanta Falcons are planning to use the franchise tag on standout tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Pitts will receive a one-year, fully guaranteed deal worth more than $15 million in 2026 if the two sides don't come to a long-term contract extension before the deadline in July. The 25-year-old former fourth overall pick in 2021 out of the University of Florida finally came through for fantasy managers in 2025 in his fifth year in the league, finishing as the TE2 in half-PPR scoring with career-highs in catches (88), targets (118), and touchdowns (five) while recording 928 receiving yards in 17 games played. He will certainly be a TE1 in fantasy this fall, but there is still some volatility with Pitts, especially with quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s (knee) health in question. Pitts came on strong in the final six games in 2025, going for 39 receptions for 469 yards and four TDs during that stretch.

Atlanta Falcons president of football Matt Ryan and new general manager Ian Cunningham are non-committal on whether quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) will be the guaranteed starter when he returns from the torn left ACL he suffered last November, according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN. "I've been up at the facility the last three weeks, and Michael's been in there attacking that, and he's in a good space right now, so we're excited about where he is. But certainly, a lot of discussions for us about the entire roster," Ryan said. The previous front office and coaching staff were adamant that Penix was their guy. But after a serious knee injury and poor results in 2025 prior to his injury, the new front office is taking more of a wait-and-see approach. The 25-year-old says he expects to be ready for Week 1 and is eager to prove he's the guy, but time will tell if Atlanta brings in serious competition for him via a trade, free agency, or the draft. Questions about Penix's durability have significantly lowered his dynasty stock.

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier has been a key piece of the team's backfield in his four years since he was taken in the fifth round in 2022 out of BYU, rushing for 2,876 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. Allgeier had a franchise rookie record of 1,035 rushing yards in 2022 and ranks seventh in the NFL in EPA per carry among RBs with more than 250 carries in that span. He's one of just two RBs in the league with more than 500 carries in that time who have not fumbled. However, The Athletic's Josh Kendall writes that "it's hard to imagine how Atlanta will be able to bring him back." The Falcons probably won't offer the 25-year-old starting RB money as the backup to star Bijan Robinson. Allgeier has shown an interest in returning to Atlanta, but it probably isn't in the cards. He had 514 rushing yards and a career-high eight touchdowns on 143 carries in 2025 and will be in high regard if he hits the open market. Depending on where he lands, Allgeier's fantasy value could skyrocket in 2026.

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier continued to carve out standalone value in his role behind Bijan Robinson throughout the 2025 season. Allgeier had his ups and downs, making it difficult to know when to start or sit him. His role wasn't exactly matchup dependent or even game script dependent, so he spent most of the season as a risky RB3/flex in a boom-or-bust role. However, on a positive note, he played all 17 games and finished with yet another solid stat line. He rushed for 514 yards and eight touchdowns on 143 carries, posting a new career-high in touchdowns as he vultured a lot of Robinson's goal-line work. He also caught 14 passes for 96 receiving yards. Allgeier ranked as the overall RB39 in PPR leagues, and he has now posted a top-43 finish in each of his four NFL seasons. Robinson's steady availability has left Allgeier in a backup role, but it's worth noting that he's arguably the most valuable fantasy handcuff and would jump to the top-12 range if Robinson were to miss time. Between his modest standalone value and his upside as Robinson's backup, Allgeier will continue to be a solid fantasy option for 2026. In dynasty leagues, he's a "hold" for most managers, but he's an important "buy" for managers with Robinson on their roster.

The Athletic's Josh Kendall writes that if new Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham's proactive approach carries over from Chicago, wide receiver Drake London "could get a new deal this offseason." London signed a four-year, $21.53 million deal in May of 2022, and the Falcons exercised a $16.82 million team option for the 2026 season in April of last year. A long-term extension makes sense for the 24-year-old, who established himself as one of the league's top wideouts over the last two seasons by catching 168 of his 270 targets for 2,190 yards and 16 touchdowns in 29 games. Kendall believes that London likely sees himself as the type of player who should make at least $30 million annually. Atlanta might view him more in the $25 million-per-year range, but either way, he's key to the Falcons' future.