Atlanta Falcons News

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is already doing squats and said he thinks he'll be ready to go by April. Penix had successful surgery to fix a partially torn ACL in his left knee in late November and was expected to be facing a nine-month recovery. It's great news that the 25-year-old is doing well in his recovery, but even if he's ready for the start of the 2026 regular season this fall, it's hard to look past the fact that he's now had three reconstructive knee surgeries and two season-ending shoulder injuries. The Falcons will most likely be doing something to give them a fallback option in case Penix's injury woes continue, especially if they don't retain Kirk Cousins. The 25-year-old was up and down in his second NFL season in 2025 before injuring his knee, completing 60.1% of his passes for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions in only nine starts. Penix will head into Year 3 with only 12 starts under his belt.

New Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski spoke to the media on Tuesday about the importance of getting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) back healthy in 2026, per Tori McElhaney of AtlantaFalcons.com. "Michael (Penix) is someone I am very excited about," Stefanski said. Penix suffered a partially torn ACL in his left knee late in the season, putting his availability for the start of the 2026 campaign in question. The 25-year-old signal-caller also tore his right ACL twice in college and suffered season-ending injuries to both of his shoulders before getting to the NFL. While Stefanski and Atlanta's new coaching staff may like what Penix has put on tape early in his career, his long-term durability is a major question mark. The Falcons could move on from veteran Kirk Cousins this offseason, and if they do, they'd need to bring more QB insurance in case Penix isn't ready. The situation in Atlanta is nice for Penix, but his lengthy injury history makes him a risky QB2 in fantasy going into the 2026 season.

The Atlanta Falcons are hiring former star quarterback Matt Ryan to be their new president of football operations, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. Atlanta created the position specifically for Ryan, who will now have the final say as the Falcons' decision-maker. Falcons owner Arthur Blank spoke highly of the 2016 MVP, saying, "Throughout his remarkable 14-year career in Atlanta, Matt's leadership, attention to detail, knowledge of the game, and unrelenting drive to win made him the most successful player in our franchise's history. I am confident those same qualities will be a tremendous benefit to our organization as he steps into this new role." The Falcons fired general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris after finishing 8-9 in 2025, and Ryan will look to bring the franchise back to the playoffs for the first time since his playing days in 2017.

The Atlanta Falcons and quarterback Kirk Cousins agreed to tweak the final two years of the QB's contract on Tuesday, setting the stage for a decision on his future to be made by the third day of the new league year on March 13, a source told ESPN's Field Yates. Cousins now has a guarantee for $67.9 million for the 2027 season that will vest on March 13. The restructure also includes reducing Cousins' 2026 base salary from a non-guaranteed $35 million to just $2.1 million. Atlanta's front office is in flux following the firing of general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday, but the Falcons could still move on from Cousins before March 13 as a post-June 1 release. A release of that kind would split the dead money on Cousins' contract over 2026 and 2027, as opposed to the team taking on the full amount in 2026. The 37-year-old played in 10 games this season, including starting the final seven following Michael Penix Jr.'s season-ending knee injury. Cousins was serviceable, throwing 10 TDs and five interceptions, but he probably isn't in the team's long-term plans at the position.

Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports that the Atlanta Falcons are "strongly" considering former quarterback Matt Ryan for a "high-profile" front-office role with the team. Atlanta fired general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris on Sunday after the franchise completed its eighth straight losing season. Ryan quarterbacked the Falcons for 14 seasons from 2008 to 2021, winning an MVP award and leading his team to the Super Bowl in 2016. He has a borderline Hall of Fame resume as a player, throwing for over 60,000 yards and 381 touchdowns across 222 career NFL games. However, Ryan has zero front office experience, working as an analyst for CBS since leaving the NFL at the end of the 2022 season. It's unclear at this time whether Ryan would be the lead decision-maker with the Falcons if he and the team can reach an agreement.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (knee) is officially active for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New Orleans Saints. He had been listed as questionable after logging back-to-back limited practices. The 28-year-old has failed to meet expectations while occupying the No. 2 wide receiver role for most of this season. He has played 81.8% of the offensive snaps when healthy but has a modest stat line of 29 catches, 423 yards, and one touchdown. Mooney finds himself buried in the pecking order behind Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr. As a result, we expect him to remain off the fantasy radar against the Saints on Sunday. He can be benched in most leagues.

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. (knee) is officially active for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New Orleans Saints. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity this week. Pitts has frequently appeared on the injury report this year, but he never ended up missing a game. He has officially been active for all 17 games for the third season in a row. Pitts has been playing at an elite level ever since Kirk Cousins took over at quarterback, and it has allowed him to rank as the overall TE2 in full-PPR leagues to this point. He'll look to cap off his strong second half of the season in a competitive game against the Saints on Sunday. As it stands, he ranks as a top-five fantasy tight end.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (knee) is officially active for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New Orleans Saints. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity this past week. London is still working his way back after a knee injury sidelined him from Weeks 12 through 15. In two games since then, he has just four catches. Last week was particularly frustrating as he caught one pass for four yards despite handling a 98% snap share. The increased snap share indicates that London is capable of playing a full game, so now, he just needs the targets. Managers should look for him to bounce back as a fringe top-12 fantasy receiver in a competitive battle against the Saints on Sunday.

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. (knee) carries excellent upside in Week 18 despite facing off with a solid New Orleans Saints defense at home. The fifth-year pro had been on a tear over the last month until his dud last weekend. In the four games prior, Pitts seemed unstoppable, averaging 23.6 PPR fantasy points per game. He was the TE1 across Weeks 13-16, and it wasn't really close. However, the former fourth-overall pick saw his production dip in Week 17 (2/16). While that may be due to a knee injury he picked up earlier in the week at practice, indeed, he doesn't carry the same upside with wide receiver Drake London (knee) back in the fold. If Pitts plays this weekend, fantasy managers will find it difficult to bench him, particularly with teammate Darnell Mooney (knee) also questionable for the contest. Whether Mooney is active or not, the 25-year-old's status should be monitored leading up to kickoff, considering his ranking as RotoBaller's PPR TE5.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (knee) is officially listed as questionable for Week 18's matchup against the New Orleans Saints, but head coach Raheem Morris is optimistic about his chances to suit up. London has delivered his two worst games of the season over the past two weeks, catching just one of two targets for four yards last week against the Rams and three of eight targets for 27 yards in Week 16 versus the Cardinals after returning from a PCL sprain. The star wideout will look to get back on track and close out the season on a high note against the Saints, though that could be tougher as New Orleans has allowed the eighth-fewest PPR points per game to wide receivers this season. London missed Atlanta's Week 12 meeting with New Orleans, but he totalled 14 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown on 25 targets in two games against them last year. He is ranked as RotoBaller's WR13 for the season finale.

Atlanta Falcons kicker Zane Gonzalez converted two of three field goal attempts and made all three of his extra point tries in Monday's win over the Los Angeles Rams. It was the fourth time this season that Gonzalez had scored nine or more points. Gonzlaez will look to keep things rolling in Sunday's divisional matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Since signing with the Falcons in Week 10, the 30-year-old has been a solid option for fantasy managers, making 15 of 18 (83.3%) of his field goal attempts over eight games. The Saints are a neutral matchup and rank in the middle of the pack in points allowed to kickers this season. Gonzalez is ranked 16th among all kickers in the latest RotoBaller Week 18 rankings and can be used as a streamer for managers in deep leagues with some fantasy championships still on the line for Week 18.

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. (knee) is coming off a disappointing showing against the Rams, and he now carries a questionable designation into Sunday's season finale against the Saints. Pitts has been a limited practice participant all week, which has not been uncommon for him down the stretch, and head coach Raheem Morris is optimistic about his availability for Week 18. The Falcons have been eliminated from playoff contention, but they could indirectly determine the NFC South champion with a win, adding a level of motivation in a week when it can often be difficult to find. Fantasy managers still competing in Week 18 should feel comfortable starting Pitts against a Saints defense that has been middle-of-the-road at defending tight ends.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (knee) was able to log limited practices on Thursday and Friday, and he carries a questionable designation into the team's Week 18 season finale against the Saints. Head coach Raheem Morris is optimistic about his availability for Sunday, but even if Mooney can play, he represents a high-risk, low-reward option for any fantasy managers still competing in Week 18. He has topped 35 receiving yards only once in his last 10 outings, and his Week 12 touchdown grab against the Saints remains his lone score on the year. The bull case for Mooney is that his best game of the season came in that Week 12 win in New Orleans, though it should be noted that the Saints have won four of five games since, including their last four.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (knee) has been listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional matchup with the Saints. London carried the same designation into the past two games and was ultimately able to suit up, and head coach Raheem Morris is optimistic about his availability for Week 18. The fourth-year pro was a non-factor in either of those games, as he is clearly still limited by the knee injury that kept him sidelined for a month. In a game that could indirectly determine the playoff fate of the Panthers and Buccaneers, there is at least some divisional pride on the line. However, given London's recent struggles and a slate of games with clearer stakes, he should be viewed as a desperation play at best by any fantasy managers with a Week 18 title on the line.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins led the team to another upset victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football to close out Week 17 action. Most of the heavy lifting was done by star running back Bijan Robinson, though, who finished just shy of 200 rushing yards with a touchdown on 22 carries. Robinson also caught five passes for 34 yards and a second touchdown. Cousins, meanwhile, continued to play a game-manager role at QB, going 13-for-20 passing for 126 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. The 37-year-old veteran signal-caller shouldn't attract a ton of fantasy interest as a streamer going into the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. Cousins has gone over 200 passing yards just twice in the last five games. In the first game against the Saints, he threw for 199 yards, two TDs, and a pick on Nov. 23.

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson delivered an all-time performance in Monday night's win over the Los Angeles Rams, handling 22 carries for 195 yards and a touchdown to go with five catches (eight targets) for 34 yards and another touchdown as a receiver. Robinson scored the longest touchdown in Falcons history with a 93-yard score at the end of the first half, helping to produce a legendary performance for his fantasy managers in championship matchups. He forced 11 missed tackles and gained an extra 168 yards, tied for the most in any game over the last seven seasons, per Next Gen Stats. It was the superstar running back's league-leading seventh game with over 150 yards from scrimmage and second game this season with over 200 yards, with the other also coming on Monday night back in Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills. Robinson has put together a special season and will look to finish out strong in Week 18 against the New Orleans Saints.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (knee) is officially active for Monday Night Football against the visiting Los Angeles Rams. As expected, London will be active to close out Week 17 action after returning to the field for last week's win over the Arizona Cardinals. The 24-year-old wideout missed Weeks 12-15 with a sprained PCL in his left knee and played 69% of the offensive snaps in Week 16, catching three of his eight targets for only 27 yards. Fantasy managers will be hoping that London sees the field more on Monday against the Rams, although he wasn't able to practice in full at all last week from Thursday through Saturday. London checks in as the WR7 this year in terms of half-PPR fantasy points per game (15.1). His presence on the field for the second straight week will make life more difficult for tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., who went off for 11 catches, 166 yards, and three TDs in Week 15.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney recorded just two catches for 24 yards in Week 16, continuing a trend of disappointing performances that has persisted throughout the season. The 28-year-old has caught two or fewer passes in eight of the 13 games he's played this season, and has struggled to gain targets behind Drake London (knee), Kyle Pitts Sr. (knee), and Bijan Robinson. London heads into Week 17's home matchup against the Rams with a questionable designation, however, it would likely be more of a benefit to Kyle Pitts Sr. and David Sills V's target total if Atlanta's No. 1 receiver were to miss the game, not Mooney's. The veteran wideout is a risky play even in what appears to be a good matchup on paper, with Los Angeles allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers on the season and 277.7 yards passing over the last three weeks (second most in the NFL).

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (knee) was a non-factor in Week 16 after returning from a four-game absence, tallying just three receptions for 27 scoreless yards while playing just 69 percent of the team's offensive snaps. The 24-year-old was limited in practice all week and takes a questionable designation into Monday night's game versus the Rams. Because he has a Monday night game, there is some risk in planning to play him in the event he does not suit up, but as long as he does play, fantasy managers should be putting him in their lineups, as he still received eight targets last week despite his limited production. The 6-foot-4 wideout has recorded at least eight targets in nine of the ten games he's played this season, and had gone over 100 yards receiving in five of his last six prior to Week 16's dud. He'll go up against a Rams defense that has yielded the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers for the season and 277.7 yards per game through the air over the last three weeks (second-most). In a Monday Night Football game that has a high over/under of 49.5 and the Falcons as 7.5-point underdogs, Atlanta may need to air it out, but with some uncertainty around the knee and plenty of other receiving options on this team, London projects as a low-end WR1 this week.

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier tied a season high with 16 rush attempts last week, totaling 79 yards on the ground (4.9 yards per rush). Without recording a touchdown, though, and recording one catch for negative six yards left him with a disappointing line for fantasy. Although the 25-year-old has eight touchdowns on the season, he's very susceptible to quiet outings and has not scored in three consecutive games now. It could be tough sledding in Week 17's Monday night home matchup against the Rams, a defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs and just 92.7 rush yards per game over the last three weeks (fifth-fewest). As 7.5-point underdogs, the Falcons may need to take to the air, which could limit Allgeier's potential involvement, so he'll once again be a risky Flex play in what is likely the championship round for season-long fantasy managers.