Cooper Rush Fantasy Stats

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush didn't do much with his opportunity as starting QB in Week 1's loss to Pittsburgh, completing 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown while tossing two interceptions. The veteran QB will get another shot in Week 2 against a much softer defense as the Falcons take on the Panthers at home. Last week, Caleb Williams threw for 269 yards and two scores while adding 10 rushes for 65 yards and an additional two touchdowns. Rush is not the same caliber of quarterback as Williams, though, and with the Bears running at will against Carolina (two running backs had over 100 yards), the Falcons could very well try to do the same thing with Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr. With a likely heavy dose of the ground attack and a low likelihood of being very effective through the air, the nine-year pro ranks as QB31 this week at RotoBaller, making him avoidable outside of Superflex leagues and sets him up as a DFS dart throw in tournaments.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush has again been named the starter ahead of the team's Week 2 divisional matchup with the Carolina Panthers, with head coach Kevin Stefanski confirming on Friday. Rush was thrust into a starting role two days ahead of the Falcons' season-opening loss to the Steelers, when Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) popped up on the injury report and was ruled out with an oblique injury. With the Falcons already ruling out 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. ahead of Sunday's game, Rush will make his second consecutive start, making all Falcons pass-catchers difficult to trust even against a Panthers defense fresh off allowing 59 points to the Chicago Bears. Rush completed only 12 passes in Week 1, with eight going to running back Bijan Robinson, while Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr. combined for four targets, two receptions, and 29 yards. Rush is RotoBaller's QB32 for Week 2.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush is taking the majority of the throws with the starters in the final practice of the week on Friday, according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Raimondi notes that this is the same way last Friday looked before Rush made the start in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) has been practicing in full as he finishes off the final stages of his recovery from a partially torn ACL late last year, but without full first-team reps in practice this week, he is unlikely to make his 2026 season debut this weekend against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) has not practiced all week and is expected to be officially ruled out for Week 2 on Friday. The 32-year-old Rush threw for 143 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in last week's 20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he could be in for a better showing this weekend against a Carolina defense that gave up nearly 60 points to the Chicago Bears in the season opener.

Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said that quarterback Cooper Rush (back) is "still getting treatment on his back," but also said that he will be a full participant in practice on Wednesday, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Rush dealt with some back spasms late last week but ended up starting in Week 1. Stefanski added that he is not ruling anyone out at QB as the team prepares for a Week 2 tilt on Sunday against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Rush and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) will practice, while Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) will sit out. Penix is not believed to be ready for game action as he recovers from a partially torn ACL he suffered late last year, so if Tagovailoa is ruled out again, Rush is the favorite to make a second straight start for the Falcons. The 32-year-old Rush was not terrible in the season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he was not great either, going 12-for-22 passing for 143 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in the 20-13 defeat. If he makes another start this weekend, Rush will merely be a desperation QB2 option in superflex formats.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush could end up making a second straight start Sunday against Carolina. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Tua Tagovailoa's oblique strain can linger, leaving his Week 2 status up in the air, while Michael Penix Jr. still isn't ready for live game action. That keeps Rush squarely in the picture after a rough opener in Pittsburgh. He completed 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the 20-13 loss and was sacked four times. Tagovailoa had been named the Week 1 starter before getting hurt in practice, but Atlanta may have to wait a little longer for either him or Penix. Rush doesn't offer much fantasy appeal if he gets another start, even against Carolina. He remains more of an emergency option in deeper two-quarterback and Superflex leagues.

The Athletic's Josh Kendall reports that the Atlanta Falcons updated their media advisory for the week on Tuesday, with the old one listed as "starting QB press conference" on Wednesday. The new one reads: "QB Cooper Rush press conference." The NFL Network's Steve Wyche checked in on this and was told that the Falcons listed Rush "based on no new information." Head coach Kevin Stefanski will announce who the Week starting QB is "whenever he decides to make his decision public." So for lack of a better term, Rush is the team's starting QB placeholder for now, with both Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) dealing with injuries. Penix is still recovering from a partially torn ACL late last year, and while he is progressing, he might not be ready for the Week 2 contest against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Tagovailoa was set to start in the Week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, but an oblique injury in practice last Thursday forced him out, and he might be trending towards missing a second straight game. If Rush makes a second straight start for Atlanta this weekend, fantasy managers will need to downgrade all of the team's offensive weapons again. The 32-year-old Rush threw for 143 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in the 20-13 loss to Pittsburgh.

Atlanta Falcons backup quarterback Cooper Rush (back) is officially active for Sunday's Week 1 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers after dealing with minor back spasms on Saturday, according to Tori McElhaney of the team's official website. The Falcons had already ruled out both Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) for Week 1, leaving Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand as the only QBs on the roster for the Falcons to begin the 2026 regular season. It is good news that Rush is ready to go, but Rush leading Atlanta's offense in Week 1 is not what fantasy managers of Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts Sr. had in mind when they drafted those players. Against a very capable Steelers defense, the expectation is that Atlanta's offense will struggle to move the football effectively on Sunday, so fantasy managers who have Robinson, London, and Pitts in their lineups in Week 1 should be tempering expectations for their overall production. As far as Rush, he is simply a low-upside streaming option in superflex leagues that fantasy managers should be avoiding, especially since he could suffer a setback with his back mid-game.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush (back) is still expected to be active for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Rush had been dealing with back spasms, but he reportedly "is feeling better" and will be able to play in the season opener. It's a rare positive headline about a Falcons quarterback, as Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) were both ruled out ahead of time. Rush is technically the Falcons' third-string quarterback, but he'll now be tasked with staying upright and leading the offensive charge against the Steelers and star pass rusher T.J. Watt. For what it's worth, Rush ranks as a clear QB3 in fantasy football this week.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush (back) experienced back spasms on Saturday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. With Falcons quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) both ruled out for Week 1, Rush is in line to start the team's season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Schefter reports that Atlanta still expects Rush to be active, but it appears he may not be fully healthy. A career backup, Rush threw for 303 yards, zero touchdowns, and four interceptions across four games (two starts) with the Baltimore Ravens in 2025. With a hobbled Rush under center, fantasy managers should downgrade expectations for Falcons wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. If Rush is unable to play, undrafted rookie quarterback Jack Strand would be the next man up for Atlanta.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush will get the starting nod on Sunday against the Steelers with Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) both ruled out. Rush will have a full complement of offensive weapons at his disposal, including stars Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts Sr., but a road matchup against the Steelers could make for a rough afternoon. The Pittsburgh defense was exploitable against the pass in 2025, conceding 244.9 yards per contest, which was fourth-most in the NFL, and 30 passing touchdowns. However, the addition of Jamel Dean in the offseason should help, and a healthy T.J. Watt could make things very uncomfortable for Rush. With the Falcons owning an implied point total of 17.5, second-lowest of any Week 1 contest, the potential for the veteran QB to put up big numbers doesn't look good. With a ranking of QB31 this week at RotoBaller, the 32-year-old signal caller should be avoided in both season-long and DFS if at all possible.