Amid struggles of quarterback Kirk Cousins, the Atlanta Falcons are making a change to Michael Penix Jr. as their starting quarterback.
The Atlanta Falcons are making a big change at quarterback. With Kirk Cousins struggling to move the ball and complete passes to his own teammates, the Falcons announced they will be starting rookie Michael Penix Jr. in week 16 versus the New York Giants.
Michael Penix Jr. was drafted 8th overall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. At the time, the move was met with curiosity and plenty of raised eyebrows. After securing Kirk Cousins with a 4-year, $180 million contract the Falcons front office was met with plenty of incredulity.
Michael Penix will provide an instant boost to the passing game. His cannon of a left arm will give life to Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and hopefully resuscitate tight end Kyle Pitts. Kirk Cousins showed in recent weeks that he was unable to drive through is lower body to add zip to his passes. This will not be a problem for Michael Penix.
The Falcons offense will get a massive boost. Penix’s ability to sling the football will make life easier for Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier out of the backfield. Fire up all Falcons in week 16 versus the Giants.
Jeremiah Retzlaff, @coachretzlaff1
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts continued his stretch ...
After being a limited participant in practice on Wednesday ...
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring) continued ...
After a promising start to the 2024 season, Kyle Pitts has fallen into must bench territory.
As the NFL season is waning it is good practice to reflect on the good and bad. In some ways, the holiday spirit can venture towards the sentiments that reflect the beloved Seinfeld holiday known as Festivus.
Kyle Pitts is one such candidate. It has been a lost season for Kyle Pitts. In 2024, Pitts has had 5 top-12 tight end performances. In the last 3 weeks, Pitts hasn’t finished higher than the TE-33. Pitts is going through a 5 game touchdown drought and has had 14 receiving yards or fewer in 4 of the last 5 weeks.
Back in April, his 5th-year option was exercised by the Falcons to the tune of $10.8 million. Pitts is the TE-15, which is a massive disappointment considering the 2021 investment of the 4th overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Dynasty gamers who are looking to get out of their Kyle Pitts shares are left holding a depressed asset versus acquisition cost. The ideal outcome for Pitts managers to help them cope is to remain hopeful that Michael Penix Jr. will have rapport with him once the starting quarterback job belongs to Penix. In the meantime, Kyle Pitts is best left on dynasty benches and redraft waiver wires.
Jeremiah Retzlaff, @coachretzlaff1
The Atlanta Falcons have a quarterback conundrum on their hands.
In what is becoming a weekly routine, the Atlanta Falcons fall short in week 14 against the Vikings after a rough outing from Kirk Cousins. The Falcons lost decisively to the tune of 42-21. The calls for Michael Penix Jr. to start at quarterback are getting louder.
Kirk Cousins has thrown 8 interceptions in the last 4 games. While Cousins threw for 344 yards, he ended the day with zero touchdown passes and 2 interceptions. The Falcons have dropped their last 4 games and are now in 2nd place in the NFC East. The Falcons 6-7 record is a cause for concern, however Falcons skill position players remain viable in fantasy football.
Bijan Robinson has been ‘Cousins-proof’ with his fantasy output. The last 2 weeks, Bijan has totaled 25.5 and 20.1 fantasy points. Receiver Darnell Mooney had a superb day with 6 receptions and 142 receiving yards. Drake London had a respectable 70 yards receiving on 5 receptions.
The Falcons get the Raiders on the road in week 15. Aside from Kirk Cousins and Kyle Pitts, Falcons skill position players need to be in lineups. While Tyler Allgeier had a respectable 63 yards rushing and a touchdown, he is only a desperation flex unless he were to get the full workload via a Bijan Robinson injury.
Jeremiah Retzlaff, @coachretzlaff1
It was a forgettable day for the Falcons against Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos in week 11.
The Atlanta Falcons suffered a brutal loss to the Denver Broncos 38-6. Fantasy goodness was the furthest thing from the menu for Falcons players. Bo Nix carried the day for the Broncos with an 85% completion percentage against the banged up Falcons defense.
The Falcons were shut out of reaching the end zone on Sunday. Kirk Cousins managed 173 passing yards, 0 touchdown passes, and threw an interception. Drake London had a respectable 3 catches for 61 yards. London’s wide receiver counterpart Darnell Mooney left the game early with a hamstring injury.
Bijan Robinson had his 5 game streak of 100 total yards or more snapped. Bijan, who is agnostic to game script saw his opportunities slip away as the game wore on. Kyle Pitts managed 1 reception for 9 yards much to the chagrin of his fantasy managers.
The Falcons mercifully have a week 12 bye. Their fantasy football playoff schedule will certainly make this week 11 debacle a distant memory. From weeks 15-17 the Falcons will play on the road against the Raiders, home versus the Giants, and square off in Washington against the Commanders. Up against any trade deadlines, this is the last call for scooping up Falcons players in fantasy football before they soar to new heights!
Jeremiah Retzlaff, @coachretzlaff1
Kirk Cousins leads the Falcons to victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 8.
The Atlanta Falcons outlasted the Buccaneers in week 8. Kirk Cousins led the way with 276 passing yards and threw for 4 touchdown passes.
Propelling the passing game was Kyle Pitts who had 4 receptions, 91 receiving yards, and 2 touchdown receptions. Pitts 2nd touchdown was eerily close to being a fumble, however replay concluded that Pitts crossed the plane with the football. Kyle Pitts ends National Tight End week as the TE-2.
In the receiving game, Darnell Mooney led the way with 4 catches for 86 receiving yards and a touchdown reception. His counterpart Drake London had a quiet day with 4 catches for 34 yards. Darnell Mooney ends up as the WR-13 for week 8. Mooney and London both deserve to be in starting lineups in week 9.
On the ground, Bijan Robinson continues to justify his first round ADP price tag. Bijan ends up being the RB-4 on the week in PPR with 23.6 fantasy points. Tyler Allgeier remains one of the best handcuff running backs, but best left on benches in lineup leagues.
The Falcons get a juicy matchup versus the Dallas Cowboys at home in week 9. Fire up Falcons players with confidence!
Jeremiah Retzlaff, @coachretzlaff1
Despite a losing effort, there was plenty of fantasy goodness to be had from the Atlanta Falcons skill position players.
The Atlanta Falcons got trounced at home versus the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday by a score of 34-14. The Falcons were 3 point favorites throughout the week and could not manage to keep the score close.
In the box score, Kirk Cousins had a tough day as he threw for 232 yards, 1 touchdown pass, and 2 interceptions. Kirk Cousins is currently the QB-20 on the week in 4 point per passing touchdown leagues. A bright spot in the passing game was Drake London who logged 6 receptions for 63 receiving yards and a touchdown. London’s 18.3 points currently has him as the WR-7 on the week. London is a set and forget top-12 play the rest of the season.
Kyle Pitts turned in a 13.5 point performance in PPR leagues where he is the TE-7 heading into Monday Night Football. Pitts caught 7 of his 9 targets for 65 yards. Pitts is now a top-6 play on a weekly basis.
The Falcons ground game continued to show its muscle. Bijan Robinson had 23.3 fantasy points and is the current week’s RB-8. Tyler Allgeier didn’t muster much with his 23% snap share.
The Atlanta Falcons are 4-3 and will get a juicy matchup against the division rival Buccaneers in week 8. Continue to start Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson with confidence. Kirk Cousins remains a 2nd QB only in superflex leagues while Tyler Allgeier is best deployed as a stash or a desperation flex play.
-Jeremiah Retzlaff, @coachretzlaff1
