Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Bears WR Darnell Mooney (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday. He self-reported concussion symptoms after last week's win over the Cardinals, HC Matt Eberflus said. Mooney is now unlikely to play vs. the Falcons this weekend. Hopefully you weren't counting on him in Week 17 fantasy lineups.

Falcons RB Bijan Robinson rushed a team-high 12 times for 72 yards in Sunday's win over the Colts. He added team highs in targets (10), receptions (7), and receiving yards (50). That followed his 7-carry, 1-catch Week 15 but marked his fourth game of 19+ touches among the past six contests. Robinson didn't find the end zone, watching RB Tyler Allgeier log the team's only rushing score. That came from 31 yards out, though. Robinson got all four RB opportunities from inside the 10-yard line for the game. That's good. It's less good that Allgeier garnered 9 carries and Cordarrelle Patterson 7 to Robinson's 12. Week 17 takes the Falcons to Chicago to face a defense that ranks third in rush DVOA.

Falcons RB Bijan Robinson finished the Week 15 loss to Carolina with seven carries for 11 yards and one catch for three yards. His 59% snap rate was his lowest in a healthy game all season. RBs Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson combined for 19 carries and four targets. It was a major letdown and surprise after Robinson averaged 16.5 carries and 5.0 targets over his previous four games. Fantasy owners who survived this dud will need to go back to Robinson in Week 16, barring any news about an injury that we haven't heard about yet. The rookie gets a plus matchup vs. the Colts' 31st-ranked RB defense. Week 17 brings a much tougher draw vs. Chicago.

Falcons WR Drake London mustered just two catches for 24 scoreless yards in the Week 15 loss to the Panthers. Weather was a factor throughout this one, with QB Desmond Ridder throwing for only 152 yards and one TD. But it continued the trend of Atlanta's passing game being much less productive on the road than at home throughout the season. For London, that's meant 6.0 and 89 yards per game at home vs. just 3.1 catches and 34 yards per game on the road. He hasn't reached 12 PPR points in any of his seven road games. The good news: London is back at home in Week 16 for the Colts' 11th-ranked WR defense. Then it's back on the road against the Bears in Week 17.

Falcons WR Drake London hauled in 10 of 12 targets for 172 receiving yards in Week 14 vs. the Buccaneers. Each of those statistical marks set new career highs for the second-year wideout. Fantasy managers have been on a roller coaster ride all season with London. Still, Sunday’s performance highlights the impact he’s capable of having when he’s prominently featured in the Falcons’ offense. There have been eight games in 2023 in which London has received 7 or more targets; he’s averaged 16.5 PPR points per game in those instances. In the four other games where he’s seen less involvement than that, London’s average dips to 3.4 points per game. It’ll be intriguing to see whether or not he’ll be able to capitalize on this success in Week 15, going up against a Panthers defense that ranks as the second-toughest WR matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed this season.

The Falcons have ruled LB Nate Landman (knee) out for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. Andre Smith looks like the next guy up, but we wouldn't go looking for a down-the-roster Atlanta LB in any format at this point in the fantasy season. Atlanta also ruled out DT David Onyemata (ankle). Onyemata and Landman hold the two best Pro Football Focus run-defense grades among Falcons front-seven players this season. So their absences can only help the matchup for Bucs RB Rachaad White. CB A.J. Terrell (concussion) and CB Jeff Okudah (ankle) are questionable for the game.

Falcons RB Bijan Robinson went off against the Saints in Week 12, racking up 123 scrimmage yards on 19 touches with 2 total TDs. Sunday was the first time the rookie had cracked 100 total yards in a game since Week 4 vs. the Jaguars. Robinson played on just 62.9% of the team’s offensive snaps and handled 47% of the RB carries, right around his season averages in those categories, so it’s not as though he just suddenly separated himself from the rest of the backfield. But moving forward, he’ll have a string of quality opportunities to ride this momentum and help fantasy managers in the fantasy playoffs. The Falcons’ remaining schedule ranks third-easiest for RBs per our adjusted fantasy points allowed. Next week, Robinson will take on a lowly Jets defense that has allowed at least 130 rushing yards to opposing offenses in nine of 11 games in 2023.

Falcons K Younghoe Koo (back) put in a full practice on Friday and isn’t listed on the final injury report for this weekend’s game vs. the Saints. He’s safe to use in Week 12 fantasy lineups.

Falcons K Younghoe Koo missed Wednesday's practice with a back injury. We'll keep an eye on his status over the next few days, but fantasy players hoping to start Koo should at least start thinking about an alternative.

Falcons RB Bijan Robinson took a season-high 22 carries for 95 yards (4.3 per rush) and a TD in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals. That beat his previous high by 3 carries and marked eight more rushing attempts than he had received in a game since Week 2. Robinson's TD came from 5 yards out, just his third carry from inside the 10-yard line all season -- and his first since Week 6. Tyler Allgeier carried just nine times in a game that found Atlanta leading throughout the first half and the lead going back and forth after the break. Robinson added just one 11-yard catch among 2 targets, but only two teammates drew more targets as Atlanta attempted only 21 passes (vs. 41 rushes). If this signals a change in work split, then Robinson could be a fantasy difference maker the rest of the way. Atlanta now gets a Week 11 bye but faces four strongly positive matchups among the final six games after the bye.

Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Cardinals. He's remained on the sidelines but doesn't have his helmet. Heinicke is officially questionable to return but seems unlikely to do so. He's been replaced by QB Desmond Ridder.

Update: Heinicke has been ruled out.

Falcons WR Drake London (groin) practiced all week and is not listed on the final injury report for Sunday's game vs. the Cardinals. He can get back into fantasy lineups in the plus matchup. WR Mack Hollins (ankle) is out for Week 10.

Falcons WR Drake London (groin) was upgraded to full participation in Thursday's practice. He'll be ready to go for this weekend's game vs. the Cardinals' 21st-ranked WR defense.

Falcons WR Drake London (groin) got in a limited practice on Wednesday. HC Arthur Smith said Monday that London is trending "in the right direction" for this weekend's game vs. the Cardinals. We'll keep an eye on his progress over the next few days.

Falcons HC Arthur Smith said Monday that WR Drake London (groin) is trending "in the right direction" for this weekend's game vs. the Cardinals. London didn't practice at all last week, but his injury never sounded like a long-term deal. We'll keep you updated on his progress throughout this week.

Falcons HC Arthur Smith announced Monday that QB Taylor Heinicke will start again Sunday against Arizona. It's not a surprise. Heinicke played just OK in the Week 9 loss to the Vikings, completing 55.2% of his passes for 268 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. His lone score came on a short throw that TE Jonnu Smith took 60 yards for the TD. Heinicke looks interesting for Week 10, though, if you need a streaming QB. He'll face a Cardinals defense that has been sixth most friendly to QB scoring by our adjusted fantasy points allowed. Arizona also ranks just 31st in pass-defense DVOA. Check back Tuesday afternoon (and beyond) to see where Heinicke settles in our Week 10 QB rankings. QB Desmond Ridder does remain stashable in superflex leagues -- if you can afford the spot. Heinicke's no lock to keep the job the rest of the way if his coach is announcing the starter one week at a time.

Falcons RB Bijan Robinson saw 11 carries for 51 rushing yards and 2 catches for 8 receiving yards in Week 9 vs. the Vikings. Fellow RB Tyler Allgeier was again a thorn in the side of the rookie, tallying 30 total yards and a rushing TD on a combined 14 touches in the contest. Allgeier’s involvement has cut into Robinson’s fantasy scoring lately. Over the past four games, Robinson only accounts for 34% of the Falcons’ RB touch opportunities. With how frustrating this offense is in the hands of HC Arthur Smith, it’s become tougher to project whether or not the former Texas standout is a low-end RB1 or middling RB2 each week. At least Week 10’s showdown vs. the Cardinals (third-easiest RB matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed) should present a get-right spot for Robinson.

Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke completed 21 of 38 passes for 268 yards with 1 TD and INT apiece in Week 9 vs. the Vikings. His 14.7 fantasy points in this contest aren’t remarkable, though they were passable enough to finish as a high-end QB2 this week. Between 2021-22, Heinicke averaged 13.5 fantasy points per game in 25 games played with the Commanders, so these are the sorts of results that are reasonable for fantasy managers to expect. Next week, he’ll face a Cardinals defense that ranks as the sixth-easiest matchup for QBs per our adjusted fantasy points allowed. Heinicke will be in the deep-league streaming discussion for Week 10.

Falcons WR Drake London (groin) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Vikings. That leaves Atlanta with WRs Van Jefferson, KhaDarel Hodge, Mack Hollins, and Scotty Miller. Seriously. TEs Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith should draw more targets with London out. RBs Bijan Robinson and Cordarrelle Patterson could also play expanded roles in the passing game.

Falcons WR Drake London (groin) remained sidelined on Thursday. We'll see if he hits the field for Friday's practice, but fantasy owners should not be banking on London playing vs. the Vikings this weekend.