Fantasy Football News

The Falcons have named QB Michael Penix Jr. the starter for Thursday night's game against the Packers. We passed along word Sunday that this might be the case, and the team confirmed it Monday. Atlanta started Cooper Rush the first two games after Tua Tagovailoa went down with an oblique injury.

Falcons QB Cooper Rush will start this weekend's game vs. the Panthers, HC Kevin Stefanski said Friday. QB Michael Penix (knee) was a full-go in practice all week but has been ruled out. QB Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) is listed as doubtful. Rush was a disaster last week, throwing for 143 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs. WR Drake London and TE Kyle Pitts combined for 2 catches and 29 yards. The matchup is easier this week against Carolina, but it's tough to have much optimism for this passing game. Check your Team Dashboard to see if London or Pitts belongs in your starting lineup.

Falcons QBs Michael Penix (knee) and Cooper Rush (back) were full participants in Wednesday's practice, while QB Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) was out. Penix and Rush reportedly split first-team reps, and Penix said afterward that he's "close" to being ready to play. HC Kevin Stefanski did not name a Week 2 starter when asked on Wednesday. None of these guys should be in your Week 2 fantasy plans, but Drake London and Kyle Pitts owners should be hoping for Penix ASAP.

Falcons QB Cooper Rush suffered back spasms Saturday but remains in line to start against the Steelers tomorrow. He moved into the starting role after QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury at practice on Thursday, with undrafted rookie QB Jack Strand out of Minnesota State-Moorhead set to back up Rush.

Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa has been ruled out for this weekend's game vs. the Steelers after suffering an oblique injury in Thursday's practice. We'll see how much longer he'll be sidelined, and when QB Michael Penix is ready to play after last year's ACL tear. But it'll be QB Cooper Rush under center for Atlanta in Pittsburgh. The 32-year-old owns a career 61.1% completion rate and 6.3 yards-per-attempt average. Rush is likely a downgrade even from the current version of Tagovailoa. WR Drake London and TE Kyle Pitts take a hit in the Week 1 rankings, although both guys are fine to keep in lineups as volume-based plays. The Steelers DST is an elite Week 1 play.

Update: HC Kevin Stefanski labeled Tagovailoa "week to week" on Friday, suggesting that he might be out beyond Week 1.

Falcons de facto starting QB Tua Tagovailoa left Thursday's practice after appearing to hurt his back, an injury that could jeopardize his status for Sunday's opening game at Pittsburgh.

Update: It's an oblique injury, but we don't yet know more about whether it'll affect the QB's Week 1 availability.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Bears. He practiced all week, including a full workout on Friday. We continue to expect Jackson to return for this game, but HC John Harbaugh was non-committal on Friday. Harbaugh also said that QB Tyler Huntley – not QB Cooper Rush – would start if Jackson can’t go. We’re sure to get more updates on Jackson between now and kickoff.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring) did not practice all week and is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Rams. He’ll get a Week 7 bye and hope to make it back for Week 8. QB Cooper Rush gets another start this weekend but isn’t even a recommended start in 2-QB fantasy leagues.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Texans. He didn’t practice all week and could be looking at a multi-game absence. Baltimore gets the Rams next week before a Week 7 bye. QB Cooper Rush gets the ball on Sunday for his first start since last December with the Cowboys. He’s a massive downgrade from Jackson and changes the entire complexion of Baltimore’s offense. The Ravens are implied for just 19.5 points vs. Houston.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring) will "likely" miss Sunday's game vs. the Texans and could be sidelined for 2-3 weeks, according to The Baltimore Sun's Brian Wacker. The Ravens have a Week 7 bye, so Week 8 has felt like a realistic return target for Jackson since he went down. We'll keep you updated on his status, but fantasy managers need to be making other plans for the next couple of weeks. Jackson's absence would leave QB Cooper Rush under center for games against Houston and the Rams. Rush has made 14 career starts -- all for the Cowboys -- and sports a 60.9% completion rate at 6.3 yards per attempt.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Chiefs. It didn't look serious, and Jackson is officially questionable to return. But he's on the sidelines without his helmet and has been replaced by QB Cooper Rush. Stay tuned for an update.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson exited Wednesday's practice with what appeared to be a right hand or wrist injury, according to multiple reports. But the team is saying that Jackson got stepped on and is fine.

Cowboys QB Trey Lance is expected to start today's game vs. the Commanders, according to multiple reports. It's not a big surprise after NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said Friday that Lance was in line to get "significant" reps in this one. It's still unclear whether Lance will play the entire game or split snaps with QB Cooper Rush. Avoid the situation in Week 18 fantasy lineups. The news helps the Commanders' DST.

Cowboys QB Trey Lance is expected to get "significant reps" in Sunday's game vs. the Commanders, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Lance has thrown just seven passes this season and is scheduled to hit free agency in March. Avoid both Lance and QB Cooper Rush in Week 18 fantasy lineups.

The Cowboys announced Thursday that WR CeeDee Lamb will miss the final two games of the season with his shoulder injury.