The Falcons lose their home opener while their top receiver posts a dud week.
The football gods were cruel to fantasy gamers who roster Drake London. Drake London had 2 receptions for 15 receiving yards versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 1.
In the much anticipated contest against their former head coach Arthur Smith, the Atlanta Falcons were only able to muster 10 points, with the sole touchdown being a 12-yard pass from Kirk Cousins to Kyle Pitts.
Kirk Cousins looked very shaky all game and was a victim of the relentless pursuit of T.J. Watt. While Michael Penix Jr. may not be starting anytime soon, immediate pressure can be felt after such a disappointing performance. The Falcons will have an extra day to shake off the rust as they travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles on Monday Night Football.
Atlanta Falcons third-year wide receiver Drake London will ...
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London appeared to be ...
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London expressed ...
Rondale Moore suffered a knee injury that will end his season.
Falcons wide receiver Rondale Moore is out for the season after suffering a knee-injury. The 4th year wide receiver has struggled to lift off in his short career.
This is a disappointing outcome for a player who was looking to benefit from a change in scenery. Just a week ago, Rondale Moore was reportedly pushing for the slot role and drawing praise from head coach Raheem Morris. Given the minor investment in Rondale Moore via a trade with Arizona Cardinals, don’t expect a big time acquisition to replace Rondale Moore.
Keep an eye on training camp reports for Casey Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud III and expect a lower tiered wide receiver to join the fold. The weapons to heavily invest in the Falcons offense remain Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts with secondary levels of exposure to running back Tyler Allgeier and second receiver Darnell Mooney.
Without an established number 2 wide receiver behind Drake London, the Falcons may have an uncut gem in Casey Washington.
When the Atlanta Falcons opted to select Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th overall pick, they chose against boosting their wide receiver room behind Drake London. A trade for Rondale Moore and the signing of Darnell Mooney have been the only significant waves for the Falcons wide receiver room this offseason.
In a much lauded wide receiver class, Casey Washington has not registered much buzz. Drafted in the 6th round from the Illinois Fighting Illini, the rookie has ascended from the 3rd and 4th-string offense up to a mixture to the 1st and 2nd-team units during team OTAs. Wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard praised Washington’s strong hands and hand eye coordination.
There has been early chemistry with Michael Penix Jr. and praise given by wide receiver counterpart Drake London. For fantasy gamers who are having difficulty exhibiting some ingenuity in selecting different players in the last round of your Best Ball drafts, Casey Washington is a new player to build into your drafting portfolio, particularly with Atlanta Falcons stacks and correlated to Falcons late season opponents.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris brings Sean McVay disciple Zac Robinson into the fold.
Raheem Morris made sure the carry-on bag for his flight east included a Sean McVay disciple in Rams pass-game coordinator Zac Robinson. Not enough can be said for the Rams late round gems in Kyren Williams and rookie sensation Puka Nacua that have crystalized into 2024 first round ADP players.
The Rams were 4th in red zone pass attempts in 2023. This bodes well for Drake London’s touchdown regression from 2 receiving touchdowns last year as well as Kyle Pitts 3 total touchdowns. With bell cow opportunity share, Kyren Williams 2023 21.3 fantasy points per game will have fantasy managers appropriately excited for Bijan Robinson’s second year breakout.
As Desmond Ridder isn’t even an adequate stand-in for Matthew Stafford, the heat is on the Atlanta Falcons to make an upgrade at quarterback. With the 8th overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons are in a flexible position to pursue quarterback via free agency, a trade for Justin Fields, or boldly moving up in the draft to secure one of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or Jayden Daniels.
Raheem Morris emerges the victor from a crowded interview pool as the Atlanta Falcons next head coach.
Raheem Morris secures the position of the Atlanta Falcons’ new head coach after emerging as the top choice from a pool of 14 candidates. Having orchestrated the 2021 Rams defense to victory in the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals, Morris eyes his first Super Bowl trophy as a head coach, while owner Arthur Blank seeks his initial championship win.
Under Arthur Blank’s ownership, the Falcons boast considerable offensive talent, with skill position players highly coveted in fantasy football. Despite the challenges of the now-dismissed coach Arthur Smith, Bijan Robinson maintained an impressive 14.5 fantasy points per game. Drake London anticipates a regression from his 2023 touchdown count of 2 and aims to benefit from a more accurate quarterback in 2024, having recorded 69 catches on 109 targets. Additionally, revelations of Kyle Pitts’ less-than-optimal health in 2023 suggest an increased snap share above 65.1%, setting the stage for the breakout season fans have been eagerly anticipating.
Following a 7-10 record in the 2023 campaign, the Falcons present an enticing opportunity for both veteran and rookie quarterbacks. A turnaround to a 10-7 record is well within reach, positioning the team as strong contenders for the top spot in the NFC South.
Atlanta Falcons Fire Arthur Smith
The Atlanta Falcons have fired head coach Arthur Smith. This is a move that every Fantasy owner wanted the team to make all season. The Falcons will now be in the market for a new coaching staff and as of Monday, they join the Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers in a search for a new coach. The Falcon’s job is very enticing as they will get to work with former first-round picks, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, and Drake London.
The Arthur Smith lead offense ranked in the bottom third for the season in offensive yards and points. The Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson 8th overall this year. Arthur Smith decided to have him split carries with former 5th-round draft pick Tyler Allgeier. Kyle Pitts was drafted 4th overall in 2021 and ended the 23 season with 53 receptions on 90 targets for 667 yards and 3 touchdowns. Pitts is a hyper-athlete and has never had more than three touchdowns in a season. Drake London was drafted 8th overall in 2022 and hasn’t been able to break 1000 yards in a season. The 6’4″ Wide receiver had four touchdowns in 2022 and two in 2023. For the third year in a row, the Falcons have the 8th pick in the NFL Draft. Look for them to add a new QB at some point this offseason. This opening is very enticing for any head coach candidate as we now shift to coach watch.
