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    Penix’s doctor says he has an amazing ACL

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    ATL Quarterback #9
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    Michael Penix said his doctor told him he has “an amazing ACL” and he should “never have any more knee problems for the rest of your career.”

    This is not parody, somehow. Penix infamously tore his right ACL twice while in college and then suffered a partial tear in his left ACL last year. The totally real doctor was presumably referring to his left knee. Penix, who hasn’t participated in team drills during training camp, later added that the only thing he can’t do in practice right now is take a hit. Last we checked, that is a major part of the game of football. Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa is slated to start the team’s preseason opener versus Denver later this week. Penix doesn’t seem to have much of a shot at being the Week 1 starter given his slow recovery, but the leash on Tua will be short. Penix remains the favorite to start more games this year, though only by a narrow margin.
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  • ATL Quarterback #9
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    Penix was able to practice this week and will start for Atlanta in a potentially high scoring game against the Bears. Penix should be considered a streaming option in most formats. Falcons declared QB Cooper Rush, QB Jack Strand, CB C.J. Henderson, DB Malcolm DeWalt IV, LB Christian Harris, OL Ethan Onianwa, and DE Drake Jackson inactive against the Bears.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
    It was reported the day after the Falcons’ overtime loss to the Ravens that there was “optimism” that Penix would start in Week 6. After being upgraded to a full participant on Thursday’s practice, he seemed like a lock to be ready to go by Sunday, so Friday’s news isn’t all that unexpected. Penix has thrown for 719 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception this season, throwing one touchdown in each of his first three games. He’ll be on the fantasy radar in 2QB/Superflex leagues against a Bears defense that has allowed just two top-12 fantasy finishes to opposing QBs this season.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
    This is great news for the Falcons’ offense, which can barely function with Tua Tagovailoa at the helm. Penix is firmly on track to play in Week 6 against the Bears, as long as he gets through the week setback-free. Penix can be viewed as a high-end QB2 with four teams on bye.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
    “We’ll see how he’s feeling,” head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Wednesday morning, adding that Penix should be able to play through the injury. Even if it’s a limited practice session for Penix, it’s good news for his Week 6 availability following his Sunday night rib injury against the Ravens. Penix, operating under center at a much higher rate than last season, is among the most efficient quarterbacks in the league through Week 5. If Penix is out, Tua Tagovailoa would represent a major downgrade for all Atlanta pass catchers.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
    Penix said after Sunday’s loss that he didn’t believe his injury would be long-term. He was replaced by Tua Tagovailoa in overtime because of his injury, but he also added that he likely would have gone back on the field had the Falcons received the ball to start the extra quarter. Instead, Penix said his pain worsened the longer he sat, which was why he ultimately didn’t go back in. Penix’s status will be one to monitor throughout the week. If he can’t start in Week 6, Tagovailoa would be in line to start his first game of the season.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
    Penix will undergo an MRI on Monday to confirm the severity of his injury, but it doesn’t sound like he’s at risk of missing much time. Penix exited in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s game against the Ravens and was forced to stay on the sideline in overtime to watch Tua Tagovailoa throw the game-losing interception shortly after the Ravens scored the go-ahead touchdown. Penix threw for 240 yards and a touchdown and has been solid in his three games since returning from injury. If he’s not able to start in Week 6, Tagovailoa would presumably draw the start at home against the Bears.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
    Penix took the full brunt of a brutal hit to the midsection late in the fourth quarter of Week 5 against the Ravens. He would leave for one play due to the medical timeout, return for one play, and then retreat to the sideline. Tua Tagovailoa came on in relief in overtime, with the team designating Penix questionable to return with an injury to his ribs. Penix completed 19-of-32 passes for 240 yards and one touchdown prior to departing, adding eight yards on two carries. Fantasy managers will want to monitor his practice status in the coming days ahead of a Week 6 meeting with the Bears.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
    Penix wasn’t asked to do much with his arm as the Falcons tied a franchise record with five rushing scores, but the threat of consistent and reliable passing has done wonders for a Falcons offense that looked lost through two games behind poor quarterback play. It also doesn’t hurt when your All Pro running back goes for a 59-yard touchdown on his first touch of the game. The Falcons were never threatened by an underperforming Saints team after jumping out to a 14-point lead in the first quarter. Penix has yet to be called on for increased passing volume through two starts, something that could change, pending the health of Lamar Jackson, in Week 5 when they host the Ravens. Penix remains a middling QB2 and does not warrant starting in all formats outside of two-quarterback leagues.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
    The final stat line looks more impressive when you consider Penix started the game 1-of-5 passing with an interception, settling into the game from there to go on to complete 17 of his final 20 pass attempts. As was the case during his rookie season, Penix leaned on his top option through the air, feeding Drake London 10 targets that the talented receiver parlayed into a gaudy 194 yards, with no other pass-catcher surpassing the 19 yards receiving of running back Bijan Robinson. The Falcons improve to 1-2 on the young season while handing the Packers their first home opener loss in 14 years. Penix has all the look of an upside QB2 and deserves streaming consideration ahead of a road matchup with the Saints in Week 4.
  • ATL Quarterback #1
    Tagovailoa, fighting injuries for much of the offseason, missed Atlanta’s first two games with an oblique issue. He’ll return just in time to serve as backup to Michael Penix, who’s returning from a 2025 ACL injury. Penix is set to start Thursday night against a Packers defense allowing the ninth lowest adjusted yards per pass attempt.

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    Raiders declared QB Aidan O’Connell, S Tristin McCollum, S Dalton Johnson, DE Cian Stone, OG Bryce Cabeldue, and DT Tonka Hemingway inactive for Week 6 against the Bills.

    The Raiders didn’t have any players listed as questionable entering this one. Hemingway, who is dealing with a concussion, was ruled out before the weekend and will look to return in Week 7 against the Rams if he can clear concussion protocol.
  • BUF Wide Receiver #2
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    DJ Moore (shoulder) is inactive for Week 6 against the Raiders.

    Moore was considered legitimately questionable entering the weekend after logging only one practice. He will now miss a second straight game with the shoulder injury he suffered in Week 4, paving the way for Keon Coleman to again see significant snaps. While Moore is out, Josh Palmer, who was questionable with his own shoulder injury, is active. The Bills declared DT Ed Oliver, LB Mike Danna, and OG Ar’ma Reed-Adams inactive for Sunday’s game.
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    Rams declared CB Trent McDuffie, WR CJ Daniels, WR Tutu Atwell, QB Ty Simpson, DL Larrell Murchison and OL Bill Murray inactive for Week 6 against the Cardinals.

    McDuffie injured his groin during Thursday’s practice and was unable to participate on Friday. Losing their top cornerback may not cost them the game, but it certainly makes it easier for Cardinals pass catchers to produce fantasy points. The Rams also activated OL Keagan Trost from injured reserve and promoted CB Cam Lampkin from the practice squad.
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    Budda Baker (groin) is active in Week 6 against the Rams.

    Baker and EDGE Zaven Collins (hip) were both added to the Cardinals’ injury report on Friday. Neither player practiced that day, but both are evidently good to go for this divisional showdown against the Rams (2-3). The Cardinals (1-4) are road underdogs, but this game should be a fantasy-friendly environment.
  • ARI Running Back #4
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    Cardinals declared RB Jeremiyah Love, QB Carson Beck, S Andrew Wingard, S Wydett Williams, S Jerrick Reed and DL Andrew Billings inactive for Week 6 against the Rams.

    Tyler Allgeier is a volume-based RB2 with Love sidelined this week. The Cardinals are smartly giving Love time off to heal his injured ankles. Beck will again serve as the Cardinals’ emergency third quarterback. Wingard (knee) and his direct backup Williams (concussion) are both out, but Budda Baker (groin) and EDGE Zaven Collins (hip) are active.
  • BAL Wide Receiver #7
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    Rashod Bateman (shoulder) will not return in Week 6 against the Browns.

    We’re not quite sure when this injury occurred, but Bateman was dealing with a shoulder injury throughout the week, but he was removed from the final injury report on Friday. Bateman’s day ends without a reception on one target.
  • PHI Outside Linebacker #3
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    Nolan Smith has been ruled out of Week 6 against the Panthers with a concussion.

    Smith was on a pass rush rep, coming off the edge, when he got hit hard under the chin on a chip block by Chuba Hubbard. There was no helmet-to-helmet contact, but Smith went down hard and was immediately evaluated for a concussion. He was later ruled out for the remainder of the game.
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    Brenton Strange caught 5-of-7 targets for 44 yards in Jacksonville’s Week 6 loss to the Texans.

    The Jaguars did have a tight end touchdown, but unfortunately for fantasy managers it went to Nate Boerkircher on a ridiculous one-handed stab on a pop pass at the goal line. Strange has now gone for 23 targets in three games and appears to be crowding out Brian Thomas Jr. He’s a reasonable low-end TE1, albeit one on bye next week.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #7
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    Brian Thomas Jr. failed to catch either of his two targets in Jacksonville’s Week 6 loss to the Texans.

    That’s three games with three or fewer targets and Thomas Jr. has put up back-to-back bagels in London, apparently distraught over the local cuisine. He absolutely does not have to be rostered in most fantasy leagues through Jacksonville’s Week 7 bye.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #12
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    Travis Hunter caught 4-of-4 targets for 59 yards and a touchdown in Jacksonville’s Week 6 loss to the Texans.

    In London, where Travis Hunter’s best games live, Hunter both caught a touchdown and picked off C.J. Stroud (his first of the season), becoming the first player to do both in the same game since Brian Dawkins in 2002. Hunter did all this on just nine offensive snaps. The skill is there to do this on offense, but the Jaguars have really been defense-first with his snaps this year. Depending on the post-bye buzz, Hunter could be a reasonable pick-up in fantasy leagues ahead of Week 8’s games.