Atlanta Falcons: News, Scores, Stats, Headlines, Injury Updates & More

Rodgers: Week 1 win is ‘special’ for McCarthy

Aaron Rodgers discusses why he’s so happy for Mike McCarthy as the Pittsburgh native was able to pick up with first victory in debut as head coach for the Steelers.

Upcoming Games

T.J. Watt’s pick-six powers Steelers to 20-13 victory over Falcons

Myles Simmons,

Myles Simmons,

T.J. Watt pick-six gives Steelers 20-10 fourth-quarter lead

Myles Simmons,

Myles Simmons,

Steelers lead Falcons 13-7 at halftime

Myles Simmons,

Myles Simmons,

Aaron Rodgers tosses first TD of the season, Steelers lead 13-7

Myles Simmons,

Myles Simmons,

Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts Joint Practice

Bijan Robinson 23-yard touchdown gives Falcons 7-3 lead

Myles Simmons,

Myles Simmons,

Miami Dolphins v Pittsburgh Steelers - NFL 2025

Joey Porter Jr. is inactive for the Steelers

Josh Alper,

Josh Alper,

Rotoworld Player News

Kyle Pitts

ATL Tight End #8

Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players

Kyle Pitts Sr. had no catches on one target in a Week 1 loss to the Steelers.

Pitts owes most of this to a poor performance by Cooper Rush under center. Pitts played on 39 of the team’s 61 snaps and ran a route on 22 of their 29 dropbacks. He simply wasn’t a factor with Rush struggling to move the ball down the field. We should note that the Falcons were very run-heavy with Rush at quarterback, and Charlie Woerner played 38 snaps and was on the field for 22 run-blocking snaps to just 16 for Pitts. If the Falcons are going to continue to be so focused on rushing the ball, that could cut into some of Pitts’ snaps and usage.
Zachariah Branch

ATL Wide Receiver #17

Zachariah Branch had no targets in a Week 1 loss to the Steelers.

On one hand, no targets is bad. On the other hand, Branch played one more snap than Olamide Zaccheaus and ran only three fewer routes. This is not a passing attack that you want pieces of right now, but there is a chance that Branch could take the WR3 role by the middle of the season.
Olamide Zaccheaus

ATL Wide Receiver #14

Olamide Zaccheaus caught his only target for five yards in a Week 1 loss to the Steelers.

Zaccheaus was on the field for 18 of the team’s 61 snaps and ran a route on 11 of their 29 dropbacks. Rookie Zachariah Branch ran a route on eight dropbacks. Neither player appears to be a major factor on an offense that really wants to run the ball, especially with Cooper Rush at quarterback.
Jahan Dotson

ATL Wide Receiver #4

Jahan Dotson caught 1-of-3 targets for 19 yards in a Week 1 loss to the Steelers.

Dotson actually operated as the second receiver for the Falcons in this one, running a route on 20 of the team’s 29 dropbacks. He also played 38 snaps, while Olamide Zaccheaus played just 18. That didn’t amount to much, but it’s something for fantasy managers in deeper leagues to keep in mind when Michael Penix eventually gets back onto the field.
Brian Robinson

ATL Running Back #15

Brian Robinson rushed nine times for 31 yards in a Week 1 loss to the Steelers.

Robinson was likely only involved as much as he was because the Falcons ran the ball 31 times, compared to just 22 pass attempts, with Cooper Rush under center. Brian Robinson looked fine and broke some tackles, but he is not a threat to steal meaningful touches from Bijan Robinson.
Drake London

ATL Wide Receiver #5

Drake London caught 2-of-4 targets for 29 yards in a Week 1 loss to the Steelers.

London also added six yards on one rush as the Falcons looked to do anything to get the ball in the hands of their best receiver. The 25-year-old was an absolute non-factor in this one, largely because Cooper Rush was highly inefficient and ineffective under center. The role is not in question though. London played 60 of the team’s 61 snaps and ran a route on 28 of their 29 dropbacks. However, he will be tough to trust with Cooper Rush (and probably even Tua Tagovailoa) under center. London has a much better matchup next week against the Panthers, but there is some fear that he’s more of a WR2 option until Michael Penix (knee) returns.
Bijan Robinson

ATL Running Back #7

Bijan Robinson rushed 21 times for 83 yards in a Week 1 loss to the Steelers, adding 90 yards receiving and one touchdown on eight catches.

To say Bijan Robinson was the majority of the team’s offense would be an understatement. He had 173 of the team’s 238 total yards and 29 of the 43 touches by any skill player. He played on 47 of the team’s 61 total snaps and only lost carries to Brian Robinson because the team couldn’t possibly continue to ride Bijan Robinson any more than they were. His involvement in the short passing game, especially given who will be at quarterback, makes Bijan Robinson seemingly matchup-proof for fantasy purposes.
Cooper Rush

ATL Quarterback #13

Cooper Rush completed 12-of-22 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in the Falcons’ 20-13, Week 1 loss to the Steelers.

Perhaps Rush was still feeling the effects of the back spasms that he experienced on Saturday, but the veteran did not look good on Sunday. He attempted just five passes longer than 10 yards downfield and was 2-for-5 on those passes. Even when the pocket was clean, Rush wasn’t really driving the ball down the field, even with the Steelers daring him to do it. The Falcons gained just 238 yards on the day, and it’s tough to have any confidence in the pass-catchers with Rush under center. He’ll look to bounce back with an easier game against the Panthers next week.
Za'Darius Smith

ATL Defensive End #55

Falcons declared QB Tua Tagovailoa, QB Michael Penix, DB Billy Bowman Jr., DB Malcom DeWalt IV, ILB Christian Harris, and OL Ethan Onianwa inactive for Week 1 against the Steelers.

We knew earlier this week that both Penix (knee) and Tagovailoa (back) would be sidelined, and that Cooper Rush would start. EDGE Za’Darius Smith was listed as questionable with a shoulder injury, but he will suit up for this one. Christian Harris, who had been a favorite to start at inside linebacker, is a healthy inactive, which means rookies Kendal Daniels or Harold Perkins Jr. will see extended run.
Michael Penix

ATL Quarterback #9

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Michael Penix (knee) is targeting a Week 2 or Week 3 return.

Tua Tagovailoa is out with a back issue for Week 1, and Cooper Rush is dealing with back problems of his own, though he will attempt to play through them. Tua’s timeline to return is unknown. Already down to their third-string quarterback, the Falcons desperately need Penix back. He practiced in full this week, meaning that a return in Week 2 looks likely. All Atlanta pass-catchers will get a boost once Penix takes over.