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Michael Penix Jr. a Top Waiver-Wire Target if Injury Isn't a Major Concern
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (rib) should be added in most fantasy football leagues after he strung together three solid performances. Penix now has at least 220 passing yards and one touchdown in each of his three games this year, and his only turnover so far was more than two weeks ago. The big storyline surrounding the 26-year-old now is that he's dealing with a rib injury that he suffered in Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens. Fortunately, the injury isn't expected to be serious, but it's still too early to tell whether he'll play in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears. Assuming Penix isn't going to miss a significant amount of time, his impressive and consistent production makes him an intriguing quarterback for managers to target on the waiver wire. There's more than just streaming appeal here; he can be a high-end QB2 for the rest of the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Penix Jr. Optimistic He Will Play in Week 6
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (ribs) injured his ribs late in the fourth quarter of the Sunday night loss to the Baltimore Ravens and was unable to take the field in overtime. The Athletic's Andy Behrens writes that Penix seemed optimistic about facing the Chicago Bears in Week 6. But for now, his status for Week 6 is in doubt as he heads for imaging on his ribs this week. If Penix is not cleared to face the Bears this weekend, Tua Tagovailoa, who threw an interception to seal the loss in overtime, could make his first start of the 2026 season. The Falcons also have Cooper Rush and Jack Strand in their QB room, so they have options if they want to avoid starting Tagovailoa. Falcons top receiver Drake London has caught 65 passes for 1,059 yards over his last nine games with Penix at QB, but he has struggled with anyone else under center, so his fantasy managers are surely hoping that Penix can play against the Bears. Until we have more details on Penix, he should be considered up in the air to play in Week 6.
Source: The Athletic - Andy Behrens
Source: The Athletic - Andy Behrens
Michael Penix Jr. to Undergo an MRI
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (ribs) is expected to undergo an MRI on Monday to assess the severity of his injury. Penix suffered a rib injury late in the 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Although he tried to throw on the sideline, he couldn't return to the game. Over this three-game stretch, he has completed 52 of 77 passes for 719 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, while helping the Falcons' offense average 34.3 points per game when he starts. If Penix misses time with his rib injury, veteran Tua Tagovailoa will back him up. Tagovailoa was expected to start at quarterback at the beginning of the 2026 season while Penix recovered from a torn ACL, but an oblique injury sidelined the former Miami Dolphins quarterback. While both Penix and Tagovailoa carry minimal fantasy value, Penix's absence could affect the Falcons' playmakers, who have dominated over the last three games. For what it is worth, Penix does not think his injury is a long-term one.
Source: Adam Schefter - ESPN
Source: Adam Schefter - ESPN
Michael Penix Jr. Sits Out Overtime After Suffering Rib Injury
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (rib) exited late in the fourth quarter of Sunday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens. He actually returned for one play before the end of regulation, but then he spent the entire overtime period on the sideline. Officially, the Falcons designated him as questionable to return. Penix had led the Falcons to three different eight-point leads, but a late Baltimore comeback, coupled with a costly Tua Tagovailoa interception, gave the Ravens a road victory and snapped Atlanta's two-game winning streak. Penix will surely undergo additional testing to diagnose his injury and estimate a timetable for his return. If the 26-year-old has to miss any time, Tagovailoa would start at quarterback in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears.
Source: Tori McElhaney
Source: Tori McElhaney
No Path to Playing Time for Tua Tagovailoa?
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains firmly entrenched in the backup role, and it appears that he's stuck in his No. 2 position on the depth chart given how well starter Michael Penix Jr. has played lately. Penix has 479 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in two games since returning from injury, and he has turned the team around from a 0-2 start to a 2-2 record and a tie for first place in the NFC South. Other than an injury to Penix, Tagovailoa's only path to meaningful playing time would have required the former Washington product to play poorly. Instead, he's looked great, widening the gap between him and Tagovailoa and solidifying himself in the starting role. As long as Penix is healthy, Tagovailoa can be left on waivers in both redraft and dynasty fantasy football leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Penix Jr. Outside QB2 Ranks Despite Banged-Up Ravens Defense
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has led his team to two consecutive wins since returning from injury, although much of the success can be attributed to the one-two punch at running back of Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson. The left-handed quarterback is averaging about 240 yards passing per game, but has just two touchdowns to show for it (and one interception), with the Robinsons accounting for eight touchdowns in the last two games with Penix under center. Having such a capable ground game will limit Penix from a fantasy perspective, though Week 5's matchup against the Ravens puts the former first-round draft pick up against a pass defense that has been middle-of-the-road to this point but will now be without pass rusher Trey Hendrickson (finger) and could potentially be missing cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf/hamstring) as well. Still, look for the Falcons to lean on the run as much as possible in the red zone, leaving the 26-year-old outside the ranks of QB2 in Week 5 (QB No. 25 at RotoBaller), albeit with QB2 upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Penix Jr. A Solid Two-QB And Deep-League Waiver Target
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has yet to eclipse 20 fantasy points in a game this season. But he's elevated the Falcons offense to new heights, and at least enabled the run game to thrive in his presence. He's a huge upgrade from QB Cooper Rush, who started the season while Penix recovered from a torn ACL last season. Penix has only thrown two touchdowns, and most of Atlanta's scores have come on the ground since he's returned to play, but he could be in line for some positive touchdown regression. The team has two big-bodied red zone threats in wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts. London has been targeted by Penix at a high rate while Pitts has been mostly quiet this season, but the veteran TE got more involved in Week 4, with 47 receiving yards. If Penix is able to get the ball to both effectively, we could see his touchdown numbers improve, in which case he could become an every-week starter in deep 2QB leagues. That's where you should target him as a waiver pickup, where talent is hard to come by after drafts gobble up most of the productive talent.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Michael Penix Jr. Doesn't Need to Do Much in Week 4 Win
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had a relatively smooth and uneventful performance in Week 4, completing 15 of his 20 pass attempts for 223 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and zero interceptions as the Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints. He took just one sack and didn't have a rushing attempt until his kneel-downs on the final two plays of the game. Atlanta cruised to a huge 45-24 victory, allowing them to focus their efforts on controlling the clock with the rushing attack. That explains why Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson combined for 207 rushing yards and a whopping five touchdowns. Penix played extremely clean football, but the highly positive game script lowered his ceiling in this one. Nevertheless, in his two games since returning from injury, he has shown that he can lead a successful offense, throw and run the ball, and limit turnovers. He's a high-end QB2 with additional upside heading into Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Penix Jr. Enters Superflex Conversation in Matchup vs. the Saints
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. made his season debut against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 after tearing his ACL last November. It was his first game back since Week 11. The 26-year-old was solid in his season debut, completing 18-of-25 passes for 256 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while rushing twice for minus-2 yards. Penix will look to continue his solid play on Monday night against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are allowing about 229 passing yards per game. New Orleans was recently shredded by Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins for 248 passing yards and three touchdowns. Penix has a positive matchup and will only get more comfortable as the season wears on. He is a solid Superflex or QB2 option this week, with RotoBaller ranking Penix 24th among all quarterbacks in Week 4.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Penix Jr. a Potential Streamer in Monday Night Divisional Matchup
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) made his first start in over 10 months in his team's Thursday night win over the Packers, and while he had obvious rust to work through early, he ended the night with 256 yards and a touchdown. With the strange scheduling quirk of going from Thursday to Monday, the Falcons now have four extra days of rest and preparation ahead of a divisional clash with the Saints. After finishing as the fantasy QB21 in his return to action, Penix is a viable streaming option in a Week 4 matchup with one of the week's highest projected scores, and he is readily available on most waiver wires after going largely undrafted in single-quarterback leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Penix Jr. Impresses in Successful Injury Return on Thursday
In his first game back since suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 11 of 2025, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was effective. The 26-year-old completed 18 of 25 pass attempts for 256 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, and led his team to a 35-14 win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. Atlanta finished the game with nearly 250 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, which kept Penix Jr. from having to do too much with his arm. Still, the third-year quarterback averaged a highly efficient 10.2 yards per pass attempt and helped power a massive game from star Falcons wideout Drake London, who recorded nine catches for 194 yards on 10 targets. Penix Jr. offers zero upside with his legs and will likely often be handing the ball off to Falcons running back Bijan Robinson when the team gets near the goal line, both of which limit his fantasy value. At the same time, Penix Jr. could establish himself as a solid QB2 option for fantasy managers if he can stay healthy.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Michael Penix Jr. Faces Tough Test in Week 3 Return on TNF
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is set to make his season debut in Week 3 on Thursday Night Football, which will be a road contest against the Green Bay Packers. The former first-rounder represents an upgrade at quarterback, with backup QBs Cooper Rush and Jack Strand filling in at quarterback for the Falcons' first two contests. While it is an upgrade for Atlanta, fantasy expectations should be tempered, as the left-handed QB averaged only 225 yards passing in the eight full games he played last year while posting a 9:3 TD:INT in those contests. The University of Washington product wasn't a factor in the run game with his legs either, and there's no reason to believe that will be any different after the return from his knee injury. Green Bay's defense yielded three passing scores in Week 1, but just one in Week 2, and has given up just 175 passing yards per game, which is top 10 in the league. As it stands, the 26-year-old sits at the bottom of the barrel in terms of QB rankings for Week 3 at RotoBaller, so there are likely better streaming options available on waiver wires and he'd be quite the gamble in DFS contests.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tua Tagovailoa to be Active on Thursday Night
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) will serve as Michael Penix Jr.'s backup for the Thursday night game in Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers, a source told James Palmer of the NFL Network. Tagovailoa was all set to start in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers before he injured his oblique just days before in practice. He was eventually ruled out, and he also sat out of the team's Week 2 loss to the Carolina Panthers. There was a previous report that suggested that once Penix recovered from his partially torn ACL that he suffered last year, the Falcons could consider releasing Tagovailoa, but that apparently will not happen, at least not for now. After starting Cooper Rush in the first two games of the season, Atlanta's QB room is now fully healthy, with Penix set to make his season debut on Thursday Night Football, and Tagovailoa backing him up. As long as Penix stays healthy this season, Tagovailoa will most likely remain as the Falcons' backup, giving him little fantasy football appeal.
Source: NFL Network - James Palmer
Source: NFL Network - James Palmer
Michael Penix Jr. Set to Start for Falcons in Week 3
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) has been named the team's starting quarterback for their Week 3 matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football, per Tori McElhaney of atlantafalcons.com. Penix Jr. has missed the first two games of the 2026 season while working his way back from the torn ACL that ended his 2025 campaign in Week 11. Across nine games before getting injured last year, the 26-year-old completed 60.1% of his pass attempts for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions. Penix Jr.'s return should provide a massive upgrade in quarterback play for Falcons wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., both of whom have gotten off to slow starts to the year while catching passes from Cooper Rush and Jack Strand. Penix Jr.'s own production outlook is uncertain, as he's now suffered three major knee injuries and two major shoulder injuries since the start of his college career in 2018. Still, Penix Jr. profiles as a worthy waiver-wire target in two-quarterback formats now that he will be back on the field in Week 3.
Source: atlantafalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Source: atlantafalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Tua Tagovailoa "Getting Better"
When asked about quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) on Monday, Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said that he is "getting better," according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We'll work through what that means for this week, but definitely is getting better." The 28-year-old former Miami Dolphins QB was on track to start in the Week 1 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers before injuring his oblique just days before in practice. He has been inactive for the team's first two games of the 2026 season, and with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) potentially making his season debut in Week 3 on Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers, Tagovailoa's time in Atlanta could already be up. Stefanski is not tipping his hand on the QB situation on Monday, even on a short week, but it would be very surprising if Tagovailoa gets the nod over Penix, Cooper Rush, or even undrafted rookie Jack Strand on a short week. UPDATE: Tagovailoa was a limited participant in Monday's practice, backing up Stefanski's statement that he is improving. If he looks better the rest of the week, Tua could potentially back up Penix in Week 3.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - D. Orlando Ledbetter
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - D. Orlando Ledbetter
