RADIO
Michael Penix Jr. a Volatile QB2 with QB1 Upside in Week 8
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. defied the odds and guided his team to a win over the previously undefeated 49ers last week, completing 25 of 34 passes for 213 yards and tallying three touchdown passes for the second week in a row. It also marked the fourth straight contest in which the left-handed quarterback did not throw an interception, and he brings a sterling 9:1 TD:INT ratio into Week 8's road matchup against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has made life difficult for opposing signal callers so far this season, ranking as the seventh-stingiest unit in terms of allowing fantasy points to opposing QBs, recording eight interceptions (second-most) through seven games and racking up five sacks against Carolina in their Week 7 contest. But they've been one of the best units against the run, too, which could force Atlanta to pass more. With legit stars on offense, Atlanta can come at teams through the air or on the ground, which could make Penix a volatile play on a week-to-week basis, and he ranks as a mid-range QB2 at RotoBaller for Week 8. However, with back-to-back weeks finishing as a top-10 fantasy QB, the 26-year-old has some upside for those looking for a streamer.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brian Robinson Officially Ruled Out for Week 8
Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson (hamstring) has officially been ruled out for the team's Week 8 tilt on Sunday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Robinson will miss a second straight game due to a hamstring injury after missing practice all week. In deeper leagues, Khalil Herbert could be in play as a flex option at the RB position as the change-of-pace option behind starter Bijan Robinson. Despite missing two straight games, the 27-year-old Robinson should remain rostered in the majority of fantasy leagues as a high-end handcuff to Bijan. The former third-rounder by the Washington Commanders in 2022 from Alabama has 56 carries through six games in his first year in Atlanta, recording 211 rushing yards (4.0 yards per carry) and four rushing touchdowns while adding five receptions for 30 yards in the passing game. His next chance to return to Atlanta's backfield will come in Week 9 on Sunday, Nov. 8, against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Source: ESPN.com - Marc Raimondi
Source: ESPN.com - Marc Raimondi
Brian Robinson absent from individual drills Friday
Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson (hamstring) was not with the team's RBs on Friday during individual drills, according to Daniel Flick of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Robinson did not play in the Week 7 win over the San Francisco 49ers and has not practiced this week, making it likely that he is ruled out for a second straight week for this Sunday's contest against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If the 27-year-old is eventually ruled out on Friday, as expected, Khalil Herbert will serve as the backup to starter Bijan Robinson for a second straight week. B-Rob is a high-end fantasy football handcuff in Atlanta. Through his first six games with the team in 2026, he has 53 carries for 211 yards (4.0 yards per attempt) and four rushing touchdowns. He already has two more TDs than he did all of last year in 17 games in his lone season with the 49ers. Fantasy managers should not be counting on Robinson as a flex play in deeper leagues this weekend.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Daniel Flick
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Daniel Flick
Brian Robinson Misses Second Straight Practice
Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson (hamstring) has his availability for Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in doubt after missing his second consecutive practice Thursday, according to Darius Hayes. He was officially a nonparticipant Wednesday and Thursday after missing the Week 7 victory over the San Francisco 49ers and hasn't practiced since being limited Wednesday of Week 7. Khalil Herbert was elevated from the practice squad as Bijan Robinson's backup against San Francisco, recording two carries for nine yards and one reception for 19 yards. Herbert returned to the practice squad Monday but could be elevated again if Brian Robinson remains unavailable.
Source: Darius Hayes
Source: Darius Hayes
Brian Robinson Not Seen at Wednesday's Practice
Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson (hamstring) was not seen at the portion of practice open to the media on Wednesday, according to Daniel Flick of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It is a bad start to Week 8 preparation after Robinson was unavailable for the Week 7 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. With B-Rob sidelined last weekend with his hamstring injury, Khalil Herbert handled 16% of the offensive snaps and had two carries for nine yards and just one reception for a 19-yard gain. Starter Bijan Robinson had 20 rushing attempts for 63 yards and caught five passes for 59 yards while playing 80% of the offensive snaps. Brian Robinson still has two more chances to get back on the practice field this week, but as of right now, he is on the wrong side of questionable to suit up this Sunday on the road against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 27-year-old has been on the flex radar when healthy in 2026 as the backup to Bijan, handling 53 rushing attempts for 211 yards (4.0 yards per carry) and four touchdowns while catching five of his six targets for 30 yards as a receiver. He already has more rushing touchdowns this year than he did in 17 games with the 49ers in 2025.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Daniel Flick
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Daniel Flick
Khalil Herbert is a Short-Term Handcuff Without Waiver Appeal
Atlanta Falcons veteran running back Khalil Herbert is as temporary as a handcuff can be and isn't worth a waiver claim in most fantasy leagues. He appeared in his first game of the 2026 season in Week 7, rushing twice for nine yards and catching one pass for 19 yards. Herbert was elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Falcons' Week 7 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. was ruled out of the contest due to a hamstring, so Herbert stepped in as the backup to star RB Bijan Robinson. In his backup role, Herbert did not assume Robinson Jr.'s full workload, which in a few games this season has amounted to startable fantasy numbers. This leaves Herbert as a pure handcuff without standalone appeal. Assuming Robinson Jr. returns within the next couple of weeks, Herbert's value will soon vanish when Robinson Jr. reclaims his role behind Bijan Robinson.
Source: Tori McElhaney
Source: Tori McElhaney
Michael Penix Jr. Is a Streamer Riding a Touchdown Run
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is a streamer worth adding in leagues with at least 14 teams ahead of Week 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9. He followed his three-touchdown performance against the Chicago Bears with another three scores in Sunday's 29-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, despite throwing for just 213 yards. Penix completed 25 of 34 passes without an interception, connecting with Nick Muse, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London for touchdowns. He also avoided a sack after being brought down five times against the Bears in Week 6. The 26-year-old has thrown six touchdowns without an interception over his past two starts, although his 438 passing yards during that stretch show how heavily his fantasy production has depended on scoring. The volume is steadier: Penix has attempted at least 32 passes in three consecutive games after averaging just 22.5 attempts in his first two starts. With only four rushing yards through five appearances, he is a passing-dependent fantasy option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Penix Jr. has Efficient Day to Give 49ers Their First Loss
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. led his team to an upset victory over the previously undefeated San Francisco 49ers. Penix had a productive and efficient day against the 49ers, as he completed 25 out of 34 passing attempts (73.5%) for 213 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. In fact, the Falcons didn't turn the ball over at all, while the 49ers gave the ball away four times, which obviously played a big role for the Falcons in their win. On Sunday, Penix connected on touchdown passes with wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. and tight end Nick Muse. Penix has now had back-to-back games in which he has thrown for at least 213 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. In the 2026 season, he has recorded nine touchdown passes versus just one pick. Penix is currently rostered in just 18% of Yahoo leagues, but is starting to prove that he is worth more consideration from fantasy managers.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Falcons Not Optimistic That Olamide Zaccheaus Will Play in Week 7
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (shoulder), who is listed as questionable, appears to be trending in the wrong direction for Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. When comparing Zaccheaus' status to his teammates, Rapoport said that the Falcons have "much less optimism" for the veteran receiver. The 29-year-old has merely been a depth option this season. Even though he logged a season-high 55% snap share and four targets last week, he was held without a reception. He has just four receptions this season, and he hasn't caught a single pass since Week 3. Zaccheaus can be left on waivers in all fantasy leagues. Drake London remains the only must-roster and must-start Falcons wide receiver, but Jahan Dotson has also started to generate some buzz after catching seven passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns over his last three games.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Zachariah Branch a Speculative Deep-League Play for Falcons
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch has yet to post a big game in his brief NFL career, but for those managers in deep leagues scouring the wire for a lottery ticket, the 2026 third-rounder could be an option. The University of Georgia product has garnered exactly two targets in each of the last five games, hauling in all but one of them. It has amounted to nine catches for 55 scoreless yards, but although it isn't much, it is at least consistent. The 5-foot-10 receiver muffed two kick returns last week, and although coach Kevin Stefanski stated that he would not lose his role there, perhaps eventually he will, and maybe the team will look to get him more involved on offense. Regardless, with a ranking of No. 77 overall at WR for RotoBaller, the 22-year-old could be a very deep league consideration this week and a speculative stash for the weeks ahead.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Khalil Herbert a Deep-League Dart Throw in Week 7
Atlanta Falcons running back Khalil Herbert will step into the backup role in place of Brian Robinson (hamstring) this week, with the latter set to miss Week 7 due to injury. Herbert will spell Bijan Robinson against the 49ers, but expectations for fantasy should be tempered. Though Brian Robinson was able to find some success in recent weeks around the goal line, Herbert's opportunities could be few and far between this week as the fifth-year pro makes his 2026 debut. He played in just seven games last season for the Jets, totaling a meager 16 carries all season for 52 yards and no touchdowns. 2024 wasn't much more bountiful, earning just 36 carries all season as a member of both the Bears and the Bengals. The Virginia Tech product may be worth a bench stash in the event Brian Robinson's injury turns into a multi-week absence, or if anything were to happen to Bijan Robinson, but as for this week, Herbert isn't on the starting radar in most leagues. He could be a DFS tournament stab in the unlikely case he vultures a touchdown, but as RotoBaller's No. 68 running back overall this week, the 28-year-old shapes up as an RB6 or desperation Flex play in deep leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nick Folk an Intriguing Option at Kicker in Week 7
Atlanta Falcons kicker Nick Folk has been solid as of late, but was not a factor in last week's loss to the Bears. The veteran did not attempt a field goal, but did convert his lone extra point attempt, making him a perfect 13-for-13 on the season. The former Pro-Bowler was 6-for-6 in the three games prior to last week with a long of 48 yards, and is 9-for-12 on the season, with two of his three misses coming from beyond 50 yards. This week's matchup against the 49ers has a surprisingly large expected total (49.5), with the Falcons owning a 23.5-point implied team total, so there could be a decent amount of scoring in this one. With the game being in Atlanta, the kickers will not have to compete with the elements inside the dome, so this could be a sneakily lucrative spot for Folk. The 41-year-old ranks as the No. 19 kicker overall at RotoBaller, and makes for an intriguing streaming option this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jahan Dotson Trending Up, but Still a Boom/Bust Flex Option in Week 7
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jahan Dotson garnered five targets in Week 6, converting them into three catches for 87 yards and a score, his second touchdown of the season, with both of them coming in the last three games. The Penn State product has had at least 54 yards receiving in each of the last three games and has become the team's deep threat. The former first-rounder owns a 16.6 average depth of target (ADOT), which is more than six yards longer than Drake London's ADOT (10.0), and has earned 34.3 percent of the team's air yards through six weeks. Week 7's matchup could prove challenging, though, as the San Francisco defense is allowing just 209.8 yards passing per game (11th-fewest) and ranks as the 23rd-overall defense in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers, limiting opposing wideouts to only five touchdowns in six games. The 49ers defense has allowed 13 plays of 20 yards or more through the air so far, but even though that sounds like a lot, it actually makes them one of the 10 best teams at limiting big plays to receivers. So, although the 26-year-old's fantasy arrow is trending up, he still ranks as the No. 61 wide receiver overall at RotoBaller, making him a boom/bust Flex/WR5 option in Week 7.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Pitts Sr. Will be Tested in Week 7 Against the Niners
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. drew seven targets in Week 6, the second-most on the team behind Drake London (10), and scored for the second straight week, recording five catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns. The performance followed a recent upward trend that has seen the 6-foot-6 tight end become more involved in the passing game, notching 13 receptions over the last three contests after being held to just two catches over his first three games of the season. Unfortunately, it will be an uphill battle in order to continue that trend this week, with the 49ers ranking as the second-toughest defense in terms of allowing fantasy points to tight ends, with opposing TEs failing to find the end zone against them even once so far this season. His recent usage is certainly encouraging, and the rest-of-season outlook is growing brighter after a miserable start, but this week, the 26-year-old shapes up as a mid-range TE2, ranking as the No. 16 TE overall at RotoBaller.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Drake London a Low-End WR1 with Reliable Target Volume
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London drew a team-high 10 targets last week, but was only able to convert them into four catches for 62 scoreless yards. The 6-foot-4 wideout is averaging over nine targets per game with Michael Penix Jr. at the helm and tallied 96 yards or more in three straight before last week, but he's yet to find the end zone so far this year. The heavy target volume should continue in Week 7 as the team's unquestioned No. 1 receiver, but a matchup against the 49ers could prove challenging. The San Francisco defense is allowing just 209.8 yards passing per game (11th-fewest) and ranks as the 23rd-overall defense in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers, limiting opposing wideouts to only five touchdowns in six games. Still, expect the 25-year-old to be peppered with targets again, and although he may not find the end zone, he ranks as the No. 10 receiver this week at RotoBaller in half-point PPR leagues, making him a low-end WR1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
