The plan for the Falcons moving forward is to have Taylor Heinicke start the final three games of the season, per Arthur Smith. Desmond Ridder will be his backup.

The Falcons quarterback room continues to be a flip-floppy mess. Heinicke came in as relief during Week 8, only to be re-benched two weeks later, producing minimal fantasy success with his brief time on the field. The Falcons don't have the easiest defensive road the next two weeks, so he is unlikely to come back on the fantasy radar.

According to TheAthletic.com, the Falcons will be starting Taylor Heinicke against the Colts. It would be the second time that Smith and the Falcons have benched Ridder in favor of Heinicke this season.

Related players: Desmond Ridder

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said on Monday that he was considering a quarterback change after the team fell to 6-8 with a 9-7 loss to the Panthers. Smith said following the bye he wanted to stick with Ridder after previously going back and forth over a span of a few weeks. But the Falcons will again make a switch after Ridder threw a terrible INT on a potential game-winning drive in what was a must-win game against the Panthers.

Arthur Smith said at a Monday press conference that he is still considering what direction to go at quarterback for their Week 16 matchup with the Colts. Logan Woodside is also on the roster, but Smith said that Taylor Heinicke is the only choice other than Desmond Ridder for this week.

Following their bye, the team went back to Ridder because they didn't want to keep switching QBs week-to-week. But as the story said, Ridder threw a brutal interception at a key point in the game and that may be enough for the team to make yet another change. We'll hopefully know more by Wednesday.

Falcons HC Arthur Smith said team is going with Desmond Ridder.

Also, they'll see how much Taylor Heinicke (hamstring) can practice this week.

The Falcons said they would ponder their QB situation over the break and announce a starter for Week 12 who would start the rest of the season. The team didn't want to be in a week-to-week QB situation like they were for three weeks leading into the bye week. So, Ridder will get the nod for the rest of the season with Heinicke serving as the backup as long as he's healthy.

Desmond Ridder’s play gave head coach Arthur Smith something to think about over the bye week.

Smith has said he doesn’t want his team’s quarterback situation to remain week-to-week once Atlanta gets back from the time off. He noted after Sunday’s loss that Ridder’s play “will definitely have an effect.”

Related players: Taylor Heinicke

Ridder was not supposed to play for the Falcons on Sunday as Heinicke earned the start. We reported last week the team was going to decide their QB for the rest-of-season after the bye. But, Heinicke pulled his hamstring in the second half of the eventual loss to Arizona. Ridder completed 4-of-6 passes for 39 yards and running in a 9-yard, go-ahead touchdown that gave Atlanta a 23-22 lead with 2:33 left in the game.

The Falcons will keep things status quo at quarterback for at least another week.

Head coach Arthur Smith announced at his Monday press conference that Taylor Heinicke will start for the team against the Cardinals in Week 10.

Related players: Desmond Ridder

“Taylor gives us the best chance, with everything going on right now,” Smith said, via Scott Bair of the team’s website. The story added that Smith said the team will reassess the position after the Week 11 bye.

The Falcons made a starting quarterback change in Week 9 and they could make another one in Week 10.

Taylor Heinicke got the start for Sunday’s game against the Vikings after playing the second half of the team’s Week 8 loss to the Titans and he went 21-of-38 for 268 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

Related players: Desmond Ridder

After the loss, HC Arthur Smith was asked if he was going to name Heinicke the starter for the Falcons’ Week 10 game against the Cardinals. “Not right now,” Smith said, via the team’s website. “We have to get back to evaluate. I’m not going to give some answer when we haven’t sat back and looked at everything.” Smith has at least left the door open to go back to Ridder.

A new QB in Atlanta: Falcons’ HC Arthur Smith named Taylor Heinicke as the starting QB for Sunday’s game vs. the Vikings.

Related Players: Desmond Ridder

Maybe a change at the helm will force the team's hand into using their three top-10 offensive weapons. Heinicke should be left off of fantasy radars until we see what the Falcons look like with a full game of him at QB.

Arthur Smith said he’ll announce on Wednesday who his starter is against Minnesota.

“I promise you, I’ll come in on Wednesday and tell you who’s starting,” Smith said, via Tori McElhaney of the Falcons.

Related players: Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, Logan Woodside

Asked if Ridder would start assuming he’s 100 percent healthy, Smith answered, “I have to see where he’s at.” Heinicke came off the bench and played better than Ridder did, which would seem to indicate that Heinicke also gives the Falcons the better chance to beat the Vikings on Sunday, the story concluded. But Smith has invested a lot of time in developing Ridder and has indicated that he believes in Ridder going forward, and he may not be ready to bench his young quarterback just yet, the story added.

Arthur Smith said they'll evaluate the QB position this week. Reiterated that health can affect performance and his No. 1 concern is Desmond Ridder's health.

"Whoever is going to play this week has got to get the reps."

Related players: Taylor Heinicke

Ridder was evaluated for a concussion and cleared protocol but Smith opted to stay with Heinicke instead of bringing Ridder back out. Heinicke played well during his time so the Falcons may decide to take advantage of this open door. No matter who plays, they could be without WR London Drake who is dealing with a groin injury. The Falcons host the Vikings in an early game. Those in deeper leagues or superflex leagues may want to add Heinicke with the chance he gets the start.