Team news: Atlanta Falcons | Page 10

Vikings officially have placed WR Justin Jefferson on IR.

Related players: Jordan Addison, K.J. Osborn, Jalen Nailor, T.J. Hockenson, Alexander Mattison

The prevailing thought is that Jefferson may have a hard time finding the field again in 2023, particularly if the Vikings show no interest in trading him, which is a distinct possibility. It'll be hard to drop him, so hopefully you have an IR spot in your league.

The #Vikings are placing their superstar WR Justin Jefferson on injured reserve.

Related players: Jordan Addison, K.J. Osborn, Jalen Nailor, T.J. Hockenson, Alexander Mattison

The exact timetable is to be determined and depends on how he responds to treatment, according to Pelissero, but he's going to miss at least the next four games. It's a huge loss for the Vikings who have struggled to start the season, and it's a huge loss for fantasy owners who likely drafted Jefferson first overall this summer. Pelissero mentioned the Vikings will now lean on players like Addison, Osborn and Hockenson in the passing game, and Mattison could be more involved as well out of the backfield.

While Kyle Pitts has appeared in every game and has been on the field for 69 percent of Atlanta’s offensive snaps, he’s caught just 11 passes for 121 yards with no TDs this season. But after missing much of last season with a torn MCL, Pitts may not quite be fully healthy.

“Look at him, obviously he’s out there,” HC Arthur Smith said Monday, via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Again, there are no perfect timetables. But there are certain things, you see him and he’s doing really well right now and there are certain things that he can’t [do well]. It’s been a journey back. He’s going to get there.”

The Falcons selected Kyle Pitts at No. 4 overall in 2021 and he had a strong rookie year, catching 68 passes for 1,026 yards with a touchdown. But since then, Pitts’ production has taken a significant dip — and it’s only gotten worse in 2023, the story pointed out. With this news that maybe Pitts isn't fully recovered, it at least gives some hope to owners who drafted Pitts this season, and of course, owners who used a high dynasty first round selection on him in 2021.

Bears WR Darnell Mooney asked about his knee injury, and referred to it as a "nagging bruise" and believes he'll be "fine."

Mooney put up a 4-53-1 line in Week 1 but didn't have a target in Week 2 before leaving the game.

Falcons CB Jeff Okudah (foot) and Cordarrelle Patterson (thigh) both will practice today.

Related Players: Tyler Allgeier, Bijan Robinson

We will soon learn what type of role a "Joker" takes in the modern-day NFL, but it's hard to assume it will be good news for Drake London or Kyle Pitts, who remain bystanders in the Falcons offense. Bijan Robinson should still be considered an RB1 no matter who is on the field, while Allgeier may miss out on some snaps if Patterson finds his way into the backfield.

Christian Watson is OUT Sunday vs. the Bears, Matt LaFleur says.

Romeo Doubs is questionable.

Related Players: Jayden Reed, Malik Heath, Samori Toure

Things aren't looking so hot for Jordan Love's first official start as the team's QB1. Jayden Reed looked fantastic throughout the offseason, so if Doubs is forced out, he will also make a very intriguing DFS piece. Luke Musgrave, who also showed out through the summer, is also interesting for managers who are scouring the waiver wire after learning late on Thursday that they would be without Travis Kelce.

For the second straight day today, Packers’ WR Christian Watson did not practice due to a hamstring injury.

Related Players: Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Malik Heath

What was setting up for a nice debut week for new QB Jordan Love is suddenly not so positive as Watson may not be on the field for Week 1. Doubs has also been limited throughout the week, which further dings the Packers offense as a whole. If Friday doesn't deliver some good news, Love will fall out of favor in Superflex leagues.

Rookie running back Bijan Robinson was listed as the team’s third-string running back despite being the eighth overall pick in this year’s draft and the subject of much praise from those around the team over the course of the summer. It’s now time for the regular season to begin and the Falcons have adjusted the chart to better reflect Robinson’s actual role on the team.

Robinson is listed as the starter in the backfield with Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson behind him in the pecking order.

We touched a little bit on the Falcons RB situation recently. There is expected to be a lot of carries for Allgeier with Patterson's role in question. And as the story added, all three players should see time in the offense when healthy — Patterson has been dealing with a soft tissue injury — but Robinson is expected to be one of the focal points in Atlanta’s attack. Tuesday’s change to the depth chart acknowledges that. Allgeier would be a great handcuff for Robinson owners.

You’re not going to like my answer, but I’m not sure we do [see Kyle Pitts become a dominating force]. This doesn’t mean I don’t think he’ll be very valuable this year and into the future. It’s just that in this system, I’m not sure he’s going to be “dominating” in any traditional sense.

The story went on to say the thing about Pitts is his best fantasy football value would be to essentially use him like the Falcons used him in 2021, which is to say as a wide receiver. Miami’s Mike Gesicki was the only tight end to play more snaps split wide than Pitts in 2021 (240 to 227), according to TruMedia. However, Atlanta drafted Pitts with the idea that he was a player with No. 1 wide receiver ability who could also play tight end well enough to give the team true positional flexibility. If Pitts can’t — or just isn’t asked to — block then it handcuffs the Falcons’ ability to manipulate the types of defensive personnel they face, the story went on to say. The piece did add Pitts' blocking ability has been praised this offseason.

In the last 10 years, five running backs have been taken in the top 10. Four of the five (Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette and Todd Gurley) had 229 carries or more in their rookie season. The fifth (Christian McCaffrey) had only 117 carries but added 80 catches. When teams draft backs in the top 10, like Bijan Robinson, they use them a lot.

Related players: Tyler Allgeier, Cordarrelle Patterson

The author went on to say Allgeier will still get plenty of use because the Falcons ran the ball an NFL-high 559 times last year. So even if Robinson carries the ball 250 times, there are still plenty of carries to go around. Patterson’s role is a little bit more of a mystery, the story added. He'll be third on the team in carries, according to the author, but how far back he’s going to be is a question mark. The prediction is Patterson's 144 carries from a year ago could get cut in half this season.