Team news: Atlanta Falcons | Page 2

The Patriots ruled out RB Rhamondre Stevenson, WR Kayshon Boutte, and TE Austin Hooper for Thursday night vs. the Jets.

Related Players: TreVeyon Henderson, D'Ernest Johnson, Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, Demario Douglas

This will be another RB2 week for Henderson, while Diggs stays in his WR2 role, with Hollins and Douglas operating as desperation FLEX plays.

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. is day to day with the bone bruise in his knee, but HC Raheem Morris told reporters that he feels “really good” about his QB for Sunday’s game against the Patriots.

Related Players: Kirk Cousins

The Falcons' offense has been quite the rollercoaster ride this season, and it could be another tough one against a good Patriots defense. Penix and Cousins can be left on benches this week, while Darnell Mooney is an interesting WR4 type regardless of who starts.

There's a chance multiple key players return for the Atlanta Falcons' game Sunday against the New England Patriots.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said Monday all players who have been injured lately are considered day-to-day in Week 9. That includes safety Jessie Bates III (ankle), quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee), wide receiver Drake London (hip), defensive lineman Zach Harrison (knee), cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. (hamstring) and edge rusher Jalon Walker (groin).

The Falcons take on the Patriots in the early window on Sunday and it looks like there's a chance both players are back for a Falcons team that struggled against the Dolphins. Penix has a knee injury and did practice leading up to last week's game. London has a hip injury. Hopefully we'll know more by Wednesday.

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is “highly likely” to get the start Sunday against the Dolphins, in place of the injured Michael Penix Jr.

Cousins worked with the first team all week in practice as Penix was limited with a bone bruise in his knee. It would make Cousins’ first start since Week 15 of last season, before the Falcons made the switch to Penix in Week 16. Cousins draws a Miami defense that has ranks dead last in expected points added per play. It’s far from the worst streaming option this week with six teams on a bye.

The Eagles ruled out WR A.J. Brown with a hamstring injury.

Related Players: DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, Jahan Dotson

Smith and Goedert turn into very strong plays in this divisional matchup. Dotson sneaks into potential FLEX territory for desperate fantasy managers.

For a second straight day, Eagles WR A.J. Brown is not practicing due to a hamstring injury.

Related Players: DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, Jahan Dotson

Still early enough that AJB could still see the field this week, but Smith and Goedert would be even stronger plays in a divisional matchup if he misses. Dotson works also sneak up to FLEX consideration.

Falcons HC Raheem Morris told reporters that Michael Penix has bone bruise in his foot that now will leave him day to day.

Related players: Kirk Cousins

The Falcons play an early Sunday game at home against the Dolphins, which is a great matchup. Considering it's a week with six NFL teams on their bye, Penix owners may want to pick up Cousins just to be safe. The earlier start will give owners time to make adjustments if they need to.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel did not lose his job on Monday and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa kept his as well.

Related players: Quinn Ewers, Zach Wilson

McDaniel said after Sunday’s 31-6 loss to the Browns that “everything is on the table” concerning changes in the wake of what he deemed a “very, very humbling loss” that dropped the team to 1-6 on the season. The alternatives to Tua are Ewers, who is a rookie, and Wilson.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on wide receiver Darnell Mooney: "Right now, Mooney is still day-to-day. We'll see what that is. He'll be out today. We'll get a good feel for what it looks like moving forward."

Related Players: Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Ray-Ray McCloud

Looks like Mooney will likely be out Week 6, which leaves London/Pitts and Bijan Robinson at the top of the food chain. While the other two are obvious starts, this solidifies Pitts in fringe TE1/2 range.

Through five weeks, one of the league’s most effective rookies has been Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt — who may be better known by the simple nickname, “Bill.”

A seventh-round pick in this year’s draft, Croskey-Merritt was good enough in the offseason program, training camp, and preseason that Washington felt comfortable trading Brian Robinson to the 49ers in August. But Washington has continued to see his growth and development, giving Croskey-Merritt his first start in Week 5 against the Chargers.

Croskey-Merritt made that decision pay off with 111 yards rushing on 14 carries with two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 39 yards.

Related players: Chris Rodriguez, Jeremy McNichols

Head coach Dan Quinn told reporters in his Monday press conference that the Commanders elected to lean into aspects of their scheme in which Croskey-Merritt excelled, and the young running back had a strong week of practice, the story said. The story added though he’s had limited carries in the first five weeks, Croskey-Merritt leads the league with 6.6 yards per carry. He’s tallied 283 yards rushing with four touchdowns and caught five passes for 54 yards. "Bill" is probably a familiar names to those in dynasty leagues as our friends at Dynasty League Football suggested to take him later in dynasty drafts this spring. But now he's officially a useful option in redraft leagues as well. Rodriguez had just five carries and McNichols had two touches, so his outlook going forward is strong.