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Atlanta Falcons DST

Player Outlook
The Falcons DST has some sleeper appeal this season, but the unit is not worth drafting in the majority of leagues. If the Falcons DST starts off the season playing well then it could be added off the waiver wire. Atlanta understood the assignment this offseason to improve its pass rush, so the Falcons signed Leonard Floyd and Morgan Fox and spent two first-round picks on Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. Atlanta was second in fewest sacks in the NFL last season with 31, and improving the pass rush is the first step toward helping the Falcons DST become a viable Fantasy option. Now, the Falcons did have four DST touchdowns in 2024, along with 12 interceptions and six fumble recoveries. But if the pass rush does not get better than the Falcons DST will not be worth rostering in most leagues.

Fantasy News

  • C.J. Henderson: Returning to Atlanta

    Rotowire
    The Falcons signed Henderson to the practice squad Wednesday, Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports. The 2020 first-rounder signed with the Falcons late in training camp, and while he didn't make the initial 53-man roster he will stick around on the team's practice squad. Henderson is a candidate to be elevated to the active roster if the Falcons need help in the secondary or on special teams.
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  • Falcons' Xavier Watts: Expected to start Week 1

    Rotowire
    Watts is expected to start Week 1 against Tampa Bay, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports. The Falcons signed veteran safety Jordan Fuller this offseason, and he was expected to start opposite Jessie Bates. However, Watts, a rookie third-round pick out of Notre Dame, impressed enough during training camp for Atlanta to let go of Fuller, leaving the path clear for Watts to step into the starting lineup.
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  • C.J. Henderson: Cut loose by Atlanta

    Rotowire
    The Falcons released Henderson on Tuesday, Terrin Waack, Will McFadden and Tori McElhaney of the team's official site report. Henderson was brought in by the Falcons on Aug. 14 to compete for a depth spot on the 53-man roster. He played in the Falcons' preseason finale against the Cowboys on Friday, finishing with one solo tackle while playing 24 snaps (22 on defense, two on special teams). Henderson ultimately didn't show enough to catch on with the Falcons, but the 2020 first-rounder has started in 32 regular-season games since entering the league and should garner interest from teams looking to add veteran depth to the secondary.
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  • Falcons' Troy Andersen: Moved to reserve/PUP list

    Rotowire
    The Falcons placed Anderson on the reserve/PUP list Tuesday, Terrin Waack, Will McFadden and Tori McElhaney of the team's official site report. Andersen started camp on the physically unable to perform list while continuing to recover from a knee injury that caused him to land on IR in December. The move to the reserve/PUP list means the 2022 second-rounder will be forced to miss at least the first four games of the regular season, making Week 6 against the Bills on Monday, Oct. 13 the first opportunity for him to make his 2025 regular-season debut. Andersen has served in a rotational role at inside linebacker over his first three NFL seasons, so JD Bertrand, DeAngelo Malone and Josh Woods are all candidates to see increased snaps on defense behind starters Kaden Elliss and Divine Deablo due to Andersen's injury.
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  • Jordan Fuller: Jettisoned by Atlanta

    Rotowire
    The Falcons released Fuller on Tuesday, Terrin Waack, Will McFadden and Tori McElhaney of the team's official site report. Fuller signed a one-year contract with the Falcons in March after appearing in nine regular-season games for the Panthers in an injury-riddled 2024 campaign. The 2020 sixth-rounder logged five tackles (four solo) across three preseason games, but he ultimately lost out to DeMarcco Hellams and Henry Black for a depth safety spot on the Falcons' 53-man roster. Fuller has started in 55 regular-season games across five seasons, so he should receive interest from teams looking to add veteran depth in the secondary.
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  • Morgan Fox: Let go by Atlanta

    Rotowire
    The Falcons released Fox on Saturday, Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports. Fox signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract with the Falcons in March after spending the last three seasons with the Chargers. He was competing for a rotational role at defensive end and finished the preseason with four tackles (two solo), but he won't be part of the Falcons' plans moving forward. Fox will explore his next options and should be able to catch on with a team looking for a veteran defensive end.
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  • Dolphins' Matthew Judon: Set to join Miami

    Rotowire
    The Dolphins are slated to sign Judon to a one-year contract worth up to $6 million, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Judon was brought in for a visit with the Dolphins on Monday, and the meeting between the two sides went well enough for the veteran edge rusher to stick around in Miami. The 2016 fifth-rounder is coming off a disappointing 2024 campaign with the Falcons, when he finished with 41 tackles (25 solo), including 5.5 sacks, and five pass defenses (including a pick-six) across 17 regular-season games. Judon won't be brought in to serve in an every-down role, but he should get some rotational work at edge rusher with starters Bradley Chubb and Chop Robinson.
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  • Falcons' Clark Phillips: Not expected to play this week

    Rotowire
    Phillips (ribs) is not expected to play in Friday's preseason finale against the Cowboys, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Phillips has yet to play this preseason, so it appears as if he'll go the entire exhibition slate without logging a snap. A fourth-round pick in 2023, Phillips' roster spot should be secure after he appeared in 16 regular-season games for Atlanta last season.
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  • Falcons' Jalon Walker: Out of practice

    Rotowire
    Walker (groin) will not practice Monday, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports. "Going to operate with an abundance of caution," coach Raheem morris said Monday. "Not really worried about it. But you don't want it to linger." After playing 19 defensive snaps in the Falcons' preseason opener, Walker sat out last Friday's exhibition versus Tennessee.
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  • Matthew Judon: Visiting Miami

    Rotowire
    Judon, who is a free agent, is visiting with the Dolphins on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Judon spent the 2024 season with the Falcons, appearing in all 17 regular-season games (15 starts), and registered 41 tackles (25 solo), including 5.5 sacks, and five pass breakups, including one interception, which Judon returned 27 yards for a touchdown. Judon has certainly lost a step at 33 years old and can't be relied upon as an every-down edge player at this stage of his career, but he still may have some pass-rush juice left in a sub-package role.
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  • Falcons' Jalon Walker: Dealing with groin issue

    Rotowire
    Walker tweaked his groin in practice Wednesday and didn't play in Friday's preseason loss to Tennessee, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports. The Falcons expect Walker to return to practice next week, so he doesn't seem to be dealing with a long-term injury. The rookie first-round draft pick logged 19 defensive snaps in Atlanta's first preseason contest against Detroit and recorded one tackle. He's being counted on to provide a boost to the Falcons' pass rush, which tallied the second-fewest sacks in the league last year.
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  • Falcons' C.J. Henderson: Latches on with Atlanta

    Rotowire
    The Falcons signed Henderson to a contract Thursday, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports. Henderson worked out with the Falcons in late July, and the 2020 first-rounder will now have an opportunity to compete for a depth spot on Atlanta's 53-man roster for the upcoming season. Henderson spent time on the Steelers' active roster during the 2024 season but did not play in a regular-season game before being placed on injured reserve in mid-November due to a neck injury. Henderson last saw regular-season action in 2023 with the Panthers, when he logged 39 tackles (31 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and two pass defenses across 12 games (seven starts).
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  • Falcons' Clark Phillips: Dealing with rib injury

    Rotowire
    Phillips (ribs) is expected to miss "some time," D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Phillips missed last Friday's preseason opener against the Lions, and it sounds like he's also in danger of missing this Friday's exhibition against Tennessee. The 23-year-old cornerback appeared in 16 regular-season games for Atlanta last season, making a pair of starts, and finished with 35 tackles (27 solo), five pass breakups, including his first career interception, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He's an important piece of the Falcons' secondary depth.
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  • Antonio Hamilton: Works out for Washington

    Rotowire
    Hamilton (quadriceps) worked out for the Commanders on Sunday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Hamilton injured his quad in Week 16 last season while with the Falcons and finished out the 2024 campaign on injured reserve. Now healthy, the 32-year-old is looking for a new opportunity ahead of the 2025 season. He has 109 regular-season games of NFL experience.
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  • Falcons' Grayland Arnold: Sent to IR

    Rotowire
    The Falcons placed Arnold (undisclosed) on injured reserve Sunday. Arnold didn't play in Friday's preseason opener against the Lions. He spent last summer with the Steelers but was placed on injured reserve last August due to a calf injury. Arnold hasn't appeared in a regular-season game since 2023 with the Texans.
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  • Falcons' Jalon Walker: Expected to play Friday

    Rotowire
    Walker (hamstring) will participate in practice Wednesday and is expected to play in the preseason opener against Detroit on Friday, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports. Walker missed time last week with a hamstring injury head coach Raheem Morris described as very minor, but is back at practice this week with sights set on his first NFL preseason game this Friday. The 21-year-old was drafted 15th overall by the Falcons in April after spending three years at Georgia. He is hoping to make a big impact on an Atlanta pass rush that was bottom 10 in sacks a year ago.
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  • Falcons' Jalon Walker: Returning to practice this week

    Rotowire
    Walker (hamstring) will return to practice in the week leading up to Friday's preseason game against the Lions, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports. Walker didn't practice the previous week due to a hamstring injury that was described as "very minor" by head coach Raheem Morris. The latest update from Morris is even more optimistic, as the rookie first-round pick is expected to mix into team periods ahead of Atlanta's preseason opener, though it remains to be seen if Walker can muster full participation and whether he will be deemed healthy enough to play against Detroit.
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  • Falcons' Bralen Trice: Fully recovered from ACL injury

    Rotowire
    Trice (knee) has been an active participant in training camp practices, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports. Trice missed the entire 2024 season after tearing his ACL in the preseason. He did not participate in OTAs or minicamp, but he has made strong strides in his recovery over the past year and has been present in every single training camp practice thus far. The 2024 third-rounder will likely serve in a depth role at outside linebacker but could earn more snaps with a strong preseason, starting with the Falcons' opener against the Lions on Aug. 8.
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  • Falcons' LaCale London: Passes physical

    Rotowire
    The Falcons removed London (undisclosed) from the active/non-football injury list Tuesday, Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports. London was back at practice Tuesday after recovering from an undisclosed injury. He spent the entire 2024 season on the Falcons' practice squad and is aiming to earn a spot for himself on the 53-man roster at the end of training camp.
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  • Falcons' Cobee Bryant: Goes on NFI list

    Rotowire
    The Falcons placed Bryant (undisclosed) on the active/non-football illness list Thursday, Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports. The nature and severity of Bryant's illness is unclear, but he will be eligible to participate in practices and preseason games once he's fully recovered. The Kansas product signed with the Falcons in May as an undrafted free agent. Bryant recorded 37 tackles (26 solo), including 0.5 sacks, seven pass defenses (four interceptions) and one forced fumble across 12 games during his final season with the Jayhawks.
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