Falcons' Michael Penix Jr.: Week 5 Waiver Priority List
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Penix responded well in Week 4 against Washington after two down games against Minnesota and Carolina, when he combined for 9.1 Fantasy points. He had 22.7 Fantasy points against the Commanders, and hopefully, he can perform at this level for the remainder of the season. The Falcons have a bye in Week 5, but Penix is worth adding now for 1 percent of your remaining FAB if you're planning ahead. Atlanta faces Buffalo, San Francisco, Miami, New England, Indianapolis, Carolina, New Orleans, the Jets, and Seattle to close out the Fantasy regular season, and Penix can be used as a low-end starter in most of those matchups.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Strong bounceback in Week 4 win
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Penix completed 20 of 26 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in Sunday's 34-27 win over the Commanders. He added two rushing yards on four carries.
After a rough Week 3 performance on the road in Carolina, Penix returned home in Week 4 and looked much more composed, topping his prior career high in yardage by one as he delivered his first multi-TD effort of 2025. The second-year QB hit Drake London for a five-yard score in the first quarter and Kyle Pitts for a seven-yard touchdown in the third, while both London and Bijan Robinson eclipsed the century mark in receiving yards, during a game in which Atlanta never trailed. Penix will get a week off for the Falcons' bye before facing a tough test in Week 6 against the Bills.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Takes step back in Week 3 loss
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Penix completed 18 of 36 passes for 172 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions while adding two rushes for nine yards in the Falcons' 30-0 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Over his first five NFL starts, Penix hadn't come close to scuffling in the manner he did Sunday, and the fact the opponent was a Panthers squad that had struggled on defense over the first two games made his poor effort all the more alarming. Penix threw multiple interceptions for the first time as a pro, and he was under 200 passing yards for the second straight game. While the low passing volume was by design in a dominant Week 2 win over the Vikings, Sunday's downturn was directly correlated to how well the opposing defense stymied his efforts. Penix and the Falcons will welcome the Commanders for a Week 4 matchup next Sunday, a game that could pit the second-year signal caller against fellow 2024 first-rounder Jayden Daniels if the latter can play through his knee injury.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Attempts only 21 passes
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Penix completed 13 of 21 passes for 135 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in Sunday's 22-6 win over the Vikings.
The Falcons played from ahead for the entire game, and the team was happy to rely on its running game. That limited Penix's pass attempts, though he wasn't all that efficient with his opportunity, averaging only 6.43 yards per attempt while primarily targeting short areas of the field. Atlanta may be able to control their Week 3 matchup against Carolina in similar fashion, which could lead to another quiet performance from Penix.
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Falcons' Michael Penix Jr.: Week 2 Waiver Priority List
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For the rest of the season, I would make Penix the No. 1 quarterback to add for this week, but there are two concerns for him heading into Week 2. First and foremost, will he have his starting receivers available since Darnell Mooney (shoulder) was out in Week 1 against Tampa Bay, and Drake London (shoulder) was injured in that game. It appears like London will be fine, while Mooney is close to being ready, but it's something to monitor. And the Falcons play at Minnesota in Week 2, which should be a tough matchup. That said, Penix looked great against the Buccaneers with 27-of-42 passing for 298 yards and a touchdown and six carries for 21 yards and a touchdown. He's worth adding for 1 percent of your remaining FAB in deeper leagues.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Just under 300-yard mark in loss
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Penix completed 27 of 42 passes for 298 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions and rushed six times for 21 yards and another score in the Falcons' 23-20 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday. He also committed a fumble recovered by Atlanta.
Penix opened his first full season as a starter in fine fashion, looking poised and in command against a veteran, aggressive Buccaneers defense for most of the afternoon. The southpaw signal-caller leveraged Bijan Robinson's elite yards-after-catch skills on the opening drive, hitting his star running back for a 50-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Penix would go on to cap off an 18-play, 91-yard marathon drive in the fourth quarter with a four-yard touchdown run, and he then drove the Falcons a total of 60 yards in eight plays to put them in position for a would-be game-tying field goal that Younghoe Koo couldn't convert. Penix also lost Drake London to a shoulder injury for that final drive, and it remains to be seen if he'll have his top target available for a Week 2 road showdown with the Vikings next Sunday night.
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Falcons' Michael Penix Jr.: Sleeper QBs
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I'm hopeful that Penix has a healthy Darnell Mooney (shoulder) for this game, and this could be a shootout against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay was No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks last year, and Penix attempted 73 passes in his final two starts as a rookie in 2024. That volume could be there every week for Penix, given the Falcons defense, and Kirk Cousins combined for 785 yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception in two starts against the Buccaneers last season.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Well prepared for Week 1
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Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said Thursday that Penix, who did not suit up for any preseason action, is "ready to go" for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Buccaneers, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.
Penix said, "I pride myself to make sure that each and every week I'm always ready come game day," though he acknowledged that "the biggest difference is the reps," or lack thereof, as he prepares for the fourth regular-season start of his NFL career. The presence of star playmakers Bijan Robinson and Drake London will assist Penix in his goal of hitting the ground running, and it's encouraging that Darnell Mooney (shoulder) has returned to practice in a limited capacity and seems to have a shot at playing Week 1. On the other hand, Atlanta's offensive line had looked like one of the team's major strengths the entire offseason, but with Kaleb McGary (leg) now done for the year and swing backup Storm Norton (ankle) out 6-to-8 weeks, third-stringer Elijah Wilkinson is expected to start at right tackle. The lack of reliable blindside protection will be a notable hurdle for the southpaw signal-caller to overcome Sunday and throughout the 2025 campaign.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Sitting out preseason finale
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Penix will not play in Friday's preseason finale against the Cowboys, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Penix and veteran backup Kirk Cousins will both sit out a third consecutive preseason game, with Falcons coach Raheem Morris opting to rest veteran starters until the regular season. Atlanta waived quarterback Emory Jones (concussion) with an injury designation Monday, per Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site, leaving Easton Stick and new signee Ben DiNucci in position for preseason reps versus Dallas.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Not playing this week
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Penix won't play in Friday's preseason game against the Titans, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Falcons coach Raheem Morris didn't use veteran starters in the preseason last summer, nor in the 2025 preseason opener against Detroit on Friday. Morris also suggested Kirk Cousins may be held out again, in which case Easton Stick and Emory Jones would take QB snaps for a second straight week.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Won't play Friday
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Penix and Kirk Cousins won't play in Friday's preseason game against Detroit, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Falcons coach Raheem Morris made the announcement Monday morning, saying he wants to focus on the lower portion of the depth chart in the first preseason games. Easton Stick and Emory Jones will be Atlanta's quarterbacks Friday night, while Penix and the starters might make an appearance later this preseason.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Locked in as QB1
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Penix heads into training camp as Atlanta's undisputed starting quarterback, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Kirk Cousins presumably still wants to be traded, but that didn't stop him from attending spring practices and likely won't keep him out of training camp. The veteran is taking second-team reps now, after the Falcons averaged 32 points per game in Penix's three starts at the end of last season. Bijan Robinson scored two TDs in each of the three games, and Drake London had 352 yards and two TDs on 39 targets. Apart from the QB change and Ryan Neuzil replacing Drew Dalman at center, Atlanta's starting offense looks much the same as it did last summer. All of the team's projected 2025 starters were in Atlanta last offseason when offensive coordinator Zac Robinson installed his scheme.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Throws first NFL TD in OT loss
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Penix completed 19 of 35 pass attempts for 223 yards, one touchdown and one interception while rushing for three yards on two attempts in Sunday's 30-24 overtime loss to the Commanders.
Penix offered mixed fantasy results in Sunday's narrow defeat, throwing his second interception while converting his first touchdown pass as a pro in the overtime loss to Washington. The Falcons opted to switch to the 2024 first-round pick after veteran Kirk Cousins couldn't lead the team to an elevated level of success in 2024. Penix figures to start again for Atlanta in a game the team must win to have a chance of making the playoffs in next Sunday's regular-season finale against Carolina in Week 18.
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Falcons' Michael Penix Jr.: Week 14 Waiver Priority List
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It's not a bad idea to stash Penix heading into Week 14 at Minnesota just in case Kirk Cousins is benched. Penix could emerge as a starter in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues to close the season, and he's worth adding for at least 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Won't play in preseason finale
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Penix is expected to be held out of Atlanta's final exhibition game against Jacksonville on Friday, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Penix also didn't play in the Falcons' second preseason contest versus Baltimore on Saturday. Head coach Raheem Morris explained that the team feels it "saw enough last week [in Atlanta's preseason opener] of him and the live stuff," adding that "[Penix] showed us last week enough that we don't have to play him in the preseason." The rookie QB completed nine of 16 passes for 104 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions against Miami in Atlanta's first game of the preseason and is slated to open the regular season as the team's backup behind Kirk Cousins.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: In street clothes
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Penix appears unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason game at Baltimore, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
With the rookie in street clothes for warmups and Kirk Cousins not expected to play at all this preseason, the Falcons have Taylor Heinicke and John Paddock to take QB snaps Saturday afternoon. Penix completed nine of 16 passes for 104 yards last Friday in Atlanta's preseason opener against Miami.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Solid showing in pro debut
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Penix started the Falcons' 20-13 preseason loss to the Dolphins on Friday night, completing nine of 16 passes for 104 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
The rookie eighth overall pick played on the Falcons' first five possessions, leading Atlanta to 10 points overall on the third and fourth drives of the contest. Penix displayed solid command of the offense during his time in the game and connected with Chris Blair on a 41-yard pass for the Falcons' biggest pass play of the night. The performance was certainly an encouraging one for a pro debut, and with Kirk Cousins not slated to play this preseason, Penix should be afforded ample playing time again in Atlanta's second exhibition on the road against the Ravens on Aug. 17.
