Penix will enter the season as the starter for the Falcons, and he's worth a late-round flier in deeper one-quarterback leagues as a sleeper. In Superflex and two-quarterback leagues, Penix should be drafted with a mid-round pick. He started three games for Atlanta in 2024, and his Week 18 outing against Carolina was by far his best with 28.9 Fantasy points. Penix has standout weapons with Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson, and there's plenty of potential for Penix to be a quality Fantasy quarterback. We need to see him be consistent with his production, and if that happens then he'll be a popular waiver-wire addition in all one-quarterback leagues.
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 Jr.: Sleeper QBs
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While I expect Bijan Robinson to have a huge game against the Panthers in Week 18, I hope the Falcons give Penix the chance to air it out at the final start of his rookie campaign. Penix has combined for just 19.6 Fantasy points in two starts against the Giants and Commanders, but Week 18 against Carolina could be his best performance to date. The Panthers are No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, and Penix is worth a look in deeper leagues if you need a starter given the matchup.
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Falcons' Michael Penix Jr.: Week 18 Waiver Priority List
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Penix has combined for just 19.6 Fantasy points in two starts against the Giants and Commanders, but Week 18 vs. Carolina could be his best performance to date. The Panthers are No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, and Penix is worth a look in deeper leagues if you need a starter given the matchup.
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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 17 Waiver Priority List
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Penix only scored 6.4 Fantasy points in Week 16 against the Giants in his first NFL start, but he looked good and should get better in Week 17 at Washington. It will help if Drake London (hamstring) plays as expected, and we could see Penix in a shootout with fellow rookie Jayden Daniels. Two of the past four quarterbacks against the Commanders have scored at least 20.2 Fantasy points, and Penix could be a starting option in deeper leagues in Week 17.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Little production in first NFL win
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Penix completed 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards and an interception in Sunday's 34-7 win over the Giants. He added three rushing yards on four carries.
Making his first NFL start, Penix mainly tried to minimize his mistakes as Bijan Robinson and the Falcons' defense each supplied two touchdowns in the rout. The rookie quarterback's longest completion went for only 22 yards, and while he has the arm strength to stretch the field, offensive coordinator Zac Robinson will likely limit Penix to short, high-percentage looks while Atlanta is still hunting for a playoff spot. The eighth overall pick in the 2024 Draft will face a tougher opponent in a Week 17 clash with the Commanders.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: QB change not imminent
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Falcons coach Raheem Morris was emphatic that he would not swap in Penix for the struggling Kirk Cousins, Jay Glazer from Fox NFL Sunday reports.
Peter Schrager earlier reported that Penix didn't take any snaps with the starting offense in practice this week, instead exclusively working with the scout team.
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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.
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