Atlanta Falcons

Based on the current order for the 2023 NFL draft, ESPN's Todd McShay is projecting three of the first six picks will be quarterbacks.

In his latest mock draft released Tuesday, McShay has Alabama's Bryce Young going No. 1 overall to the Houston Texans. He projects the Detroit Lions will use the No. 4 pick on Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, with Kentucky's Will Levis going to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 6.

Young's size has become a talking point as we get closer to the draft, but McShay cited several other areas in which the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner excels that make him an elite NFL prospect.

"Scouts will knock Young's frame (he's listed at 6-foot), but there is no debating his high-level processing ability, excellent ball placement to all three levels of the field and mobility when forced to go off schedule," McShay wrote. "He has regularly lifted a lackluster offensive supporting cast in Alabama this season, and he can do it again with the Texans."

The Texans' roster is in such dire straits they could almost go in any direction, and it would make sense. But having the No. 1 pick in a year when it looks like there are multiple quarterbacks worth taking at that spot should make their decision easier.

The Lions face a potentially interesting dilemma. They have put themselves into playoff contention with five wins in their last six games. Jared Goff is playing at a high level with 3,352 passing yards and 22 touchdowns and is surrounded by a wealth of talent on offense.

If the Lions want to ride with Goff, who has two years remaining on his contract, they could look to add help to a defense that is allowing the second-most points per game (26.7).

But the Lions are also playing with house money right now because the No. 4 pick they have is from the Los Angeles Rams as part of the Matthew Stafford trade. They also have their own pick, which is currently at No. 16 overall.

If Stroud is the second-best quarterback in the class and is on the board when the Lions make their first pick, why not take the shot? He will be walking into a situation with a great offensive line to protect him and wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams on the outside.

Levis and the Falcons are an interesting pairing because we're still waiting to see what Desmond Ridder can do in head coach Arthur Smith's offense.

Ridder was the second quarterback taken in the 2022 NFL draft at No. 74 overall. He is set to take over as Atlanta's starter in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints.

Even though it will only be a four-game trial run for Ridder, the team could alter its draft plans if he shows the talent that made him the top-ranked quarterback in the 2022 class for some draft analysts.

McShay noted Levis "still needs some developing, especially when it comes to decision-making, but the traits are outstanding."

It seems unlikely Levis will make it out of the top 10 at this point. Despite a lackluster senior season with 2,406 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, his skill set is proving to be tantalizing for NFL teams.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota will likely be placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, head coach Arthur Smith told reporters Monday.

The Falcons were already set to replace Mariota with rookie Desmond Ridder.

Mariota signed a two-year, $18.75 million deal with the Falcons during the offseason following a two-year stint with the Las Vegas Raiders.

In 13 games this season, he has completed 61.3 passes for 2,219 yards and 15 touchdowns against nine interceptions. He has also rushed for 438 yards and four scores.

The 2015 second overall pick said he signed with Atlanta because Smith told him he had an opportunity to start right away following the team's decision to trade Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts.

"It really came down to the opportunity," Mariota told reporters. "He said there's a chance for you to play, a chance for you to start right away. Really for me at this point in time in my career, that's what I was looking for."

Mariota appeared in 11 games with the Raiders but didn't make any starts, completing 18 of 30 passes for 230 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 175 yards and two scores.

Before joining the Raiders, the 29-year-old spent the first five seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans. He was inconsistent during his time with the Titans and was labeled a draft bust.

That said, Mariota has dealt with injuries throughout his career. He missed four games during the 2015 season with a sprained MCL and one game in 2016 after breaking his fibula.

Mariota then missed one game in 2017 with a hamstring strain and two games in 2018 with a neck stinger and elbow sprain. He started six games in 2019 before being replaced by Ryan Tannehill.

He suffered a quad strain last year with the Raiders and was placed on injured reserve and missed five games.

Ridder was a third-round pick by the Falcons in the 2022 NFL draft. He spent his college career at Cincinnati, winning AAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2020 and 2021.

The Atlanta Falcons are reportedly using their Week 14 bye to usher in a quarterback change.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Falcons will bench Marcus Mariota and turn the offense over to rookie Desmond Ridder ahead of their Week 15 matchup with the rival New Orleans Saints.

Asking a rookie to make his first career start at the Superdome is a daunting proposition, but the Saints are just 4-9 on the season and largely playing out the string at this point.

The 5-8 Falcons may be doing the same, which is surely one reason they made this move. While Mariota has been a solid quarterback at times, he is not the future in Atlanta and is scheduled for free agency in 2024 with a potential out on his deal in 2023.

Ridder, whom the Falcons selected with a third-round pick in this year's draft, may be that future, and this is the beginning of the team's process toward figuring out whether that is the case.

While he slipped in the draft, the rookie helped the Cincinnati Bearcats become the first-ever Group of Five conference team to reach the College Football Playoff last season. He completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 3,334 yards, 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions in his final collegiate season.

Ridder also appeared in all three of the Falcons' preseason games and threw for a combined 331 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

It is easy to wonder about Ridder's upside and where Atlanta may be in the standings if it made this move earlier given the nature of the NFC South. The 6-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in first place, and the Falcons are technically still within striking distance considering their final game is a head-to-head matchup with Tom Brady and Co.

Mariota completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 2,219 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions while adding 438 yards and four scores on the ground.

The team's offense was largely conservative with him under center in an effort to avoid key mistakes, and it remains to be seen whether it will have the same approach with a rookie signal-caller.

But the future is now for the Falcons.

Fantasy football trade deadlines are rapidly approaching, and a trio of Atlanta Falcons should be talked about in that vein.

Tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Drake London have underperformed, begging the question as to whether they are good buy-low candidates.

On the other hand, running back Cordarrelle Patterson returned to the lineup Sunday after missing a month with a knee injury.

The Falcons didn't hold him back against the Los Angeles Chargers, and he finished with 18.3 point-per-reception points after scoring a pair of touchdowns to go with 53 yards on 14 touches.

Should enterprising teams look to offload Patterson while his fantasy stock is high? Alternatively, is it worth it for fantasy players to try to add Patterson even if the price is high?

Here's a breakdown on all of the above.

The Falcons have been an anomaly this year.

On the surface, they appear to have two pass-catching stars in Pitts and London, who were selected fourth and eighth in the past two NFL drafts.

But neither player has been featured this year. Pitts has 23 catches on 46 targets for 285 yards and two touchdowns in eight games. London has 33 receptions on 56 targets for 369 yards and two scores in nine matchups.

Pitts has been feast or famine, too. He had five catches for 87 yards against the Seattle Seahawks and five receptions for 80 yards and a score versus the Carolina Panthers. Otherwise, he has just 13 catches for 118 yards and a touchdown. He has not amassed more than three catches or 27 yards in any of those contests.

London was good over the first three weeks (16 catches, 214 yards, two touchdowns). In the six games since, though, he has just 17 catches for 155 yards and zero touchdowns. He's averaged just 5.2 targets during that span.

Before the season, FantasyPros ranked Pitts as the 32nd player and the No. 3 tight end in PPR leagues. London was a borderline flex player at No. 94 overall and No. 39 among wideouts.

However, per FantasyData, Pitts is just 17th among tight ends in PPR leagues, making him a backup tight end at best. London is the No. 52 wide receiver, so he's at best a bench option, if he's not on the waiver wire.

The talent is unquestionably there for both players.

The 6'6", 246-pound Pitts, who amassed 43 catches for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Florida Gators in 2020, was amazing as a rookie with 68 catches for 1,026 yards and one touchdown.

London, the former USC star, snagged 88 receptions for 1,084 yards and seven scores in eight games for the Trojans last year before suffering a fractured right ankle.

The primary issue is that the Falcons run the ball 60.1 percent of the time, the second-highest mark in the NFL, per Fantasy Football Today. Their 22 pass attempts per game are the second-fewest in football.

For context, the Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers throw the ball twice as often, leading the league.

The Falcons start dual-threat quarterback Marcus Mariota, who has rushed 60 times for 304 yards and three touchdowns. They tailor the offense around his strengths, and that means a run-first offense that's featured Patterson, Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley.

When Mariota was with the Tennessee Titans, they found success with a similar offense featuring Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray.

It would be hard to trust Pitts or London in any capacity moving forward for the sole reason that opportunities just haven't been there.

On the flip side, Patterson is a player to hang on to or try to trade for.

The jack of all trades had 1,166 total yards and 11 scores last year (153 rushes, 52 catches). He was the No. 1 runner and No. 3 receiver on the team.

The Falcons' 2021 MVP has done well this year too thanks to 421 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns in just five games. He's the No. 14 running back in fantasy points per game.

Given the Falcons' propensity to run the ball, Patterson should be heavily featured moving forward, making him a borderline RB1 in fantasy. Hold on to him for the stretch run if he's on your team. And if Patterson is available in your league, see if you can orchestrate a deal.

The Atlanta Falcons are activating Cordarrelle Patterson ahead of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

The team placed Patterson on injured reserve on Oct. 3 because of a knee injury. He has missed the last four games as a result, which is the minimum required for a player on IR.

The 31-year-old returned to practice this week and told reporters Wednesday he was back to about 90 percent healthy.

Patterson hit the ground running in 2022, going for 120 yards and one touchdown in a Week 1 defeat to the New Orleans Saints. His 141 rushing yards and one touchdown helped Atlanta earn a win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3. He scored another touchdown and had 38 yards on nine carries in a Week 4 win over the Cleveland Browns.

Without Patterson, the Falcons have leaned on Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley. Together, they've done well to maintain a steady running game.

Allgeier has carried the ball 84 times for 324 yards and one touchdown this season, while Huntley has 265 yards and one score on 57 carries. Atlanta's 158.1 rushing yards per game are the fifth-most in the NFL.

Many expected the Falcons to tread water in 2022 until they turn the offense over to Desmond Ridder or find a better long-term solution at quarterback than Marcus Mariota. Instead, they lead the NFC South with a 4-4 record.

Atlanta is in a good position to stay there in Week 9. With a healthy Patterson, the offense should be able to exploit a Chargers defense that is allowing a league-worst 5.7 yards per carry and ranks 27th against the run.

The Los Angeles Rams and fantasy football players alike were surely holding their breath Sunday when wide receiver Cooper Kupp went down with an injury.

Fortunately for both, it seems like the game-changing playmaker avoided something serious.

Kupp told reporters he thinks he ended up "dodging a bullet" on the ankle injury, while head coach Sean McVay said he was "kicking himself" for leaving him in during the final minute of a 31-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

So Kupp might not miss much time, but even one game would be a problem for fantasy players reliant on his production.

That means it might be time to head to the waiver wire or even find a wide receiver to trade for ahead of the Week 9 slate.

The first name to target is Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Damiere Byrd. The veteran wide receiver has never been a massive producer, topping out at 604 receiving yards as his career high, but he looks like a fantasy sleeper after his last two performances.

Byrd hauled in a 75-yard touchdown catch in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday and followed it up with three catches for 67 yards and one touchdown in an overtime victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Only Kyle Pitts had more targets in the win over Carolina, suggesting Byrd is starting to establish some chemistry with Marcus Mariota.

Elsewhere, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer is another ideal target for either a trade or a waiver-wire addition. Mike Williams is sidelined with an injury, and Keenan Allen has dealt with a hamstring setback for much of the season.

Palmer is coming off a showing against the Denver Broncos that saw him post nine catches on 12 targets and even earned a recommendation from his teammate:

You heard it from @AustinEkeler himself - go get Josh Palmer! pic.twitter.com/vehuSojif8

— Rotoworld Football (@rotoworld_fb) October 28, 2022

A potential under-the-radar addition for fantasy players is Panthers wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., who impressed against the Falcons in Sunday's loss with four catches for 87 yards on nine targets.

The LSU product was a second-round pick in 2021 and had just 138 receiving yards as a rookie, but he looked like a difference-maker with quarterback P.J. Walker under center in Sunday's contest.

There was a reason the Panthers selected Marshall with a second-round pick, and it wouldn't be a surprise if they look to target him more after his latest showing.

The NFL is reportedly fining Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady for trying to kick Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett during the teams' Week 5 game.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Brady has been docked $11,139 for kicking at Jarrett on the play the Falcons defender was flagged for roughing the passer.

Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press reported earlier in the day the NFL was working to determine whether it was an intentional act.

Jarrett was flagged on the fourth-quarter play, a highly controversial call, and video from the incident shows Brady kicking his leg toward the Falcons defender. It's unclear if he makes contact.

The play in question happened with three minutes left in the final quarter Sunday and the Falcons trailing 21-15. On third down, Jarrett wrapped up Brady and took him down for a 10-yard sack, which would have forced a Bucs punt and a chance at a comeback win for Atlanta.

Instead, a flag was thrown for roughing the passer, which referee Jerome Boger described as Jarrett "unnecessarily throwing him to the ground." It was the latest in a recent trend of questionable penalty calls for roughing the passer.

Jarrett said Tuesday on 680 The Fan in Atlanta (via ESPN's Michael Rothstein) he remained in "disbelief" about the game-changing call—the Bucs were able to run out the clock to secure the win—and also stated he spoke with officials about Brady's kicking motion.

"'Look, you see him now. Let's clean it up.' You know what I'm saying? And then it happened again at the end of the game," he said. "I'm like, 'So, we going to let this slide?'"

Brady, who simply stated "I don't throw flags" after Sunday's game, expanded on his thoughts about the play Monday on his Let's Go! podcast (via Kevin Patra of NFL.com).

"It was a long hug, a long unwelcome hug from Grady," the 15-time Pro Bowler said. "And he was in the backfield all day. So as I said after the games, I don't throw flags. What I do throw is tablets, and I didn't have one accessible at that time. He had a hell of a game. I'll leave it at that."

The Buccaneers quarterback didn't make any reference to the apparent kick.

Brady was previously fined $10,000 for kicking legendary Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed in 2013, per Spotrac. It's the only on-field fine of his career.

Tampa Bay and Atlanta will face off again in Week 18 to wrap up the regular season.

This week, the Bucs travel to Acrisure Stadium to face off with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the Falcons host the San Francisco 49ers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Both games are 1 p.m. ET kickoffs Sunday.

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts won't play in Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of a hamstring injury.

ESPN's Michael Rothstein noted the Falcons ruled out their second-year tight end on Friday.

It seemed unlikely Pitts would be given the green light to play after missing all three days of practice. He played a season-low 62 percent of Atlanta's offensive snaps in a Week 4 win over the Cleveland Browns.

The 21-year-old was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 draft and hit the NFL as one of the most-hyped tight end prospects ever. Part of that hype was the 6'6", 245-pound Florida product possessing the ability and athleticism of a wide receiver in the prototypical tight end body. Few players combine his size, athletic ceiling and receiving talents

NFL legend Tony Gonzalez said before the 2021 season he believed "the sky's the limit" for Pitts at the NFL level if he works hard, stays healthy and is "self reflective," as he told CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr:

He'll be an All-Pro tight end for a long time. He'll set records. He'll do incredible stuff. I watched a preseason game where he caught a flat route and took it up the sideline and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, this kid's special.' He can be right up there with George Kittle and Travis Kelce very soon. It might take him a year or two, but I wouldn't be surprised if he gets close to that by the end of the season.

Pitts answered the hype with a productive rookie season, catching 68 passes for 1,026 yards and one score. He hasn't been nearly as effective thus far in 2022. The Pennsylvania native alum has just 150 yards on 10 receptions with no touchdowns in four games.

There isn't a natural replacement on Atlanta's roster for Pitts' unique skill set. But while he's out of action, look for Parker Hesse to step into the starting lineup. The 27-year-old has 32 yards on three receptions this season.

The Falcons and Bucs are tied for first place in the NFC South with identical 2-2 records. Atlanta has lost four straight games against its division rival dating back to 2020.

The Atlanta Falcons have placed running back Cordarrelle Patterson on injured reserve because of a knee injury, the team announced Monday.

Head coach Arthur Smith revealed Patterson had a minor procedure on the knee Monday morning.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the 31-year-old is expected to return when he is eligible to come off the IR in four weeks.

Patterson entered Sunday's game with a questionable tag but played through the injury, totaling nine carries for 38 yards and a touchdown in the 23-20 win over the Cleveland Browns at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Through his first four games of the year, the veteran had 340 rushing yards and three touchdowns while averaging 5.9 yards per carry. It's a continuation of strong play after a breakout 2021 campaign in which he set career highs with 1,166 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns.

The 2013 first-round pick had mostly been used as a receiver and kick returner during his career, earning four first-team All-Pro honors as a specialist, but he has proved to be one of the game's most dynamic running backs since joining the Falcons last season.

Atlanta will now have to move on without him, likely turning to rookie fifth-round pick Tyler Allgeier. The former BYU player has 139 rushing yards on 26 carries this season, including 84 on Sunday.

Caleb Huntley should also have a significant role after totaling 10 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown against Cleveland while Patterson was sidelined with his knee injury.

After a 2-2 start, Atlanta is set to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5 at Raymond James Stadium.

Sunday's Week 3 matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons at Lumen Field has been temporarily delayed because of a drone flying over the field, per ESPN's Field Yates.

The incident occurred during the fourth quarter with the Falcons leading 27-23. Atlanta went on to win the game and poke fun at the incident on Twitter:

We were wondering what that was... pic.twitter.com/z7siqtrWlU

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 25, 2022

ProFootballTalk's Michael David Smith noted that Saturday's college football game between Washington and Stanford at Husky Stadium in Seattle was also delayed for the same issue. The drone was spotted flying over the stadium late in the fourth quarter.

However, it's unclear if both situations are related.

The Falcons went on to win 27-23 for their first victory of the season.

Veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota completed 13 of 20 passes for 229 yards and one touchdown against one interception in the win. He also rushed for four yards and a score.

Cordarrelle Patterson led the Falcons on the ground with 17 carries for 141 yards and one touchdown, while Kyle Pitts led receivers with five catches for 87 yards. Rookie wide receiver Drake London also caught three passes for 54 yards and one score.

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith had an impressive performance despite the loss, completing 32 of 44 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns against one interception.

DK Metcalf and Will Dissly combined for 98 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Rashaad Penny rushed for 66 yards on 14 carries.

The Falcons will move on to face the Cleveland Browns next weekend, while the Seahawks will face the Detroit Lions.