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FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

QB Michael Penix Jr., Falcons agree to contract terms

Fri Jun 21 8:20pm ET
Field Level Media

The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to contract terms with quarterback Michael Penix Jr., their first-round pick, according to multiple media reports on Friday.

Penix, selected eighth overall out of Washington, is getting a four-year rookie deal valued at $22.88 million, including a $13.46 million signing bonus.

All contracts involving first-round selections include a fifth-year team option.

The Falcons have invested heavily in the quarterback position. Six weeks before the draft, they signed veteran free agent Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal that includes $100 million guaranteed.

Cousins, who will turn 36 before the regular-season begins, is looking to come back from a right Achilles tendon tear that ended his 2023 season in October with the Minnesota Vikings.

That commitment made all the more surprising Atlanta's decision to use a first-round selection on a quarterback. Penix was the fourth signal caller drafted out of a record-tying six first-round QB picks.

Penix, 24, is coming off a spectacular senior season in which he led the Huskies to the national championship game. He threw for a national-high 4,903 yards and had 36 touchdown passes while getting intercepted 11 times.

He wound up as the Heisman Trophy runner-up behind LSU's Jayden Daniels, and Penix captured the Maxwell Award, which goes to the country's top college football player. Each of the past two seasons, Penix broke Washington's single-season passing record.

Penix is expected to formally sign the contract on Friday, according to media reports, and complete the Falcons' eight-player draft class signings. He has participated in every offseason training session from rookie minicamp to OTAs and the mandatory minicamp.

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Player Notes
Taylor Heinicke Aug 18 7:40am ET
Taylor Heinicke

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke threw for 114 yards and rushed twice for zero yards in a 13-12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Saturday. It was an uneventful preseason game for the 31-year-old veteran, with no touchdown passes on 8-for-16 passing. Heinicke seems locked in as the QB3 on Atlanta's roster, but with the Falcons holding out Michael Penix Jr. for the rest of the offseason, he should get plenty of snaps to see how he fares during the rest of the preseason. Heinicke will look to turn things around in the preseason finale on Friday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

From RotoBaller

Jase McClellan Aug 18 7:30am ET
Jase McClellan

Atlanta Falcons running back Carlos Washington Jr. ran nine times in Saturday's game for 39 yards while receiving no work in the passing game in a 13-12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. After averaging less than 2.0 yards per carry last week on 16 attempts, Washington was much more efficient on the ground this week, averaging over 9.0 per carry. The 25-year-old seemed to have the edge over Jase McClellan for the RB3 job according to the Falcons' official depth chart, but now it seems to be a tight-knit race for that job with McLellan running the ball extremely well so far in the first two preseason games. Look for this race for the RB3 spot to continue on Friday when the Falcons take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

From RotoBaller

Josh Johnson Aug 18 7:30am ET
Josh Johnson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Josh Johnson put together a nearly perfect half of football in the team's 13-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday afternoon. The veteran completed all 11 of his pass attempts for 120 yards and a touchdown and carried the ball twice for eight yards on the ground. The lone miscues were a sack for 12 yards and a miscommunication with the center that led to a fumble, but it didn't officially count in Johnson's box score. In the first quarter, a lot of Johnson's throws were short passing plays, but he ended up completing big play after big play in the second quarter. In the touchdown drive, he completed passes of 12, 13, and 31 yards respectively, capped off by a six-yard score to Owen Wright.

From RotoBaller

Jase McClellan Aug 18 7:20am ET
Jase McClellan

Atlanta Falcons running back Jase McClellan rushed 11 times for 55 yards and scored a touchdown in a 13-12 preseason loss against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. After leading the team in rushing in preseason Week 1 with 35 yards, McClellan followed suit and led the team in rushing again this week. The lone touchdown for McClellan and the Falcons came with only 39 seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter and was followed by a failed two-point conversion, which led to the eventual one-point loss. The young 22-year-old out of Alabama has carried the ball 20 times for a solid 85 yards, 4.25 YPC, and one touchdown in two preseason games thus far. The battle for the RB3 in Atlanta looks like a close one this preseason between McClellan and Carlos Washington Jr. The Falcons RB3 battle will continue next week when the Falcons take on the Jaguars on Friday Night at home.

From RotoBaller

Younghoe Koo Aug 18 7:20am ET
Younghoe Koo

Atlanta Falcons Kicker Younghoe Koo had a rough time on the field Saturday morning, going 2-for-5 in field goal attempts in a 13-12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in preseason Week 2. Koo nailed the hard one through the uprights from 54 yards away but missed on a 40-yarder, 45-yarder, and 49-yarder before converting on his last field goal attempt of the night at 24 yards out. It was an uncharacteristic night for one of the league's top kickers, but he has plenty of time to get right before the season begins in September.

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Pat Freiermuth Aug 18 6:50am ET
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth caught his lone target for a 10-yard gain in a 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills in preseason action on Saturday. Freiermuth drew the start and played with the first-team offense, ripping off a 10-yard gain on Pittsburgh's second drive of the contest. The veteran tight end had a down season in 2023 but could be primed for a bounce-back as he should see more targets with Diontae Johnson no longer on the team. That being said, the Steelers could be run-heavy on offense so it is best to treat Freiermuth as a mid-range TE2 in upcoming fantasy drafts.

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Justin Fields Aug 18 6:40am ET
Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields played well in his team's 9-3 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. Fields completed 11 of his 17 passes for 92 yards and added eight rushes for 42 yards in the loss. Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson got the start and played most of the first half, with Fields taking over with 2:04 left on the clock before halftime. Wilson has missed a portion of camp with a calf injury while Fields has flashed at times. Early in the preseason the Steelers tabbed Wilson as their Week 1 starter but the calf injury plus Fields' solid play has made this an interesting situation to monitor as the Week 1 season opener against the Atlanta Falcons looms in a few weeks.

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Najee Harris Aug 18 6:40am ET
Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris carried the ball four times for 17 yards and was not targeted in the passing game in a 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills in preseason action on Saturday. Harris got the start and rotated with backfield mate Jaylen Warren with the starters, checking out for the night just before halftime. Harris and Warren are expected to work in tandem in the Pittsburgh offense this season, although the latter left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return. If Warren's injury were to stretch into the regular season, Harris could see bell-cow usage in the early going. Even if Warren heals quickly, Harris is an interesting bounce-back candidate in fantasy this season with run-focused offensive coordinator Arthur Smith calling the plays for the Steelers.

From RotoBaller

George Pickens Aug 18 6:40am ET
George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens caught one of his two targets for four yards in a 9-3 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. Pickens could have had a much bigger game as he made an impressive, one-handed contested catch along the sidelines but couldn't quite get his second foot down inbounds, resulting in an incompletion. Pickens is currently slotted in as the Steelers' No. 1 wide receiver as the regular season approaches, although he would be moved to a secondary role if Pittsburgh ends up completing the long-rumored Brandon Aiyuk deal with the San Francisco 49ers. For now, Pickens can be treated as a WR2 in fantasy drafts but could wind up as more of a low-end WR3/flex play if Aiyuk winds up as his teammate.

From RotoBaller

Russell Wilson Aug 18 6:30am ET
Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson made his first preseason appearance with his new team in a 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. Wilson completed eight of his 10 passes for 47 yards in the contest while taking three sacks. The veteran drew the start and worked about halfway into the second quarter before calling it a night and stepping aside for Justin Fields. Wilson has missed a large portion of camp with a calf injury but the team has been calling him the Week 1 starter, although Fields has performed well in camp and could push Wilson for the chance to be under center in the opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

John Metchie III Aug 18 4:30am ET
John Metchie III

Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III delivered his best preseason performance on Saturday against the New York Giants, recording a team-high six catches for 68 yards and his first professional touchdowna 3-yard pass from Case Keenum. This strong showing comes after Metchie had only two receptions for 11 yards in his previous two games. After suffering an ACL tear during the 2021 SEC Championship Game, Metchie missed out on a potential first-round draft position. The Texans selected him with the 44th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he was sidelined for his rookie season due to a diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Returning in 2023, he caught 16 passes for 158 yards but struggled to secure a prominent role. Now, Metchie is aiming to secure one of the final receiver spots for Week 1, with one more preseason game to compete against Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson, and Ben Skowronek.

From RotoBaller

Dalton Schultz Aug 18 4:30am ET
Dalton Schultz

Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz delivered his strongest preseason performance against the New York Giants on Saturday, catching three passes for 39 yards, including a standout 26-yard reception from C.J. Stroud. Schultz emerged as Stroud's most targeted player while the starters were on the field, receiving five of Stroud's 12 throws. This is a promising sign for Schultz, who faces competition for targets from three top wide receivers. However, Schultz's role is somewhat overshadowed by his backups; Brevin Jordan also saw two of Stroud's 12 targets and looked solid with the starters, while rookie Cade Stover has been impressive in previous preseason games. Despite these challenges, Schultz remains a valuable high-end TE2 with the potential for high-ceiling weeks in a dynamic Texans offense.

From RotoBaller

Dameon Pierce Aug 18 4:20am ET
Dameon Pierce

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce started the preseason game against the New York Giants but struggled to make an impact, managing only four carries for five yards. Pierce averaged a disappointing 1.3 yards per carry, failing to show any improvement from his previous performance. In contrast, Cam Akers, serving as his primary backup, ran for 29 yards on six carries, including a long of 14 yards. Akers, who was signed at the beginning of training camp, has quickly emerged as a legitimate roster contender, transforming from a camp body into a potential backup to Joe Mixon. His familiarity with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's scheme has helped him catch up despite joining late. J.J. Taylor led the Texans' running backs with 36 yards on five carries, and rookie British Brooks scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns. However, with both Taylor and Brooks unlikely to make the final roster, the primary focus for the Texans will be the competition for Mixon's backup role.

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Stefon Diggs Aug 18 4:20am ET
Stefon Diggs

Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs made his presence felt in Saturday's preseason game against the New York Giants, catching a 9-yard pass from C.J. Stroud for a first down in Houston's 28-10 victory. Although Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowler acquired from the Buffalo Bills, only had one reception, it was special as it was his first in a Texans uniform. His brief appearance demonstrated that he is already developing a strong rapport with Stroud. During the 15 snaps Stroud played, Diggs was on the field for 11, while starting receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell were on for 13 and 8 snaps, respectively. Collins is expected to lead in target and snap share, with Dell likely serving as the big-play threat. The question remains whether there will be enough targets left for Diggs to justify his current ADP in fantasy drafts.

From RotoBaller

Jason Myers Aug 18 4:10am ET
Jason Myers

Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers went 3-for-3 on field goal attempts in Saturday's preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans. Myers made tries from 29, 48, and 50 yards out. The only blemish on his stat line was the missed extra point that followed Easop Winston Jr.'s first-quarter touchdown. The Titans' margin of victory in the game? One point. Myers was perfect on extra-point attempts last season but this is the second try he has missed in as many weeks. The 33-year-old is Seattle's incumbent kicker, though another misfire in the preseason finale against the Browns on August 24 might prompt the team to look at other legs. Myers has been a useful fantasy asset in the past but is by no means automatic.

From RotoBaller

C.J. Stroud Aug 18 4:10am ET
C.J. Stroud

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud delivered a strong performance in his second preseason game against the New York Giants, although the offense didn't score while he was on the field. Stroud led the Texans downfield on the opening drive effectively, but the team failed to convert a fourth down on the Giants' 6-yard line. Stroud showcased impressive command and appeared to be in midseason form. The Texans' strategy this year seems to focus heavily on the passing game, as they passed ten times and rushed only four times in the first quarter with starters. This approach bodes well for Stroud's fantasy prospects, indicating significant passing volume. Stroud finished the game 7-of-10 for 88 yards. If he's done for the preseason, his overall stats will be 9-of-14 for 129 yards and one touchdown. Stroud has a solid opportunity to be a top-five fantasy quarterback this year, but his lack of rushing may limit his overall ceiling.

From RotoBaller

Easop Winston Jr. Aug 18 3:50am ET
Easop Winston Jr.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. caught three of his four targets for 47 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans. The score was an absolute beauty. Barely a step ahead of cornerback Tre Avery, Winston looked over his shoulder as he crossed the goal line in time to snag a 23-yard arcing pass from Sam Howell for the touchdown. Winston also had a 15-yard reception with eight seconds left in the first half, advancing a drive that resulted in a field goal before the break. Winston is playing for a roster spot and, assuming he does make the cut, would be unlikely to challenge DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, or Jaxon Smith-Njigba for targets.

From RotoBaller

Kenny McIntosh Aug 18 3:30am ET
Kenny McIntosh

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh led the team in carries and rushing yards in Saturday's loss to the Tennessee Titans. The second-year back had eight attempts for 46 yards and caught both of his targets for 17 yards through the air. McIntosh is competing with George Holani and Kobe Lewis to be the Seahawks' third-string running back. Last week, Holani scored a touchdown and Lewis led the team with eight carries. Against Tennessee, the two combined for six carries and a gain of two yards. The usage on Saturday indicates McIntosh is ahead on the depth chart for now, though he will still be behind Kenneth Walker III and Zack Charbonnet when the regular season begins.

From RotoBaller

Sam Howell Aug 18 3:00am ET
Sam Howell

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell went 11-for-14 for 153 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's loss to the Tennessee Titans. Howell looked shaky early on as the Titans blitzed aggressively out of the gate resulting in back-to-back three-and-outs. Howell actually fumbled while being sacked on the second drive but had the good fortune that a teammate was in position to fall on the ball. Howell recovered well on the team's third possession resulting in a touchdown to Easop Winston Jr. This was Howell's second start in as many preseason games for the Seahawks. Geno Smith (hip/knee) returned to practice last week and carried no designation coming into Saturday but ultimately sat. Howell will be backing up Smith to start the season but it was an encouraging effort after the early miscues.

From RotoBaller

Ryan Flournoy Aug 18 1:30am ET
Ryan Flournoy

Dallas Cowboys rookie wide receiver Ryan Flournoy led the Cowboys in catches in a preseason win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He also scored a touchdown. Flournoy was targeted six times, also a team high, and made four catches for 23 yards. His touchdown came on a goal line pass from Trey Lance in the second quarter. Flournoy is buried on the depth chart, especially once CeeDee Lamb returns from his holdout, but he's shown signs of developing some offensive relevance in the future. He's worth keeping an eye on in keeper and dynasty formats.

From RotoBaller