2025 Fantasy Football: Atlanta Falcons Team Preview

The Falcons had improvements to their offense in 2024, with the most significant being in pass yards per game, jumping up to 5th in the NFL after finishing 2023 ranked 22nd. Their points per game moved up to 13th last year after being ranked 26th the prior season.

However, the interception rate (29th) ranked among the worst in the entire NFL. Since Matt Ryan last played for the franchise in 2021, the Falcons have seen their top two quarterbacks on the roster each season put up a combined total of 17 TDs / 9 INTs (2022), 17 TDs / 16 INTs (2023), and 21 TDs / 19 INTs (2024).

QB: Kirk Cousins

Cousins fell off a cliff over his last 5 games of the 2024 season. During that span, he threw 1 TD to go with 9 INTs. Before that, most of his production came in 2 games against the Tampa Bay Bucs, where he totaled 8 TDs / 1 INT.

QB: Michael Penix Jr.

Penix Jr. started the last 3 games last year. His pass attempts increased in each game, but his completion percentage dropped from 67% in the first game, on 27 passes, to 55% over the last two games, on an average of 37 passes.

RB: Bijan Robinson

Robinson rushed for 90+ yards in each of his last 6 games on the season, including 2 rush TDs in each of the 3 games in which Penix Jr. started over the last 3 weeks. He finished the year with over 1,400 yards rushing and 14 TDs.

Robinson averaged 4 catches a game for 33 yards over his first 12 games and totaled 61 receptions on the year. However, he was a non-factor as a receiving option in the last 5 games as he didn’t top 10 receiving yards in any of those games and averaged less than 4 yards per reception.

RB: Tyler Allgeier

Allgeier and Robinson have been good for each other, with both being able to play in all 34 games over the last 2 years. After averaging 4.9 ypc as a rookie, Allgeier dropped to 3.7 ypc in his first year sharing the backfield with Robinson.

They meshed in tandem in 2024 with Allgeier returning to 4.7 yards per carry and posting similar statistics to his previous season in rushing yards and touchdowns, despite nearly 50 fewer carries.

WR: Drake London

London has only missed 1 game in his 3 NFL seasons and continues to improve. He set career-highs with 158 targets, 100 receptions and 9 TDs last year. He’s already become the go-to option for Penix Jr.  In Penix Jr.’s last 2 starts, London recorded 2 of his 3 100+ yard games for the entire season. In those two games, he was targeted 31 times for 17 receptions, 293 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

WR: Darnell Mooney

Mooney started well in his first year in Atlanta. He caught 5 TDs in his first 9 games last  year, which was more than he’s ever had in any of his first 4 complete seasons in the league. Over his last 7 games, he didn’t catch a TD at all.  Mooney totaled 64 catches for 994 yards for 15.5 yards per reception.

Mooney recently suffered a shoulder injury that’s expected to keep him out for most of training camp, if not longer.  Atlanta immediately signed veteran receiver DJ Chark following the injury.

WR: Ray-Ray McCloud III

McCloud joined the Falcons last year, making it his fifth team in seven years. The move worked out well, with him setting career highs in targets (87), receptions (62), receiving yards (686), and starts (13). He was a non-factor in his first 2 games with Penix Jr., but caught 4 of 7 targets for 66 yards in the last game of the year with Penix Jr., with Mooney out.

If Mooney misses more time than expected, McCloud will see his value rise as the 2nd most targeted receiver in the passing attack.  He’ll feast on high-percentage, “10 and within” throws.  Penix can get McCloud the ball around 10 yards downfield and underneath and allow him to use his KR/PR skills to create after the catch.

WR: DJ Chark / KhaDarel Hodge / Jamal Agnew / Casey Washington

The recent shoulder injury to Mooney opens up the competition behind London and McCloud at receiver.  The newly acquired Chark would compete with Hodge to be more of a threat on deeper targets.  They would compete for reps with Agnew and Washington to provide value while Mooney is out.

TE: Kyle Pitts

In the first 10 games of 2024, Pitts was targeted 49 times. He caught 34 of those targets (69% catch rate) for 485 yards (14.3) and 3 TDs. His numbers took a sharp decline in his last seven games, where he saw 25 targets, caught 13 passes (52%) for 117 yards (9.0) and 1 TD.

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 19: Kyle Pitts #8 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on December 19, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

BREAKOUT PLAYER:  Kyle Pitts 

Pitts is under the 5th-year option of his rookie contract this year, after the Falcons made him the 4th overall pick in the draft.  Mooney’s injury could boost Pitts’ stock.  If his injury lingers, he suffers another injury or the missed time in camp leads to a lack of preparedness, then Pitts would be pushed up in the passing attack, competing with Robinson and McCloud to the be the top option behind London.

In a contract year, Pitts will have his best season as he benefits from the lack of quality options available in the passing attack and the change in QB.  Pitts will top all of his career-highs in receptions (68), receiving yards (1,026), TDs (4) and catch rate (63.4%) this year.

BUST: Darnell Mooney 

Mooney has shown flashes of what he can be, but hasn’t put it together for an entire season.  The camp injury is just the latest in the yearly injuries he suffers and a definite cause for concern.  The injury is also preventing Mooney from receiving valuable reps with his young QB to build chemistry.  He’ll fail to surpass 45 / 500 / 3 this year and have a sub-60% catch rate.

SLEEPER: Ray-Ray McCloud III

McCloud III is coming off his best season and gets to stay in the same offense for Year 2. He was the 3rd option in the Atlanta passing attack last year.  Mooney’s latest injury will allow McCloud to build a rapport with Penix and be his 2nd option among receivers.

He missed 5 games in 2023, but for the other 4 seasons from 2020 to 2024, he only missed 1 game.  McCloud will double his career receiving TDs (2) in 2025 alone, as he finishes with 4 receiving TDs while setting a career-high in receptions (70+).

BOLD PREDICTION: Michael Penix Jr.

Penix Jr. will have some stellar passes and could put up some big numbers in several games. However, among all qualified QBs for 2025, he’ll finish with the lowest completion percentage and most interceptions.

Only two qualified quarterbacks finished 2024 with a completion percentage below 62%, and only three quarterbacks had more interceptions than 12 last year, with each throwing 15-16 interceptions. Penix Jr. will finish his sophomore season with a sub-62% completion percentage and 15+ interceptions.