The Atlanta Falcons shocked the world in April, selecting Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th-overall pick in this year's draft, shortly after shelling out $180 million to former Vikings QB, Kirk Cousins. It seems that Atlanta is trying its version of the "Packers Method" by grabbing its QB of the future multiple years in advance. Regardless of what you think of the signing and pick, the Falcons will be relatively stable at quarterback for the first time since Matt Ryan left the team
Cousins is known for a few different things across NFL fanbases. Some know him as the "You like that?!" guy, while others know him as the quarterback who has more than $400 million in career earnings despite never being a true franchise QB. Heading into the 2024 season, he will now be known as the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons.
Not only is Cousins joining a new team, but he is also recovering from an Achilles injury that effectively ended his time with the Vikings. He will have to adjust to his new surroundings and recover from a significant injury to find success this year.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: 2024 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet
Cousins was among the upper tier of pocket passers last year and was the QB6 through eight healthy weeks. Given his injury and new situation in Atlanta, drafters have cooled off on Cousins, selecting him as the QB19. Is this price fair or is the fantasy community too pessimistic on Cousins this year?
Kirk Cousins' Fantasy Outlook: Where should he be drafted following Achilles injury?
Kirk Cousins injury update
Cousins did not appear in any of Atlanta's preseason games, which may be concerning to some fans. But there's no need to worry, Cousins sitting out of the preseason shouldn't come as a shock at all. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson both come to Atlanta from the Los Angeles Rams. Rams head coach Sean McVay has consistently rested starters during the preseason, and it appears that his former assistants took on the same philosophy. Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, and other starters did not take the field this preseason either.
Cousins was cleared to return to football activities over a month ago, July 25 to be exact. As a result, he has taken the first-team reps throughout training camp and preseason practices. With more than a month of practice with the team, Cousins' health heading into Week 1 should not be a concern.
2024 POSITION TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY:
QB | RB | TE | D/ST
Will injury, new system impact Cousins' production?
As previously mentioned, Cousins was a strong fantasy asset last year. In eight games, Cousins averaged 19.3 PPG and was the QB6 overall. However, it's crucial to provide some context here. The Vikings have almost completely abandoned the run game in recent years under head coach Kevin O'Connell. Cousins averaged 38.9 pass attempts per game last year, the highest mark of any quarterback who appeared in at least eight games.
The Falcons will properly feature Cousins' arm and their talented pass catchers, but he will not approach 40 attempts per game like he did last year. The offense in Atlanta will be far more balanced than what Cousins was used to in Minnesota. This does put a damper on the fantasy value of a quarterback like Cousins, who exclusively relies on volume and efficiency as a passer to produce fantasy points.
The arsenal of weapons at Cousins' disposal is impressive, but coud also be seen as taking a step back. London, Pitts, and Robinson are all incredibly talented, but they do not compare to Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, and Jordan Addison. There is simply no receiver who can replicate what Jefferson brings to an offense.
2024 PPR RANKINGS
Top 250 Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K
Even though the Falcons' trio of playmakers may be a step back from what Cousins is used to, this is still an offense that is capable of scoring and producing fantasy points at a high level. Robinson, London, and Pitts have largely been held back by incompetency from their quarterbacks and playcallers. With improvements on both fronts, there's nothing stopping Cousins from spearheading a resurgence in Atlanta.
The Verdict: Where should Kirk Cousins be drafted?
The draft market doesn't have much love for Cousins at the moment, drafting him as a low-end QB2 (QB19). There is a fair argument that he should go ahead of names like Aaron Rodgers and Justin Herbert and make a push for the QB1 threshold. However, Cousins should not be drafted in any leagues with 12 teams or fewer.
Cousins is a quality backup quarterback in fantasy who can fill in on bye weeks or in case of an injury to your starter. He is also a good backup plan if you take a riskier starter such as Anthony Richardson, Jayden Daniels, or Caleb Williams and they don't pan out. But if you leave your draft with Cousins as your QB1, you may want to consider hitting the trade block.
2024 FANTASY AUCTION VALUES (PPR & STANDARD)
Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K