The Atlanta Falcons and quarterback Kirk Cousins agreed to tweak the final two years of the QB's contract on Tuesday, setting the stage for a decision on his future to be made by the third day of the new league year on March 13, a source told ESPN's Field Yates. Cousins now has a guarantee for $67.9 million for the 2027 season that will vest on March 13. The restructure also includes reducing Cousins' 2026 base salary from a non-guaranteed $35 million to just $2.1 million. Atlanta's front office is in flux following the firing of general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday, but the Falcons could still move on from Cousins before March 13 as a post-June 1 release. A release of that kind would split the dead money on Cousins' contract over 2026 and 2027, as opposed to the team taking on the full amount in 2026. The 37-year-old played in 10 games this season, including starting the final seven following Michael Penix Jr.'s season-ending knee injury. Cousins was serviceable, throwing 10 TDs and five interceptions, but he probably isn't in the team's long-term plans at the position.
Jan 6, 2026 12:56 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins led the team to another upset victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football to close out Week 17 action. Most of the heavy lifting was done by star running back Bijan Robinson, though, who finished just shy of 200 rushing yards with a touchdown on 22 carries. Robinson also caught five passes for 34 yards and a second touchdown. Cousins, meanwhile, continued to play a game-manager role at QB, going 13-for-20 passing for 126 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. The 37-year-old veteran signal-caller shouldn't attract a ton of fantasy interest as a streamer going into the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. Cousins has gone over 200 passing yards just twice in the last five games. In the first game against the Saints, he threw for 199 yards, two TDs, and a pick on Nov. 23.
Dec 30, 2025 6:28 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has a 5:1 TD:INT over the last two weeks as he's focused his attention on the team's top playmakers rather than spreading the ball around. The 37-year-old may have to continue to air it out in Week 17 as the Falcons are 7.5-point underdogs for a Monday Night Football showdown against the Rams that has one of the higher expected point totals on the slate (49.5). It has been easier to throw on the Rams than to run it, too, with Los Angeles allowing the second-most yards per game through the air over the last three weeks (277.7) while yielding the fifth-fewest rush yards per game over that span (97.3). No. 1 wide receiver Drake London (knee) heads into the contest with a questionable tag, but if he were to miss the game, those targets would likely be divvied up between Kyle Pitts Sr., David Sills V, and Bijan Robinson. Despite some solid stats over the past couple of weeks, the 4x Pro Bowler shapes up as a low-end QB2 for MNF, albeit with some slight upside with all of the talented weapons at his disposal.
Dec 27, 2025 4:31 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins had his best game of the season by far last week in a 29-28 win over the Buccaneers, completing 30 of 44 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. The 37-year-old focused his attention on his top pass catchers, and should get another weapon back in Week 16, with Drake London (knee) expected to suit up on Sunday. The veteran should have a full complement on offense for Sunday's road matchup against the Cardinals, a defense that is middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, but that has yielded 35 points per game over their last three games, which is nearly the worst in the league over that stretch behind only the Cowboys and Jets (35.3). Even so, with a strong run game to lean on in the form of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, Cousins projects as a low-end QB2 for this week's contest.
Dec 20, 2025 11:09 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has struggled for much of the 2025 season, completing 62.6% of his pass attempts for 1,218 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions across seven games (five starts). However, the 37-year-old posted a monster performance in his team's Week 15 upset of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, throwing for 373 yards and three scores. At this point in his career, Cousins should not be expected to post big numbers every week. Still, his showing against Tampa Bay proves that the veteran still carries some production upside in the right matchups. The Falcons will face another favorable opponent in Week 16 against the Arizona Cardinals, followed by a far more difficult test in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Rams. For fantasy managers in two-quarterback formats, Cousins could be a solid streamer at the position, particularly in Week 16.
Dec 19, 2025 10:33 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 30 of his 44 pass attempts for 373 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions during Thursday's Week 15 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also took one sack and recovered his own fumble. Cousins led five scoring drives on Thursday, including the game-winner with less than two minutes left to play. The veteran quarterback shook off the old narrative that he's incapable of thriving in the primetime slot, and in doing so, he kicked off his candidacy for the top-scoring fantasy quarterback in Week 15. It's unlikely that many managers started Cousins in the first week of the fantasy playoffs, but his big game could be enough to justify deploying him as a fringe top-12 fantasy option heading into a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals next week.
Dec 11, 2025 11:57 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins completed just 15 of 30 pass attempts in Week 14 for 162 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions, both of which came in the second half as the Falcons tried to play catch-up in what turned out to be a 37-9 blowout loss despite being tied 6-6 at the half. The 37-year-old now owns a 3:3 TD:INT through four starts, and will be without top receiver Drake London (knee) for a third straight game, leaving Darnell Mooney, Kyle Pitts Sr. (knee), and Bijan Robinson as the team's top passing options. The veteran has seen a lot of success when targeting his 6-foot-6 tight end, but it seems Pitts is inexplicably not an option in the red zone, with the 25-year-old last receiving a red zone target back in Week 9, while the likes of David Sills V and Dylan Drummond commanded a total of five red zone targets in Week 14 alone. If Cousins can focus his attention on the team's top talent, there could be an opportunity to be fantasy relevant, however, the 4x Pro Bowler is outside the QB2 range for Thursday Night Football.
Dec 10, 2025 8:56 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 234 yards and one touchdown in last week's 27-24 loss to the Jets, spreading the ball around to seven different receivers, each with at least two targets apiece. The veteran QB now has an unremarkable 3:1 TD:INT in three starts this season, and heads into a tough matchup in Week 14 against the Seahawks. Seattle's defense has yielded just 152.7 yards per game passing over their last three contests (sixth-fewest) and is middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs. The game will be played indoors in Atlanta, but with the Falcons missing their top receiver, Drake London (knee), and with an implied team total of just 19 points, they are not expected to find the end zone frequently. It all points to Cousins being a very low-end QB2 for Sunday's showdown.
Dec 6, 2025 11:42 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 21 of his 33 passes for 234 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Jets. The 37-year-old looked Kyle Pitts Sr.'s way most often (eight targets), which has been the case in each of his three starts this season, but again spread the ball around, with seven different receivers earning two or more targets, and he also found David Sills V for a touchdown pass for the second straight week. The veteran QB draws a tough matchup in Week 14 as the Falcons host the Seahawks in Atlanta, a defense that has been in the bottom third in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. It will at least be a home matchup, and there is still a chance that the team's No. 1 receiver, Drake London (knee), will return for Sunday's contest. Even so, Cousins figures to be in the lower end of the QB2 ranks in Week 14.
Dec 2, 2025 10:18 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 199 yards and a pair of touchdowns (one interception, too) last week in his second start of the season and first since Week 8. The veteran was able to put that solid fantasy performance together despite completing just 16 passes (23 attempts). It could be tough sledding in Week 13 in a road matchup against the Jets, a defense that has yielded the tenth-fewest pass yards per game (194.6) on the season and eighth-fewest over the past three weeks (181.3). Not only that, the 37-year-old will be without the team's top receiving option, Drake London (knee), for the second straight week. Fold in a low implied total of 39.5 for this game (21 for Atlanta) and the fact that the Falcons may lean more heavily on Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, it leaves Cousins as a low-end QB2 in Week 13.
Nov 29, 2025 2:31 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins did enough to help his team win on Sunday, leading them to a 24-10 victory over the Saints. He completed 16 of 23 pass attempts for 199 yards and two touchdowns along with one interception, adding two rushes for five yards. It's probably the best fantasy managers could have hoped for without top receiving option, Drake London (knee), and with the running backs tallying 26 carries. With Michael Penix Jr. (knee) out for the rest of the season, Cousins will get a handful more opportunities in the coming weeks, including a favorable matchup Week 13 against the Jets, a team that has yielded the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year. Despite the decent matchup, it will be on the road in the cold, possibly without London again, and the 37-year-old will likely be a low-end QB2 option for that contest.
Nov 25, 2025 1:08 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins will make his second start of the season on the road in Week 12 against the Saints, with the team losing Michael Penix Jr. (knee) to injury for the rest of the year. The 37-year-old started the team's Week 8 contest against the Dolphins, but unsurprisingly looked rusty, completing 21 of 31 passes for 173 yards and no scores (and zero interceptions). Expectations should not be high for managers considering the veteran as a streaming option, as he lost his job to Penix last year and was unable to wrest it back to begin 2025. Also, the Saints have been solid on defense, limiting opposing quarterbacks to the 17th-most fantasy points in the league, and they get the benefit of this game being played in New Orleans. With a low implied point total for Atlanta in this one (19), there isn't expected to be a lot of scoring, and if there is, it could come from the one-two punch of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier on the ground, especially given that top wide receiver Drake London (knee) will be out. As such, Cousins projects as a low-end QB2 in this matchup.
Nov 22, 2025 4:44 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. had a quiet Week 11 with three targets and two catches for 38 yards, but could be in line for more work in Week 12 against the Saints. Averaging over six targets, four catches, and 43 yards per game in 2025, the 25-year-old could see a couple more looks with teammate Drake London (knee) ruled out. In Week 8, when London was also absent due to injury, the 6-foot-6 tight end garnered a team-leading nine targets, catching all nine for 59 yards. Kirk Cousins was under center for that game, and will be again in Week 12 with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) out for the rest of the season. Pitts was very volatile last season with Cousins as the signal caller, recording one catch or fewer in five contests. The Saints rank near the middle in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, so it's not an overly tough matchup, but there is some uncertainty with how this offense will look with Cousins at quarterback, so the fifth-year pro projects as a low-end TE1 this week.
Nov 22, 2025 2:44 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins took over the starting job this week with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) on injured reserve. The veteran has struggled since signing with Atlanta, but he could get back onto the fantasy radar with high passing volume and the benefit of throwing to a star receiver in Drake London. London has 60 catches, 810 yards, and six touchdowns this year, and his emergence as a top receiver in the NFL should bode well for Cousins' fantasy value. He'll also have decent targets in Darnell Mooney, Kyle Pitts Sr., and Bijan Robinson at his disposal. Cousins is a gunslinger who should rack up passing yardage and touchdowns, so the biggest concern is whether he can limit turnovers. He has not yet thrown an interception through three games (one start) in 2025, and he'll be eased into action with a soft matchup against the New Orleans Saints in Week 12. He's a solid low-end QB2 who can be started in superflex leagues.
Nov 19, 2025 11:38 PM EST
When asked if the offense will look different with quarterback Kirk Cousins taking over as the starter, Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said, "It's fair to say it'll look different." Michael Penix Jr. (knee) aggravated a bone bruise and knee sprain and also suffered ligament damage to the ACL in his left knee in Sunday's overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 11, and the 25-year-old second-year signal-caller potentially will miss the rest of the year. He will at least miss the next four games after being put on Injured Reserve on Monday. We'd expect the Falcons to lean more on running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier now that Cousins is starting again. The 37-year-old completed only 61.5% of his passes for 250 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions in three games (one start) this year. The four-time Pro Bowl may get into more of a groove after he gets settled in, but fantasy managers probably shouldn't expect him to see much passing volume.
Nov 17, 2025 6:18 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has been the most expensive backup QB in the NFL this year, could be forced into starting duties under center for the rest of the year after Michael Penix Jr. (knee) suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury in Sunday's overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers. Penix is seeking a second opinion, but the initial diagnosis is not encouraging. At the very least, the 37-year-old Cousins will likely make his second start of 2025 in Week 12 against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. His fantasy stock is obviously going to jump drastically if Penix misses the rest of the year, but at least in the short term, fantasy managers might want to temper expectations, especially with top receiver Drake London (knee) also expected to miss time with a PCL sprain he suffered on Sunday. In Cousins' lone start against Miami in a 34-10 loss on Oct. 26, he did not look good, going 21-for-31 passing for 173 yards, no touchdowns, and no picks.
Nov 17, 2025 12:06 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) exited during the third quarter of Sunday's Week 11 contest against the Carolina Panthers. He is officially listed as questionable to return. At the time of his departure, he had completed 13 of 16 passes for 175 yards, zero touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also rushed for nine yards. With Penix currently sidelined, Kirk Cousins has entered the game at quarterback. The veteran signal-caller will be tasked with preserving Atlanta's marginal lead in a tight divisional battle at home. The Falcons face the Saints next Sunday, so if Penix can't return today, he'll have seven days to rest and recover before his next game.
Nov 16, 2025 3:26 PM EST
The Athletic's Josh Kendall reports that the Atlanta Falcons have yet to have "any serious trade discussions with another team," regarding quarterback Kirk Cousins ahead of next Tuesday's trade deadline. Cousins has been the speculation of quarterback-needy teams, although his recent performance in a blowout loss to the Miami Dolphins likely didn't help his case. As it stands, Atlanta is likely to hold both the veteran and second-year pro Michael Penix Jr. (knee). However, Kendall notes that doesn't mean Cousins is a long-term fit for the team. He figures to resume backup duties behind Penix Jr. once the latter is fully recovered from his knee injury. That's likely to change following the 2025 season.
Oct 31, 2025 11:35 AM EST
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins will get the start in Sunday's meeting with the Dolphins. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) was limited during the week because of a bone bruise. Although it appears he's moving in the right direction, potentially returning in Week 9 versus the New England Patriots, he won't be out there in Week 8. As far as Cousins is concerned, he's not getting any younger. However, there's no denying he's had a productive career in the National Football League. The 37-year-old has appeared in 165 regular-season contests, throwing for 43,008 yards, 288 touchdowns, and 126 interceptions while completing 66.9% of his throws. He's also found the end zone 19 times on the run. Cousins has a favorable matchup against a Dolphins defense that hasn't looked the best. While he's still not the safest or trustworthy fantasy option, desperate managers can look his way for streaming purposes, considering the number of injured quarterbacks along with six teams getting the week off for their bye.
Oct 26, 2025 1:41 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is "highly likely" to start Sunday's Week 8 contest against the Miami Dolphins, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Michael Penix (knee) is still recovering from a bone bruise and ceded first-team reps to Cousins at practice this week. The veteran will make his first start since last season, when he completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions before being benched. Turnovers are a real concern with Cousins as he gets ready to lead Atlanta's offense. Fortunately for him, though, Miami has struggled to defend the pass, recording just one interception while allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
Oct 25, 2025 9:04 AM EST
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