Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 29th @ 1:00 PM ET
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Betting Odds: ATL -2.5, 36.5 total via PFF.com
Network: CBS
Writer: Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ on Twitter/X)
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Desmond Ridder (Sit)
It was quite the day for Desmond Ridder and the Falcons in their win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. Ridder completed 19 of 25 attempts for 250 yards, adding 38 yards and a score on the ground, but how could we forget the three red-zone fumbles he lost? Yes, three..and they all ended as turnovers. Carelessness with the ball doesn’t bode well for anyone, and so Ridder surely felt lucky that his kicker Younghoe Koo knocked a 51-yard game-winning field goal through the uprights. Add it all up, and Ridder can be left on the wire, especially in a week in which no teams are on bye.
Running Backs
Bijan Robinson (Start, RB2), Tyler Allgeier (Sit)
Fantasy players and gamblers alike were left in the mud last week when Bijan Robinson, who was active and healthy to our knowledge, ended up with one single carry for three yards against the Buccaneers. We learned at halftime that Robinson first wasn’t feeling great Saturday evening, and then felt “completely out of it” Sunday upon waking up. Regardless, he still suited up for the game. This caused such hysteria that the league is set to question Head Coach Arthur Smith for a potential violation of injury-report compliance.
The NFL is now asking injury-report compliance questions to the Atlanta Falcons about when they knew rookie running back Bijan Robinson wasn’t physically well and why it was not reported, as per league policy.
It is standard practice for the league to question teams about a…— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 23, 2023
On Monday, Smith stated that Robinson will be okay moving forward, much to the relief of his fantasy managers. Nevertheless, it’s fair to place Robinson on the RB2 radar against a tough Titans run defense that’s allowing the 25th most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.
With the Falcons operating sans Robinson, Tyler Allgeier stepped into the lead role, handling 21 carries but managing only 59 yards. On a positive note, he did add three receptions on three targets for 53 yards. Don’t expect similar passing game productivity with Robinson back in the fold. Cordarrelle Patterson saw his first real action of the season as well, turning 10 carries into 56 scoreless yards. Assuming Robinson is set to return to a normal workload, Patterson can surely be left on the wire while Allgeier is best left on benches.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Drake London (Start, WR3 with WR2 upside), Kyle Pitts (Start, TE1), Jonnu Smith (Sit)
Since Week 4, Drake London has averaged 14.9 full-PPR points a game, totaling 24 receptions on 35 targets for 285 yards and just one touchdown. Fantasy managers will be happy with the PPR output, but need London to find the end zone more regularly. He is at the mercy of Ridder’s play, but this could be the week he finds paydirt again as the clear WR1 in this offense. After all, he’s lining up against a Titans pass defense that’s allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
In recent weeks, Jonnu Smith was involved so much that people began questioning if Kyle Pitts was a drop candidate. Smith caught all three of his targets for 27 yards against the Bucs, and Pitts added three receptions on four targets for 47 yards. Aadvantage Pitts. That said, Pitts did get 39 of his 47 yards on a catch that set up Koo for the game-winner in the 4th quarter. While the Titans are strong against tight ends, consider Pitts on the low-end TE1 path while Smith can be left on your bench or the wire.
Tennessee Titans
Quarterbacks
Will Levis (Sit), Malik Willis (Sit)
Ryan Tannehill will miss this week’s game against the Falcons due to an ankle injury that may keep him sidelined for multiple weeks. The silver lining here for the Titans is that they were on a bye in Week 7, so 2022 Round 3 draft pick Malik Willis and rookie Will Levis took all of the snaps in practice in preparation. Word came out on Wednesday that Levis will get the start, which makes DeAndre Hopkins fantasy managers about as happy as dollops of mayonnaise in their morning coffee. Regardless of who ends up under center, neither Willis nor Levis offer fantasy value.
Running Backs
Derrick Henry (Start, RB1), Tyjae Spears (Sit)
The last we saw Derrick Henry. he put up a 97-yard effort with a touchdown on just 12 carries against the Baltimore Ravens in London. The Twitter/Xsphere wants to believe Henry could be moved at the trade deadline, but there have been no indications from the team that such a move is imminent, much less a possibility. Until further notice, Henry will remain on the RB1 radar in Tennessee, despite not playing up to his past potential so far this season. Through six games, Henry is the RB15 in full-PPR leagues, per FantasyData. Rookie Tyjae Spears is a decent change of pace back but offers more to the Titans in real life than he does to his fantasy managers right now. He can be left on benches as a stash in case something happens to Henry.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
DeAndre Hopkins (Start, WR3), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (Sit), Chigoziem Okonwko (Sit)
DeAndre Hopkins’ trip across the pond was a forgettable one, as he managed only one reception off of five targets for 20 yards against Baltimore. He was also seen holding his hand late in the game, so his fantasy managers are hoping the bye week was a good opportunity for him to rest and heal. Entering Week 8 against a rather strong Falcons secondary, Hopkins will look to find the end zone for the first time in his Titans career: so far, he has only 376 yards and 27 receptions in six games. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine offers little to nothing in the way of fantasy upside in an offense with low passing volume under the direction of a rookie quarterback; leave NWI on the wire. As far as Tennessee tight ends go, Chigoziem Okonwko, an offseason darling of many fantasy analysts, has been a disappointment. He can remain on the wire until further notice.
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