Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 29th, 2024, 8:20 ET
Location: Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland
Network: NBC/Peacock
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Michael Penix Jr.: Sit, QB2
It was a mixed bag for Michael Penix Jr. in his debut, as the Falcons cruised to an easy victory, but he didn’t exactly light up the box score. He completed two-thirds of his passes and looked decisive in his throws but did not find the end zone. To his credit, his interception was in no way his fault (thanks, Kyle Pitts). Washington is a better team top-to-bottom, and the Falcons may find themselves needing to throw to keep up with Jayden Daniels and crew, but Penix is not a recommended start to bring you a fantasy championship.
Running Back
Bijan Robinson: Start, RB1
Tyler Allgeier: FLEX Option, RB4
We won’t waste your time with this one–start Bijan Robinson and reap the rewards. Bijan looks like one of the best backs in the NFL and has been riding a hot streak since the bye week. He’s an anchor in your lineup and likely a huge part of your journey to Championship Week. Roll him out there as a reliable RB1 and leave Tyler Allgeier on your benches–he earns a handful of touches every week but is too inefficient to count on.
Wide Receiver
Drake London: Start, WR2
Darnell Mooney: FLEX Option, WR3
The QB change didn’t provide immediate dividends for Drake London, but he did unsurprisingly lead the team in targets last week with 8. London’s production may feel volatile with a rookie signal caller, but the truth is that Kirk Cousins was providing a volatile enough environment that things should feel more reliable with Penix under center. The Commanders are a middle-of-the-pack defense against WRs, but as the team’s top dog, London should be a solid WR2 this week with upside if he can display a connection with his rookie QB. While London led the team in targets, it was Darnell Mooney who paced the team with yards in Week 16’s victory. Mooney is a solid WR2 in the NFL, but for the fantasy championships, he’s best viewed as a middling WR3/FLEX option, though there is some boom potential if he can connect with Penix on a deep ball.
Tight End
Kyle Pitts: Sit
As if things couldn’t get worse for Kyle Pitts, a massive blunder on his part led to a red zone turnover for the Falcons and Penix’s first career turnover. He is one of the last options you want starting in your lineup this week purely from a vibes perspective (and the stats aren’t much better).
Washington Commanders
Quarterback
Jayden Daniels: Start, QB1
This one’s easy–Jayden Daniels bounced back from a poor showing against the Eagles earlier this season to throw five touchdowns and lead the Commanders to a crucial victory. He now gets one of the weakest defenses a QB could face. He’s a locked-in starter with overall QB1 upside.
Running Back
Brian Robinson Jr.: FLEX Option, RB3
An absolutely brutal Week 16 performance from Brian Robinson Jr. saw him fumble the ball twice and barely escape, giving fantasy managers negative points. Atlanta’s run defense has been fairly stout against RBs from a fantasy perspective, allowing the fifth-fewest points to the position, and when you couple that with the recent performance, this is definitely not the BRob you want to start in this game. His workload may see him return FLEX or low-level RB2 value, but it feels like too risky of a play to count on at this stage. I’d be rolling out someone like Tyjae Spears over Robinson comfortably this week. No other Commanders RB is worth the risk, either.
Wide Receiver
Terry McLaurin: Start, WR1
Olamide Zaccheaus: Sit
Jamison Crowder: Sit
Production came from plenty of different places for the Commanders last week, but this wide receiver room is a one-man show, and that man’s name is Terry McLaurin. Scary Terry has been one of the most consistent fantasy producers at the WR position this season and now gets a matchup with a porous Falcons secondary that allows the fifth-most points to the position. This certainly feels like another smash spot for McLaurin–fire him up with the utmost confidence. Don’t be fooled by the performances from Olamide Zaccheaus or Jamison Crowder, however–there’s very little chance they come close to replicating last week’s performances.
Tight End
Zach Ertz: Streaming Option, TE2
The only other pass-catcher worth considering for the Commanders is tight end Zach Ertz. Ertz has provided modest streaming viability throughout the season but is a TD-or-bust kind of player in Week 17. If you’ve lost someone like Evan Engram this late in the season, Ertz might be one of the few plug-and-play options with upside left on the wire. There’s at least a decent chance he could find the end zone.
No mention of how yall feel with Hollywood Brown? He looked decent last week with limited reps even