Game Info
Kickoff: Thursday, December 11, 2025, 8:15 PM ET
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Network: AMZN
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins: SIT
I understand the temptation of throwing ole’ Kirk Cousins in your lineup. Atlanta takes on a Tampa defense allowing the fourth most points to the position, and let Tyler Shough score over 20 fantasy points last week. But the problem is that his two touchdowns were of the rushing variety on 34-yard and 13-yard runs. Mr. Kohl’s cash does have motion, but not that kind. Shough threw for just 144 yards and tossed a pick, and I wouldn’t expect to see much better from Cousins.
Running Back
Bijan Robinson: START, RB1
Tyler Allgeier: SIT
Much to my chagrin, I have to remove my beloved Bijan Robinson from fun fact status. It’s not you, Bae-jan, it’s them. I promise. It’s just this flaccid Falcons offense. Robinson is averaging 5.23 yards per carry and a 5.3% explosive run rate on an offense that has averaged under 200 passing yards per game over their last three games, a near-Herculean task. His talent and decent matchup keep him as an RB1, but the offense and the propensity for Tyler Allgeier to vulture a touchdown drives him down to more of a low-end RB1 with limited upside.
Wide Receiver
Drake London
Darnell Mooney: SIT
David Sills V: SIT
At the time of writing, Drake London had yet to practice ahead of the Falcons’ Thursday night game with the Buccaneers. He’s all but guaranteed to miss. Darnell Mooney and David Sills are in line to start as the top two receivers for Atlanta for the third straight week, and they’ve totaled 10 catches between them in that span. Nah. I’m good.
Tight End
Kyle Pitts Sr.: START, TE1
The only positive part of the Falcons’ offense is that Cousins seems to be as obsessed with Kyle Pitts as fellow QB List analyst Brian Hartman and I are. Pitts is averaging nearly 12 points per game in Cousins’ four starts and has eight or more targets in three of those four, including two games with double-digit. As a special treat, I’ve asked the legendary comedian Dave Chappelle for his analysis of the Falcons’ offense.
Dave, take it away.
Thanks, Dave.
I concur with Mr. Chappelle’s assessment, but when it comes to Kyle, he’s not the Pitts (shoutout to my good friend Ladarius Brown).
Defense/Special Teams
Atlanta Falcons: SIT
The Falcons’ defense has allowed 64 total points over their previous two games.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield: START (in Superflex), Borderline QB1
I really wish I could push Baker Mayfield up higher than a borderline start in 1QB leagues with the return of Mike Evans, but his recent play prevents me from doing so. Mayfield has cooked up a whole lot of meh-ringue recently, failing to throw for 200 yards in four straight games with a 4:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio over that span. Atlanta’s been a tricky matchup for quarterbacks, but it’s given up some big games to the likes of Tua Tagovailoa, Bryce Young, and Sam Darnold. Mayfield’s a must for Superflex leagues, but a bit of a risk in 1QB leagues.
Running Back
Bucky Irving: START, RB1
Rachaad White: FLEX, RB3
Sean Tucker: SIT
Bucky Irving got in the end zone for a second straight game, taking a screen pass from the 31 to the house and making a couple of defenders miss along the way.
Sundays are better when we get to watch Bucky Irving play footballpic.twitter.com/5XAB7vQzku
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) December 7, 2025
Bucky had two fewer rush attempts than the previous week, but wound up with an identical 16.1 fantasy points. Irving once again played close to 50% of snaps and went missing early in the second half of the game, with Rachaad White getting some run and Sean Tucker getting the goal-line carry. White seems to be the backup to Bucky, and makes for a decent FLEX play if he’s able to maintain close to 10 touches per game. It was nice to see Tucker get into the end zone, but he won’t see enough work in this backfield to be considered to start. Irving still slots in as an RB1, but we could be seeing a cap on his workload. Keep an eye on his snap share this week.
Wide Receiver
Emeka Egbuka: START, WR2
Mike Evans: START, WR2 (if active)
Chris Godwin Jr.: SIT
Tez Johnson: SIT
Jalen McMillan: SIT (if active)
It’s about to get mighty crowded in the Bucs receiver room. Mike Evans is set to return from his broken collarbone, and there’s a chance for Jalen McMillan to return as well. His early-season run as a weekly WR1 is long gone, but Emeka Egbuka is still a start regardless of who returns. His elite target share is sure to shrink, but his explosiveness and production with Evans on the field earlier this year keep him in the WR2 range. Chris Godwin and Tez Johnson were already borderline FLEX options at best, but both belong on the bench now. If McMillan returns, he’s not a starter, but he’s worth stashing. If Evans is back, it’s a rather large gamble to start him, but one I’m willing to take considering the talent. You know Mayfield is going to force-feed Evans in the delusional hopes of getting him to the 1,000-yard mark in the next four games. I only partially kid.
Tight End
Cade Otton: SIT
Payne Durham: SIT
Cade Otton is expected to miss the game, setting up Payne Durham (no relation to Bull) to start at tight end for the Bucs. He should not start at tight end for your fantasy team.
Defense/Special Teams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: START
The Falcons’ offense has averaged 19 points per game over their last three, will likely be missing Drake London, and have the ghost of Kirko Chainz starting at QB.