Chargers @ Falcons
Final Score: Chargers 17, Falcons 13
Writer: Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan on Twitter/X)
A pair of projected playoff teams meeting in Atlanta, the Falcons came into this one looking to snap a two-game skid while the Chargers sought a chance to rebound after getting beaten in primetime by the Baltimore Ravens. This one felt like a stinker from start to finish as neither quarterback managed to throw for a touchdown. In fact, the Chargers somehow managed to win the game without an offensive touchdown at all. Kirk Cousins had a career day in the worst way and the Falcons fell at home. Let’s dig in.
Three Up
- Bijan Robinson – A legit bellcow performance for the second time in three weeks, even in a negative game script.
- Drake London – A target hog, Drake London was Cousins’ favorite target getting the volume he needs to succeed.
- Ladd McConkey – A true alpha performance from the rookie, with a team-high 12 targets he has emerged as the definitive top receiving option in the Chargers’ offense.
Three Down
- Kirk Cousins – Remember how amazing it was when Cousins threw for 500 yards early in the year? This was just like that, except the opposite.
- Kyle Pitts – He vanished again.
- Any Charger not named Ladd McConkey – Outside of Ladd McConkey’s big day, nothing went right for LA and the touch distribution was so watered down that it was near impossible for anyone else to do much of anything.
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins: 24/39, 245 Yards, 4 INT | 1 Carry, 3 Yards, Fumble (Recovered)
Cousins had a nightmare of a day, making several bad decisions and paying the price for them on multiple occasions. Not only were his decisions bad, they were extremely costly. He threw an egregious pick-six, gifting the Chargers their only touchdown of the day and then later in the game threw a pick in the Falcons’ end zone trying to float a weak pass into quadruple coverage in the middle of the field. It’s been a gross stretch of football for the veteran, with six interceptions, four fumbles, three losses and zero passing touchdowns over his past three games.
Running Back
Bijan Robinson: 26 Carries, 102 Yards, TD | 6 Targets, 6 Receptions, 33 Yards
One of the lone bright spots in the Falcons’ offense, Bijan Robinson rolled through the Chargers’ defense on each of his 32 (!!) touches. Any running back earning that kind of volume is an elite play on a week-in and week-out basis. As fantasy managers, we have to hope that the Falcons will continue to feed their best players as they make a playoff push.
Tyler Allgeier: 8 Carries, 16 Yards
Tyler Allgeier has been nearly phased out of this offense in comparison to where he was weeks ago. Allgeier was on the field for nearly 30% of the snaps, but got just eight touches and wasn’t targeted at all in the passing game. Once upon a time, Robinson fantasy managers shuddered at the mention of Allgeier’s name. Now, he’s just a footnote.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Drake London: 16 Targets, 8 Receptions, 95 Yards | 1 Carry, -3 Yards
London cashed in on a ton of volume in the Falcons’ narrow touch distribution offense, but Cousins just couldn’t connect with his top wide receiver in the end zone (or any other receiver for that matter). London is a volume machine, but if for any reason his volume is cut it will be difficult for him to generate elite level production. Five yard outs only generate so much for fantasy points, even in PPR formats.
Darnell Mooney: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 20 Yards
Darnell Mooney remains a part of Cousins’ inner circle as one of the few position players to earn consistent opportunities within the Atlanta offense. He didn’t have his typical production against a stingy LA defense, though. Cousins just missed Mooney on a deep crosser in the red zone, under throwing his receiver for what would have been a walk-in touchdown. It would have changed the outlook on Mooney’s whole day had they been able to connect for the score.
Kyle Pitts: 2 Targets
One of the great disappearance artists in the league, Kyle Pitts was targeted just twice and didn’t record a catch. Even more concerning for the Atlanta tight end, he was only on the field for 33 offensive snaps with Charlie Werner out snapping him. It appears he’s been relegated to passing downs only, making it even less likely for him to produce for fantasy managers the rest of the way.
Ray-Ray McCloud: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 95 Yards
Ray-Ray McCloud is another member of Cousins’ circle, and has been a boom-or-bust option in the Falcons’ offense so far this season. He was the recipient of one of Cousins’ best throws of the day, snatching it from over the fingertips of his defender and turning up the sideline for a 60-yard gain. As long as this distribution stays as narrow as it is, McCloud can be considered in super deep leagues.
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback
Justin Herbert : 16/23, 147 passing yards | 5 carries, 1 Yard
It’s not often that the quarterback with under 150 yards passing is the one who has the better day, but on Sunday it was. Justin Herbert was an effective game manager, limiting mistakes as the Chargers’ defense cleaned up the mess on several occasions. Herbert was fixated on McConkey, which worked to an extent, but did very little outside of his connection with the rookie wide receiver. But on a short week, traveling to the East Coast, Herbert led his team to a victory. There’s not much more you can ask of him – unless you started him in fantasy.
Running Back
J.K. Dobbins : DNP
Gus Edwards: 6 carries, 32 yards | 1 target, 1 Reception, 1 Yard
Another unimpressive running day for Gus Edwards, even without J.K. Dobbins in the lineup. The Chargers leaned heavily on the passing game and didn’t require much offense to get the win. However, it’s concerning that Edwards carried the ball just six times in a win.
Kimani Vidal: 4 carries, 20 Yards
Kimani Vidal was the clear number two running back in this offense without Dobbins, but he was on the field for just 12 of 46 offensive snaps. What’s more concerning is that he was only in the game for one third down and didn’t earn any targets in the passing game. We’ll see if his role grows as the Chargers progress through the final weeks of the season.
Hassan Haskins : 1 carry
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Ladd McConkey : 12 targets, 9 receptions, 117 yards
Now this is what we have been waiting for. McConkey exploded for nine catches on a team-high 12 targets and 117 yards. McConkey TRIPLED the next-most targeted pass-catcher in the Chargers’ offense, garnering a 37.5% target share in a game where the Chargers really had nothing else going. It’s Ladd’s offense now.
Will Dissly : 1 target
Joshua Palmer : 1 target, 1 reception, 11 yards
Quentin Johnston: 4 targets, 2 Receptions, 12 yard
Stone Smartt: 2 Targets, 1 Receptions, 3 Yards
Derius Davis: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 3 Yards
Scott Matlock: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 2 Yards
Tucker Fisk: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 1 Yard
There wasn’t much to talk about outside of McConkey’s big day. The Chargers throw to anyone and everyone in their offense and nobody really had much of an opportunity to produce. Quentin Johnston was targeted in the end zone but would have had to make an amazing contested catch to pull it in against solid coverage. Other than that, not much to report here.