Buccaneers @ Falcons
Final Score: Falcons 36, Buccaneers 30
Writer: Darian Hudock (@DarianQB_List)
Wow! What a game we had for Thursday night. The entire game was back-and-forth, with both teams seemingly scoring on every drive. Only three drives the entire night ended in punts, with another two ending in missed field goals from Younghoe Koo. Other than those five drives, the game was fireworks. Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans looked unstoppable to begin the game, with Evans catching touchdowns on two of the Bucs’ first three drives of the night. However, Kirk Cousins wasn’t going out that easy, throwing over 500 yards, including the 45-yard game-winner in OT. Both teams played almost flawlessly on offense, but both committed turnovers late in the fourth quarter, with Tampa’s Bucky Irving fumbling late to allow the Falcons to tie the game in regulation. Once OT began, the Falcons didn’t hesitate with a four-play, 1:15 drive to close the game.
Three Up
- Kirk Cousins – Cousins played an almost flawless game, hitting wide receivers in stride and showing tremendous timing with his pass catchers.
- Darnell Mooney – Clearly a favorite in this offense, garnering an INSANE target share.
- Kyle Pitts – Showed why he was a top-10 draft pick, consistently winning over the middle and looking dynamic after the catch.
Two Down
- Rachaad White – Outside of a breakaway run, he was unable to make anything happen with the ball in his hands.
- Tyler Allgeier – Lost a lot of the workload he saw in Week 4.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield: 19/24, 180 Yards, 3 TD | 6 Rushes, 42 Yards
What a great game from Mayfield. Not only was he mistake-free and finding wide receivers in space, but he also showed off terrific mobility I did not know he had. When he wasn’t finding Evans for wide-open touchdowns, he was perfectly leading pass catchers and creating opportunities for his playmakers to create big plays. He made multiple plays with his legs, correctly choosing when to tuck the ball and run. The Falcons’ defense was unable to create any pressure on Baker, giving him all the time he needed to carve them up through the air. Unfortunately, Baker didn’t get the ball in OT, as I’m sure many believed he would’ve driven down the field for the win.
Running Back
Rachaad White: 10 Rushes, 72 Yards, 3 Targets | 3 Receptions, -6 Yards
The game from White was worse than the box score would suggest. He struggled to run the ball and when used in the receiving game failed to make anything happen. His day was saved by a breakaway 56-yard run that saw a massive hole open in the center of the Falcons’ line, and White simply walked straight through it. Outside of that one run, White struggled to find space running through the line. He wasn’t forcing missed tackles and seemed to go down after the first hit. Unfortunately, this is the White we’ve come to know, with -170 yards under expectation over the last two seasons per NextGenStats.
Bucky Irving: 9 Rushes, 44 Yards, 2 Targets | 2 Receptions, 12 Yards
The primetime matchup against the Falcons was a great opportunity for Irving to showcase why many have been expecting him to take over the Tampa Bay backfield sooner rather than later. Irving looked fast and explosive whenever he touched the ball, breaking tackles and using his speed to gain the outside edge. Despite the positives, Tampa Bay lost the game because of a fourth-quarter fumble where Irving had the ball punched from his hands.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Mike Evans: 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 62 Yards, 2 TD
Evans is a dawg. We all learned that 11 years ago at Texas A&M, but he continues to dominate NFL defenses, and Thursday night was no different. On his first touchdown, Atlanta’s defense left him alone to run free in the end zone. On his second, his sweet route running placed him at the pylon with no defenders in position to make a play. When he wasn’t catching touchdowns, he was winning in contested catch situations, something that has become second nature to Evans. Evans’ 6’5″ frame allows him to create space where others can’t, and his connection with Mayfield will keep him in prime position to help fantasy teams moving forward.
Chris Godwin: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 64 Yards
On Thursday night, Chris Godwin did what he always does, using his elite route running to create space and provide an easy target for Mayfield. Godwin was consistently open regardless of where he was lined up and showed strong yards-after-catch ability on multiple receptions. His ability to get open is clearly understood by Mayfield, who delivered a few nice strikes before Godwin even finished his route. Godwin continues to be one of the best-rated wide receivers in the NFL this season, and his play on the field directly supports those ratings.
Cade Otton: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 44 yards
With the current tight-end landscape, a tight end like Cade Otton may be on your fantasy radar. His performance on Thursday was mediocre at best. Early in the game, Otton was commanding targets and showing great skill after the catch, but in the second half, he failed to earn a single target. Going silent in the second half is not what fantasy managers want from a tight end they may need moving forward.
Sterling Shepard: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 4 Yards, 1 TD
With Jalen McMillian and Trey Palmer both sidelined for the Bucs, many were expecting Sterling Shepard to step up as the third wide receiver. Unfortunately, it didn’t amount to much. In the first half, it seemed Shepard was getting worked in after catching a four-yard touchdown on a great anticipation route in the end zone. However, after the first half, Shepard was unable to earn another target, leading to a quiet night for the veteran wide receiver.
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins: 42/58, 509 Yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
What a game from Cousins, who looked calm and in control of the offense the entire night. With 250 yards in the first half, the highest in the NFL over the last two seasons, he was cooking from the start and kept that momentum through the final whistle. While you can see he still doesn’t have the same zip on the ball since returning from Achilles surgery, his timing on throws was impeccable. He consistently found the open man and delivered accurate throws, leading his receivers and creating tremendous yards-after-catch opportunities. Outside of a late interception on fourth down, he made no mistakes. Point blank, this is the Cousins that Atlanta fans hoped for when he signed his massive deal in the offseason.
Running Back
Bijan Robinson: 12 Rushes, 61 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 16 Yards
It’s difficult to know how to feel about Bijan Robinson after Thursday night’s game. While he ran the ball well, he managed just 15 opportunities in a game the Falcons ran almost 80 offensive plays. Whenever the ball is in his hands, you can see him looking for how he’s going to turn five yards into 50. Looking for the big play hurt him sometimes, turning three-yard gains into losses. Robinson was used frequently in passing situations, both as a blocker and as a receiver. His fantasy night could have looked a lot bigger if not for two things. First, he had three separate receptions called into runs due to backward passes, something that will upset those of us who play in 1/2 PPR or PPR leagues. Second, on a breakaway rush late in the game, Darnell Mooney failed to hold the final block in space, leading to Robinson being tackled for a 30-yard gain.
Tyler Allgeier: 6 Rushes, 12 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 13 yards
After a week four that saw Tyler Allgeier split touches with Robinson 50/50, Allgeier’s workload was reduced in Thursday night’s game against the Bucs. Looking more like a backup than a 1B in the offense, Allgeier was unable to create any big plays through the air or on the ground. You also saw instances of him struggling in pass protection, which is something fantasy managers don’t want to see if they want Allgeier playing more snaps each week.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Drake London: 13 Targets, 12 Receptions, 154 Yards, 1 TD
When in doubt, throw it to No. 5. This seemed to be Atlanta’s game plan for most of the night, with Drake London consistently catching the ball in critical situations for the offense. London was targeted consistently throughout the night by Cousins, regardless of where he was lined up or the coverage he faced. London looks big, strong, and fast on the field, a terrific combination for those looking for a top-notch wide receiver. I will note London left Thursday’s game twice, once early for a concussion but returned, and again in OT if only for the final play. London managers will have to monitor the injury report, but it didn’t look serious after the game.
Darnell Mooney: 16 Targets, 9 Receptions, 105 yards, 2 TD
The sigh of relief from Mooney when the Falcons won the game could be heard throughout the entire stadium. After dominating most of the game, Mooney dropped a key third-down conversion late in the fourth that set up an untimely missed field goal from Koo. If Mooney had caught that pass, not only would the Falcons have most likely won in regulation, but he also more than likely would have walked in for his third touchdown of the night. Mooney looks reborn in this Atlanta offense, showing tremendous quickness and agility with the ball in his hands. He also showed off some contested catch skills with his first touchdown, catching it in between three Tampa defenders.
Kyle Pitts: 8 Targets, 7 Receptions, 88 Yards
After a zero-catch performance in Week 4, many were writing Kyle Pitts off as a poor fit in this offense. Well, Week 5 certainly is giving those people a little foot-in-mouth situation. He was constantly open on crossing routes over the middle of the field, and Cousins consistently found him in space, allowing him to break tackles and create yards after the catch. Pitts was winning everywhere on the field against both linebackers and defensive backs. For those who’ve been hoping for a Pitts breakout for years, Thursday night offered a sign of hope.
Ray-Ray McCloud III: 9 Targets, 6 Receptions, 66 yards
When your quarterback throws for 500+ yards, almost everybody is going to get a chance to eat. Ray-Ray McCloud made the most of his opportunities, consistently winning routes along the sideline and across the middle and giving Cousins an easy target to hit with the ball. McCloud has a knack for getting open in space, and once the ball hits his hands, his feet are lightning-quick and can create separation from the nearest defender. While the box score likely reflects the massive showing from Atlanta’s offense, McCloud has shown the coaches reason to keep him involved.