Skip to main content

Atlanta’s first depth chart is out and it says a lot: Tua Tagovailoa is listed as QB1, with Cooper Rush as the backup, Jack Strand third, and Michael Penix Jr. left off the list entirely as an “injured player.” Penix is not on the physically unable to perform list and has been practicing, but he has yet to take an 11-on-11 rep as he works back from last year’s ACL injury. Week 1 is roughly three weeks away, and Tagovailoa could end up winning the job by default. Complicating the picture: the current regime of head coach Kevin Stefanski, GM Ian Cunningham and president of football operations Matt Ryan was not in place when Atlanta spent the eighth overall pick on Penix. For DFS purposes, if Tua takes the Week 1 snaps the Falcons pass game gets a different flavor — more timing and rhythm throws and a steadier floor for Drake London. Hold off on locking an Atlanta stack until this is settled. (source: NBC Sports/ProFootballTalk, Yahoo Sports, The Falcoholic, AtlantaFalcons.com)