Ray-Ray

McCloud III

The 95 yards were easily a new season high thanks to a 60-yard catch-and-run in the third quarter. McCloud also posted five receptions for the second game in a row after previously going five contests without doing so. Good for McCloud, but not really fantasy relevant with Kirk Cousins’ struggles deepening heading into Week 14 against the Vikings.

Only Drake London had more targets (7) than McCloud on the day. Operating almost exclusively from the slot, McCloud averaged 7.6 yards per catch as an underneath option before the Falcons rested their starters in the fourth quarter of the lopsided affair. If Darnell Mooney misses time with a hamstring injury, McCloud could see a bump in targets when the Falcons return from bye in Week 13.

McCloud, Atlanta’s primary slot receiver, was again well behind Darnell Mooney and Drake London in the team’s pass catching pecking order. McCloud, who doesn’t have more than three receptions in a game since Week 5, is nothing more than a desperation flex option in deeper formats.

He added a seven-yard rush. McCloud’s lack of involvement in the offense despite an early exit for Drake London makes him hard to rely on going forward. McCloud has just 11 receptions over Atlanta’s last four games, though he might see a little extra volume in Week 10 against the Saints. With Bijan Robinson the primary Falcons short receiver lately, those 6/66 and 6/52 games in Weeks 4 and 5 are feeling like a distant memory.

McCloud, the team’s primary slot receiver, ran a route on nearly every Kirk Cousins drop back. The team’s targets were spread somewhat evenly between its main pass catchers, leaving McCloud with few opportunities. He’s only fantasy relevant in deeper leagues with multiple flex spots.

McCloud has an afterthought in the game plan outside of a strange designed play on the first offensive snap of the game for Atlanta. That makes two straight low-yardage games for McCloud, who continues operating in three-wideout sets and can be interesting for fantasy in high-volume outings for Kirk Cousins and the Falcons offense. He’ll be a WR4 option in Week 8 against Tampa.

As the Falcons’ primary slot receiver, McCloud continued to operate as a top-four pass-catching option. He caught three passes on a ground-and-pound day for the offense, with his first reception coming on a deflection initially intended for Darnell Mooney. McCloud was also credited with a fumble in the second quarter, though the play controversially could have been ruled an incompletion or even downed after the catch. With a Week 7 matchup against the Seahawks, McCloud is a FLEX play only in deeper leagues.

With Kirk Cousins dropping back 62 times, McCloud posted season highs in targets and receptions. Both the No. 3 receiver and No. 3 overall weapon in the Falcons’ passing game — at least for now, Kyle Pitts could be awakening — McCloud has established last-gasp PPR WR4 appeal with Cousins’ attempts predictably increasing as he puts his Achilles injury further in the rear-view mirror in his new home.

McCloud has been running nearly every route for the Falcons this year. His limited sessions were likely just maintenance for a high-volume player. He has at least 40 yards in three games but no more than 52 yards in a week. McCloud is a low-ceiling WR6 for his upcoming matchup with the Bucs.

McCloud, like Bijan Robinson, has logged two limited tags this week that were merely estimates of what would have happened if the Falcons practiced. McCloud isn’t a recommended fantasy option for Week 5, but he could be an interesting DFS punt on Thursday if he’s active.