Taylor

Heinicke

Heinicke, who started four games for Atlanta in 2023, took a massive pay cut to remain with the Falcons. He’ll now make $1.2 million in 2024, down from his original base salary of $5.2 million. The move saves the Falcons about $4 million against the salary cap. Heinicke will likely serve as backup to Kirk Cousins this season.

Heinicke picked up an ankle injury in Week 17 and was only able to get in limited practices this week. As a result, the Falcons decided to go with Desmond Ridder for the season finale. That means Heinicke’s season will end with just five appearances and four starts. He completed 74-of-136 passes (54.4 percent completion rate) for 890 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. He also added 124 yards and one touchdown on the ground. The 30-year-old had the highest yards per completion and QBR of his career but also posted a career-low passing success rate and his second-lowest adjusted net passing yards per attempt. He will always have the strong stretch run with Washington in 2022 that made him a fan favorite, but he is nothing more than a league average back-up. He’s signed in Atlanta for one more season, so he could return to back-up which ever quarterback they turn to in 2024 since his dead cap hit is higher than Ridder’s.

Heinicke was limited in practice throughout the week before being listed as questionable. Per Rapoport, Heinicke will be “watched closely in warmups to make sure he’s mobile enough.” Heinicke was a poor bet for fantasy purposes before the injury and is now off the radar entirely. Expect a run-heavy approach from an Atlanta squad that can still make the playoffs with a win versus the Saints and a Tampa Bay loss.

Heinicke should be the Falcons’ starter if active, but that is now up in the air because of the ankle issue. Based on Arthur Smith’s comments from earlier in the week, Heinicke sounds like a true game-time call. If he can’t go, Desmond Ridder will return to the starting lineup. Either way, expect another absurdly run-heavy approach from the Falcons as they cling to their playoff aspirations.

Heinicke melted down in Week 17 against the Bears, throwing three picks and completing a meager 33 percent of his attempts. Desmond Ridder took over for Heinicke, who is iffy to suit up in Week 18 with an ankle issue. It doesn’t matter who starts for the Falcons in what could mercifully be Arthur Smith’s final game as head coach.

Heinicke struggled in the Falcons’ Week 17 loss to the Bears, completing just 34.5 percent of his passes while throwing one touchdown to three interceptions. It sounds like the plan will be to start Heinicke in Week 18 if he’s able to go, but the Falcons could be forced to once again pivot to Desmond Ridder if he is unable to go. Thankfully, with the fantasy season now over, fantasy managers won’t need to worry about possibly playing either quarterback in a 2QB/superflex league.

Heinicke was, in a word, horrendous. Benched late with the game out of hand, Heinicke could only watch as Desmond Ridder instantly tossed a pick to join him in turnover purgatory. Heinicke was facing a white-hot Bears defense but couldn’t spark Drake London or Kyle Pitts and was late and or inaccurate far more than he was on time. The Falcons’ quarterback woes are going a long way toward making it likely coach Arthur Smith is not allowed back in 2024. It doesn’t matter who is under center for Week 18 against the Saints even though Atlanta could still technically win the NFC South.

Heincike drew the start in Week 16 and three for 229 yards and a touchdown. He took care of the ball and earned a win for Atlanta but didn’t do much to get fantasy managers excited. He is not one of the top streaming options for Week 17 against Chicago.

Heinicke popped up on the injury report with a new ankle injury, getting in a limited practice. It doesn’t seem to be a major injury for Heinicke, who took over for Desmond Ridder, throwing a touchdown in the victory over the Colts in Week 16. Heinicke’s injury status can continue to be monitored throughout the week, but expect him to start again for the Falcons in Week 17.

The Falcons keep their playoff hopes alive as Heinicke threw the ball 33 times against the Colts, including a 24-yard touchdown throw to Kyle Pitts. He was nearly picked off in the second quarter by Colts LB Zaire Franklin and fumbled in the third, though he recovered the ball back. Heinicke managed the game well, with less dangerous play than his predecessor, Desmond Ridder. With the victory, the 7-8 Falcons are squarely in the race for the NFC South champion, and more of Taylor Heinicke’s serviceable game management will keep the team afloat. Heinicke is a back-end QB2 against the Bears in Week 17.