Michael Penix

QB, ATL

Penix is Atlanta's entrenched starting QB, back from a third ACL tear and now the clear engine of the passing game after replacing Cooper Rush. He's more valuable as a passing-volume driver for Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts than as a fantasy starter in his own right, given an aggressive downfield style but real recovery questions.

Coverage flipped from skepticism to enthusiasm fast: on 9/18 The Audible and Matthew Berry's crew doubted he'd even suit up, but by 9/22-9/23 every show (Establish The Run, Fantasy Footballers, Yahoo, Rotoworld) had him locked in as Thursday's starter, with The Ringer alone flagging the three-ACL-tear risk. After his Week 3 debut against Green Bay, Establish The Run, RotoWire, and Fantasy Feast praised the 256-yard performance as a real offensive lift, while Fantasy Focus and Yahoo's Harmon kept framing him strictly as a name-your-price rising tide for London rather than a startable QB himself.

The line: Start him for the offense he unlocks, but he's a streaming QB, not a fantasy starter—ride London and Robinson instead. · updated Sep 30

Wednesday, September 30

▲ RotoWire Fantasy Football With Theo Gremminger: Back from injury and Atlanta looked much better, removing them from the list of exploitable offenses for streaming defenses. listen ↗

Tuesday, September 29

▲ Establish The Run Fantasy Football: Made an impressive season debut off his third ACL tear, throwing for 256 yards and elevating the whole offense in a blowout win over Green Bay. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Feast: NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Praised as finally giving Atlanta a real quarterback, with momentum after a big win over Green Bay heading into a division showdown vs. New Orleans. listen ↗

▲ The Audible: Looked comfortable and aggressive under Kevin Stefanski's scheme against Green Bay's defense; exciting but facing a tougher Saints matchup next. listen ↗

Monday, September 28

▲ RotoWire Fantasy Football With Theo Gremminger: Returned from injury and led Atlanta to a road upset over Green Bay, reviving the offense's outlook. listen ↗

Saturday, September 26

▲ The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast: Struggled early but settled in and looked great under center; his return is viewed as huge for the offense, especially Drake London. listen ↗

Friday, September 25

▶ Fantasy Feast: NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Threw a bad interception early but settled in well as the Falcons offense turned things around against Green Bay. listen ↗

▶ Fantasy Focus Football: Returned from injury to throw for 256 yards, unlocking big games for Drake London and Bijan Robinson; not a fantasy starter himself. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: Returned from a complex quad-tendon ACL reconstruction and looked better than expected in his first game back, heavily targeting Drake London. listen ↗

▲ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Returned from ACL injury and immediately looked like a competent, pass-heavy QB who dramatically increased Drake London's target share. listen ↗

Thursday, September 24

Now fully entrenched as Atlanta's starter with an aggressive downfield mentality that boosts the passing game's ceiling, though a short week and lingering knee concerns make him a boom-or-bust matchup play against a blitz-heavy Packers defense.

▲ Establish The Run Fantasy Football: Fully entrenched as Falcons starter now that Tua's back issue and preseason struggles have pushed him out; his aggressiveness downfield is seen as a clear positive for the passing game. listen ↗

▶ Fantasy Feast: NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Cosell questions whether Penix, who hasn't played much under center and is coming off a second ACL tear, will be pushed into more under-center run/play-action looks, which could stress his recovering knee. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Focus Football: Coming off knee injury, his return should significantly boost the Falcons passing game after two putrid weeks with Cooper Rush. listen ↗

▶ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Penix is returning from a knee injury with mobility concerns and a short week to prepare, making him a boom-or-bust play against a blitz-heavy Packers defense. listen ↗

Wednesday, September 23

All three shows agree he's locked in as Atlanta's starter, including Thursday night, as the team evaluates him long-term; the Ringer flags real injury risk from his three ACL tears but credits strong chemistry with London when he's on the field.

▶ Fantasy Feast: NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Expected to start the rest of the season for Atlanta as they evaluate him as a long-term answer at QB. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast: Confirmed starting Thursday night vs. Green Bay with Tua Tagovailoa as backup; hosts noted Drake London and Bijan Robinson posted huge target shares with Penix last year. listen ↗

▶ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: Named Falcons starter for Thursday night but expected to be a diminished version of himself coming off a season-ending knee injury. listen ↗

▶ The Audible: Will start Thursday night for the Falcons. listen ↗

▲ The Audible: Returning from injury; his aggressive downfield style should boost Bijan Robinson's game script and elevate Drake London and Kyle Pitts. listen ↗

▶ The Ringer Fantasy Football Show: Hosts question his long-term outlook given three ACL tears and limited starts, but note when healthy he and London had strong chemistry with a high target rate. listen ↗

Tuesday, September 22

All three shows agree: Penix is locked in as Thursday's starter and should juice the whole Falcons passing attack, with Drake London the clearest beneficiary — a solid streaming spot and a boost to London's floor.

▲ Establish The Run Fantasy Football: Returning in Week 3 vs. Green Bay after three career ACL tears; hosts see him as a major offensive upgrade over Cooper Rush but uncertain given lingering knee confidence questions and a leaky O-line. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Feast: NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Will return from injury to start Thursday night against the Packers, giving the Falcons a chance to evaluate him for the rest of the season. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Focus Football: Named starting QB for Atlanta, generating optimism for the passing game despite the Falcons not reaching the red zone in two games. listen ↗

▲ Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast: Named starter for Thursday night vs. Packers, expected to be a clear upgrade over Cooper Rush, boosting Drake London and Kyle Pitts outlooks. listen ↗

▶ RotoWire Fantasy Football With Theo Gremminger: Back and named starter this week against Green Bay. listen ↗

▶ Rotoworld Football Show – Fantasy Football: Expected to start Thursday night vs. Green Bay after Kirk Cousins' struggles, restoring a baseline of competence, though there's no clear indication he's 100% healthy. listen ↗

▲ The Audible: Officially named starter for Thursday Night Football, expected to boost Drake London's target share based on prior production together. listen ↗

▶ The Audible: Has upside as a runner against Green Bay on Thursday night despite mixed play. listen ↗

▲ Yahoo Fantasy Football with Josh & Hayden: Expected to start Thursday, which should boost the Falcons passing game and specifically benefit Drake London. listen ↗

▲ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Cleared to start Thursday Night Football, which hosts believe will boost the whole Falcons offense including Drake London. listen ↗

Monday, September 21

▶ Fantasy Feast: NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Reported to possibly return as soon as Thursday night against the Packers after being out with an injury. listen ↗

▶ Fantasy Football Today: Expected to start Thursday for Atlanta; could improve Falcons QB production given the weapons on the roster. listen ↗

Follow Michael Penix

Get every take on him — and the rest of your roster — before waivers on Tuesday and before lineups lock on Sunday. Free through the season.