Heinicke signed with the Falcons this offseason, and he will be the No. 2 quarterback behind Desmond Ridder. Heinicke is not worth drafting in most leagues. He could be a waiver addition during the season if he starts for Atlanta at any point, and that's something to keep an eye on in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. Heinicke played well at times in Washington in 2022 and scored at least 18 Fantasy points in three of nine appearances but never posted consistent production. It would likely be more of the same in Atlanta, but we'll have to wait until something happens to Ridder to find out what Heinicke can do with a new team. Most likely, Heinicke will not produce enough in 2023 to matter for Fantasy managers.
Heinicke (hamstring) is active for Sunday's matchup against the Saints, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
Despite being active, Heinicke will serve as the backup behind Desmond Ridder, who's reclaimed the starting spot after Heinicke struggled through three appearances before suffering a hamstring injury. Barring an injury to Ridder, Heinicke will presumably serve as the primary backup for the remainder of the 2023 campaign.
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Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: Questionable for Sunday
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Heinicke (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against New Orleans, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
He'll only be the backup even if he plays, with coach Arthur Smith announcing earlier this week that Desmond Ridder will return to the starting QB role and could stay there for the rest of the season. Heinicke finally got his shot in November, but he struggled in his three appearances -- all losses -- and came out of the third game with a hamstring injury. He's still not 100 percent after a Week 11 bye, potentially giving Logan Woodside a chance to step up to the backup QB job for a game or two.
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Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: Limited again Thursday
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Heinicke (hamstring) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Scott Blair of the Falcons' official site reports.
Heinicke was also limited Wednesday, so his status for Sunday's contest versus New Orleans remains in question. The veteran quarterback was injured in the fourth quarter against Arizona in Week 10, though the issue was subsequently described as minor. Even if Heinicke is able to suit up Sunday, he's expected to return to a backup role behind Desmond Ridder.
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Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: Set for limited practice
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Heinicke (hamstring) will be a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Heinicke practicing in any capacity can be viewed as positive news after Joe Patrick of 92-9 The Game Atlanta reported Monday that the quarterback was unlikely to take part in practice leading up to Sunday's game against the Saints. Before the team's Week 11 bye, Heinicke drew starts Week 9 against Minnesota and Week 10 against Arizona, but he left the latter game due to a hamstring injury. Desmond Ridder has been named the starting quarterback for Week 12, so even if Heinicke is ultimately healthy enough to suit up Sunday, he would be available strictly in a backup capacity.
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Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: Unlikely to practice Week 12
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Heinicke (hamstring) isn't expected to practice this week, Joe Patrick of 92-9 The Game Atlanta reports.
While making his second consecutive start in the Falcons' Week 10 loss to the Cardinals, Heinicke was knocked out of the game early due to a hamstring strain and is still in recovery mode following a Week 11 bye. Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reported over the weekend that the Falcons were planning on restoring Desmond Ridder as their starting quarterback coming out of the bye week, so Heinicke will be limited to a backup role Sunday against the Saints even if he gets the green light to suit up this weekend. The hamstring strain might have been a factor in Heinicke being demoted to the backup role, though he didn't help his case for hanging onto the starting job by completing 29 of 53 pass attempts for 323 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Falcons losses to the Vikings and Cardinals.
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Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: Returning to No. 2 role
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Heinicke (hamstring) is expected to return to a backup role in the Falcons' Week 12 game against the Saints, with Atlanta planning to restore Desmond Ridder as its starting quarterback coming out of a Week 11 bye, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
Heinicke made his Atlanta debut Week 8, when he replaced a struggling Ridder in the second half of a 28-23 loss to the Titans. After throwing for a touchdown and averaging 8.3 yards per attempt against Tennessee, Heinicke was named the starter for both of Atlanta's subsequent two contests. The quarterback change didn't lead to better results, however, as Atlanta dropped games to the Vikings and Cardinals while Heinicke completed 29 of 53 pass attempts for 323 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Heinicke also sustained a low-grade hamstring injury in the loss to Arizona, though the injury likely wasn't a major factor in Atlanta's decision to hand the starting gig back to Ridder. Prior to the bye week, head coach Arthur Smith said that he had no interest in playing "musical chairs" at quarterback on a game-by-game basis, so Ridder could have a decent amount of leash as he moves back ahead of Heinicke on the depth chart.
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Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: Not returning Sunday
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Heinicke (hamstring) won't return to Sunday's game at Arizona, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
Prior to his departure in the fourth quarter, Heinicke had completed eight of 15 passes for 55 yards and one touchdown while rushing four times for 34 yards. Desmond Ridder took over under center for Heinicke. With a Week 11 bye on tap, the Falcons don't play again until Sunday, Nov. 26 against the Saints.
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Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: Hurts hamstring against Arizona
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Heinicke (hamstring) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Cardinals, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Desmond Ridder is in at quarterback for Atlanta with Heinicke hobbled by a second-half hamstring injury. Prior to getting hurt, Heinicke completed eight of 15 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown while rushing four times for 34 yards.
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Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: Adds/Streamers (QB Preview)
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Russell Wilson, Joshua Dobbs, and Baker Mayfield were my top three options for a Week 10 streamer but as of Thursday night they're all rostered in more than two-thirds of leagues. If you missed out on them, the next best bet is Taylor Heinicke. Heinicke has a good matchup against the Arizona Cardinals and should have Drake London back. I project him for 18 FPPG and I'd rather start him than Geno Smith, Derek Carr, or Gardner Minshew.
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Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: Starting again in Week 10
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Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said Heinicke will remain the team's starting quarterback for Sunday's game against Arizona, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
Heinicke was serviceable in his first start of the season in Sunday's 31-28 loss to the Vikings, completing 21 of 38 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and one interception, despite not having top wideout Drake London (groin) at his disposal. The veteran signal-caller will have another chance to make his case for a more permanent spot atop the depth chart Week 10, but Smith said that the Falcons will evaluate the position over the Week 11 bye. Heinicke's Week 9 performance didn't represent a significant improvement over what Desmond Ridder had offered through the Falcons' first eight games, so Heinicke will likely need to display better results against the Cardinals if he hopes to solidify his role for the second half of the season.
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Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: Attempts 38 passes
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Heinicke completed 21 of 38 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 31-28 loss to the Vikings.
Heinicke made his first start with Atlanta, and he turned in a modest performance by averaging 7.1 yards per attempt. His total numbers look decent on the surface, but 60 of his yards -- all of which came after the catch -- and his lone touchdown were accounted for on a score by Jonnu Smith. Heinicke also threw a key pick that led directly to a field goal for the Vikings. His performance may improve with the return of Drake London (groin), but his first start didn't provide a big lift over what Desmond Ridder has shown so far.
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Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: Named Week 9 starter
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Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said that Heinicke will start Sunday's game against the Vikings, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Heinicke will pick up his first start of the season, despite incumbent Desmond Ridder having been cleared to serve as Atlanta's backup after passing all concussion tests following his removal from this past Sunday's loss to the Titans, per Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site. While coming on in relief of Ridder in Week 8, Heinicke played the final two quarters and completed 12 of 21 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown. Smith noted that the quarterback change is a short-term decision focused on the Minnesota matchup, but if Heinicke can move this offense efficiently on Sunday, he could keep a grip on the starting gig over Ridder, who had turned the ball over 12 times (six interceptions, six lost fumbles) through Atlanta's first eight games.
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Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: Takes over after halftime
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Heinicke completed 12 of 21 passes for 175 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Sunday's 28-23 loss to the Titans.
Heinecke entered the game to start the second half in relief of Desmond Ridder, who was evaluated for a concussion and cleared to return. Heinicke had a significant amount of success, leading the Falcons on four scoring drives, specifically two touchdowns and two field goals. Despite those results, coach Arthur Smith said he was simply being cautious with Ridder and remains confident in the second-year quarterback, per Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com.
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Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: Plays one drive
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Heinicke played two drives and threw two incomplete passes in Thursday's preseason game against Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh's starters dominated Atlanta's backups, quickly making it 14-0. Heinicke will look on from the sideline Week 1 against the Panthers while Desmond Ridder gets the start under center.
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Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: Linking up with Atlanta
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Heinicke came to terms Tuesday with Atlanta on a two-year contract, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report.
Heinicke is expected to join a quarterback room currently led by second-year pro Desmond Ridder, putting Heinicke in a position to serve as a veteran understudy. An Atlanta native who will turn 30 years old Wednesday, Heinicke logged 24 regular-season starts with the Commanders over the past two seasons and threw for 32 touchdowns against 21 interceptions during that stretch.
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Commanders' Taylor Heinicke: Won't start Sunday
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Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Sam Howell rather than Heinicke will start Sunday's season finale against the Cowboys, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
Earlier Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported that Heinicke was in line to draw the starting assignment in place of the benched Carson Wentz, with Howell also in line to appear in relief. However, Rivera subsequently clarified that the rookie fifth-round pick will take the first snap for the team Sunday, and presumably play the entire game. At 7-8-1, the Commanders have been eliminated from playoff contention and are incentivized to see what they have in Howell, who has yet to make his NFL debut. Unless he's used behind Howell this Sunday, Heinicke will conclude the 2022 campaign with a 62.2 percent completion rate for 1,859 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions to go with 96 rushing yards and another score over his nine appearances.
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Commanders' Taylor Heinicke: Set to reclaim starting role
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Heinicke is expected to be named the Commanders' starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
With Carson Wentz flopping in his return to the starting role in last week's 24-10 loss to the Browns, head coach Ron Rivera looks set to turn the offense back over to Heinicke with little on the line in the season finale for the 7-8-1 Commanders, who have been eliminated from playoff contention. Over his nine starts this season prior to being benched Week 17, Heinicke guided Washington to a 5-3-1 record while completing 62.2 percent of his passes for 1,859 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions to go with 96 yards and another score on the ground. According to Fowler, Washington plans to get a look at rookie fifth-round pick Sam Howell at some point during Sunday's game, so Heinicke doesn't look as though he'll be in line to play the full 60 minutes. Meanwhile, Wentz appears likely to be inactive for the contest as Washington's No. 3 quarterback.
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Commanders' Taylor Heinicke: Comes up short in SNF loss
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Heinicke completed 17 of 29 pass attempts for 249 yards and a touchdown Sunday. He rushed three times for 33 yards and lost two fumbles in a 20-12 loss to the Giants.
It was an eventful game for Heinicke despite the losing effort and middling fantasy line. The undrafted veteran almost brought his team back late in the fourth quarter on a gutsy scramble that was ultimately stopped one yard short of the end zone by the Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux. The latter also stripped Heinicke of the ball for a scoop and score at the end of the first half that changed the tide in the game. On the flip side, the 29-year-old had success taking deeper shots down the field -- particularly on a 61-yard bomb to Jahan Dotson -- resulting in his third-highest passing yardage total through eight starts. Heinicke might find it tough to replicate those big-yardage plays against Nick Bosa and the 49ers' ferocious pass rush on Saturday.
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Commanders' Taylor Heinicke: Week 12 Waiver Priority List
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Heinicke will remain the starter for Washington even when Carson Wentz (finger) is healthy, which gives him staying power as a starter in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. It's tougher to believe in him as a starter in one-quarterback leagues since he has combined for 28 Fantasy points in three games in a row, but he has a favorable matchup in Week 12 against Atlanta. The Falcons allow an average of 21.1 Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and Heinicke can be a low-end starter in deeper leagues. He's worth up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Commanders' Taylor Heinicke: Struggles on the road
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Heinicke completed 15 of 27 passes for 191 yards against Houston on Sunday.
Washington built a safe lead early in this game, and perhaps the resulting lack of urgency had something to do with Heinicke's middling production. Heinicke took six quarterback hits from a usually lackluster Texans pass rush, but he'll aim for a better performance against another team with trouble pressuring the quarterback in the Falcons in Week 12.
