MichaelPenix Jr.

News: 5 days agoPenix completed 19 of 33 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions while rushing once for one yard in the Falcons' 31-23 loss to the Bears on Sunday. He also threw two two-point conversion passes.

Spin: Penix and the Falcons faced a 28-7 deficit going into the fourth quarter, but he helped bring Atlanta back with 10- and five-yard scoring tosses to Kyle Pitts and subsequent two-point conversion passes to Zachariah Branch and Drake London, respectively. Penix also connected with Jahan Dotson for a 13-yard scoring strike in the later portion of the second quarter, and Sunday's game served as Penix's first multi-TD-pass effort of the season. The third-year signal-caller also visited the medical tent in the first quarter for an undisclosed issue, but Penix appears to be healthy heading into a Week 7 home showdown against the 49ers on Sunday.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Penix is no longer guaranteed a starting job entering his third season. The 2024 first-round pick has appeared in 14 games and has 14 total touchdowns, a 21% off-target rate and a 60% completion percentage to show for it. Penix has done well to avoid turnovers (six career INTs), but he's a nonfactor with his legs (career 28-81-2 rushing) and failed to post a single fantasy outing better than 10th last season. Penix tore an ACL in Week 11, which further complicates his path to beating out newcomer Tua Tagovailoa for the team's Week 1 starting gig. The 26-year-old might eventually emerge into a fine NFL starter, but even if he does, his lack of rushing will limit his fantasy output. He's well off the fantasy radar.