Welcome to Week 12 of the 2025 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. We split the conversation into separate features.
This week's roundtable features these four topics:
- Stretch-Run Sleepers
- The New England Patriots Backfield
- The Atlanta Falcons Offense
- Controversial Stances
Let's roll...
Matt Waldman: The Atlanta Falcons are forced to go with Kirk Cousins after Michael Penix Jr. injured his knee during the Panthers' game. Consider these questions.
- Is Kirk Cousins a viable fantasy starter?
- Who will be the best passing game weapon for Cousins to target with Drake London week-to-week with an injury?
- Will Bijan Robinson's fantasy value suffer? If so, categorize how you'd specifically label him -- RB1, RB2, RB3, etc. in a lineup.
Choose one of these topics to discuss.
Tipp Major: Will Bijan Robinson's fantasy value suffer? When it comes to fantasy, Robinson and the word suffer are opposites.
Yes, Tyler Allgeier has stolen key redzone touches from Robinson, making it frustrating for fantasy managers. But with the recent season-ending injury to Michael Penix Jr. and the week-to-week injury designation for star WR Drake London.
It suggests the Falcons should start using Robinson more. Is Kirk Cousins going to throw the ball 40-plus times a game?
Currently, they have dipped a little in rushing attempts, but again, the expectation is that, if they want to have a chance to win any games, they will become a run-first offensive unit.
As for Robinson, he leads running backs in missed tackles forced. He is also fifth in yards after contact, directly behind Rico Dowdle? Ooof! That can't be good!
Anyway, Robinson will retain his RB1 status, and he will just finish closer to RB10 at season's end. Treat him as you would every week as a locked-in RB1 capable of finishing as a top overall weekly finisher.
Colton Dodgson: If Cousins can hold up his end of the bargain – which admittedly feels less than certain – Kyle Pitts Sr. has a chance at a nice stretch run. Pitts was a fixture in Cousins' progressions during his first start in Week 8.
Pitts was tied with Tucker Kraft for the most targets by a tight end, with nine. Drake London also missed that game, so that factors into the equation.
Pitts' 29 percent target share was tied for the 10th-highest share of any pass catcher. Three of his nine targets were deemed quick, but even when Cousins took longer than 2.5 seconds to throw to him, Pitts only averaged 4.1 air yards per target.
Considering Cousins finished with the fifth-fastest time to throw (2.63 seconds) of any quarterback in Week 8, the game plan with Cousins under center could be predicated on getting the ball out of his hands quickly. He was pressured on 11 attempts against Miami.
Cousins' +16.1 completion percentage over expected on those attempts was the fourth-highest. Any success without London will likely come down to quick decision-making and effective counters when defenses try to take the quick answers away.
Pitts' low air yardage per target and standing in the hierarchy of progressions with Cousins should give him a high target floor, at the very least. While his lack of production after the catch this season might limit his positional upside, a floor at the position is also valuable.
