Cooper Rush DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Atlanta Falcons have signed free-agent quarterback Andy Dalton, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Dalton started the 2026 season with the Philadelphia Eagles and threw one pass that was intercepted in Week 3 while Jalen Hurts was in the medical tent. Over 16 seasons, Dalton has completed 63% of his passes for 221 yards per game, with 254 touchdowns and 154 interceptions in 180 games. With Dalton heading to Atlanta, the team released Cooper Rush, who started two games with the team and struggled mightily. Dalton will now join Michael Penix Jr., Tua Tagovailoa, and Jack Strand in a deep quarterback room. While this has no fantasy implications at the moment, keep an eye on the Falcons' backup quarterback job moving forward, as Dalton could supplant Tagovailoa as the direct replacement for Penix.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush didn't do much with his opportunity as starting QB in Week 1's loss to Pittsburgh, completing 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown while tossing two interceptions. The veteran QB will get another shot in Week 2 against a much softer defense as the Falcons take on the Panthers at home. Last week, Caleb Williams threw for 269 yards and two scores while adding 10 rushes for 65 yards and an additional two touchdowns. Rush is not the same caliber of quarterback as Williams, though, and with the Bears running at will against Carolina (two running backs had over 100 yards), the Falcons could very well try to do the same thing with Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr. With a likely heavy dose of the ground attack and a low likelihood of being very effective through the air, the nine-year pro ranks as QB31 this week at RotoBaller, making him avoidable outside of Superflex leagues and sets him up as a DFS dart throw in tournaments.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush has again been named the starter ahead of the team's Week 2 divisional matchup with the Carolina Panthers, with head coach Kevin Stefanski confirming on Friday. Rush was thrust into a starting role two days ahead of the Falcons' season-opening loss to the Steelers, when Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) popped up on the injury report and was ruled out with an oblique injury. With the Falcons already ruling out 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. ahead of Sunday's game, Rush will make his second consecutive start, making all Falcons pass-catchers difficult to trust even against a Panthers defense fresh off allowing 59 points to the Chicago Bears. Rush completed only 12 passes in Week 1, with eight going to running back Bijan Robinson, while Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr. combined for four targets, two receptions, and 29 yards. Rush is RotoBaller's QB32 for Week 2.