SmashMouth

LB Duke Riley Shoulder FP (full practice)
CB Robert Alford Foot LP (limited practice)
LB De’Vondre Campbell Thigh LP
LB Deion Jones Foot LP
S Damontae Kazee Shoulder LP
WR Calvin Ridley Thigh LP
CB Desmond Trufant Thigh LP

Deion Jones suffered a broken foot the first game of the season and hasn’t played since. Not sure if he will play Thursday or not. Looks like he didn’t go through walk-throughs last night though.

SmashMouth

Atlanta Falcons (4-6) at New Orleans Saints (9-1)


1. There might be no worse matchup all season than the Saints offense against the Falcons defense. I say that knowing full well that the Raiders still have two games left to play against the Chiefs. New Orleans is on pace to finish with the third-highest scoring average in league history (37.8 PPG) just behind Peyton Manning's 2013 Broncos and ahead of Tom Brady's 2007 Patriots. The Saints have scored 40-plus points in three consecutive games, two of them against the defending Super Bowl champs and the juggernaut Rams. Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram lead the league with 20 scores from scrimmage by a RB duo. Meanwhile, Atlanta's injury-riddled defense is floundering. The Falcons have allowed 27.6 PPG and 405.2 YPG this season, both marks far worse from last year and the year before last -- ranking 29th in the league. Against top-tier offenses like New Orleans, Pittsburgh and even Cincinnati, the Falcons have struggled to get off the field and have allowed an average of 40.3 points per game. What's to say that changes on Thursday night?

2. The MVP race is Drew Brees' to lose. The future Hall of Famer has never won the honor, but that could change this history-making season. The 39-year-old leads the league in completion percentage (76.9), TD-INT ratio (25:1) and passer rating (126.9). If the season ended today, each of those would be single-season records. And the scary thing is he's getting better as the season goes along. In the last three weeks, Brees has nearly matched his passing TD total from his first seven games (14, 11). Though he might be down a receiver on Thursday night -- Tre'Quan Smith is iffy with a foot injury -- Brees will remain flush with receiving options: Ingram, Kamara, Brandon Marshall (potentially) and arguably the league's best receiver, Michael Thomas. The third-year wideout leads the league in reception percentage (90.1), yards after the catch (417) and is easily the most reliable receiver Brees has had in his 18-year career. In five career games against Atlanta, Thomas has averaged 107.8 yards per game. Most recently in the ATL, Thomas caught 10 balls on 10 targets for 129 yards. Back home in the dome, expect more of the same from the wideout and his MVP-caliber gunslinger.

3. Wait, but what about Atlanta's offense? Quiet, you. I'm getting to it. Overshadowed by their many holes on defense, the Falcons' attack has been more than proficient and is among the league's best. The Matt Ryan-led offensive unit ranks second in passing YPG (314.6) and completion percentage (71.1), just behind their NFC South rivals. While Brees is en route to a hardware-laden February, Ryan is the only player in the league completing at least 70 percent of his passes and averaging at least 300 passing YPG. Julio Jones is off the TD schneid, is leading the league in receiving (1,158) and has a game-breaking partner in crime. Calvin Ridley was unstoppable in his first game against the Saints, scoring three TDs on seven receptions. But New Orleans' defense has bunkered down since then, allowing just 21 points over their last two games. These Falcons-Saints clashes are always close, despite either team's glaring weaknesses coming in. The last four games have been decided by an average of 6.3 points. Key to this edition of the rivalry staying within a touchdown's margin will be Ryan's ability to keep pace with Brees.

ChrisXVI

SmashMouth

Fantasy Game Matchups.

Falcons

Matt Ryan: Start
Tevin Coleman: Start
Ito Smith: Sleeper
Julio Jones: Start
Mohamed Sanu: Flex
Calvin Ridley: Flex
Austin Hooper: Start
Falcons DST: Sit

The Falcons offense was held in check last week but hopefully it returns to its old ways against a familiar foe on a fast track. Matt Ryan's ball distribution has helped nearly every skill position player in the offense maintain solid fantasy value all season. The Saints have been tough on running backs lately but it's hard to consider sitting Tevin Coleman. Austin Hooper has been far from consistent but he's still a top 10 fantasy tight end this season and deserves starting consideration. As always, you can avoid the Falcons defense.

Saints

Drew Brees: Start
Alvin Kamara: Start
Mark Ingram: Start
Michael Thomas: Start
Tre'Quan Smith: Start
Benjamin Watson: Stream
Saints DST: Sit

The Saints are on a roll, scoring 45 or more points in three straight games. At this point, it's foolish to consider sitting any of them -- especially against such a porous defense. The only concern might be New Orleans' defense. The Saints have barely crept into the top 25 and although they've given you good fantasy totals in three of the last four, the one dud came against the Rams in Week 9. Atlanta's offense isn't quite as good as L.A.'s but it's still one of the more efficient outfits in the NFL.

RailBoss

octoslash

Now heres a Dirty Bird Fan that has totally given up...
Pro Bowler
octoslash
Pure Football
8,262
10,022 posts

Posted 4 hours ago

SAINTS 77

FALCONS 3


edit: I forgot a digit earlier.

SmashMouth

The Falcons won’t have linebacker Deion Jones on hand as they try to slow down the Saints offense, but the Saints could have defensive end Marcus Davenport back in the lineup.

Jones was activated from injured reserve a little more than a week ago, but did not play against the Cowboys last Sunday and the team ruled him out for Thursday night’s trip to New Orleans. Jones had foot surgery after being injured in the season opener and will try to make his second appearance of the season in Week 13.

Jones was the only player given an injury designation by Atlanta.

Davenport returned to practice this week after missing the last three games with a toe injury. He’s been listed as questionable along with wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith. Smith, who had a huge game against the Eagles, was initially listed as a limited participant on Tuesday before the team updated their injury report to say he didn’t practice at all. He was limited on Wednesday.

The Saints have ruled out left tackle Terron Armstead, who will miss a second straight game with a toe injury.

PFT

SmashMouth

https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/...6jGV6AGANeC5L/

WhoDat!656

If this game was in a$$lanta I would give the failclowns a chance, but it being a primetime game, barring a catastrophic injury to Brees, they have no chance.

SmashMouth

st thomas

Just so heart warming