Contract Terms
After an endearing six-year stint with the Minnesota Vikings, Kirk Cousins has decided to move on. According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Cousins is signing a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed and a $50 million signing bonus.
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Fantasy Football Impact
Cousins spent six years in Washington and another six in Minnesota. At 35 years old, it's unlikely, but not impossible, that he will continue that streak in Atlanta, but he should remain there until 2027. From 2015-2022, Cousins averaged 4263 passing yards and 31 total touchdowns per season. Before his Achilles tear last season, he was on pace to best both those numbers.
Cousins brings stability to the Falcons' quarterback room, which it has been lacking since the loss of Matt Ryan in 2021. Cousins was a top-12 fantasy quarterback from 2020-2022 and was on pace for a top-5 season before the injury last year. The last time the Falcons had a top-12 fantasy quarterback was Ryan in 2019. This is a much-needed upgrade for the team, especially with a new coaching staff.
Raheem Morris returns to Atlanta after three years away. From 2015 to 2020, he held various defensive positions on the Falcons' coaching staff and was the interim head coach in 2020. He was there with Matt Ryan and understands the importance of having the right quarterback. His offensive coordinator and play-caller will be Zac Robinson, formerly of the Rams. Robinson worked well with Matt Stafford and should have an offense tailored to Cousins' skills. Keep an eye on his recovery, but it should be another solid fantasy season for Kirk Cousins, especially considering the weapons at his disposal.
The Fantasy Football Fallout
Over the last three seasons, the Falcons have spent first-round picks on skill players who have had the fantasy community salivating. In 2021, it was TE Kyle Pitts, then WR Drake London in 2022, and the cherry on top, RB Bijan Robinson in 2023. Unfortunately, no one in Atlanta was competent enough to get them the ball. Outside of the quarterback issues, their then-head coach, Arthur Smith, didn't run a fantasy-friendly offense.
That should change in 2023 with Cousins and Zac Robinson. We've seen running backs like Dalvin Cook and Kyren Williams excel with these two, respectively. Robinson helped with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, while Cousins was linked to Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. People were already excited for Pitts, London, and Robinson. That should reach a fever pitch this draft season. Keep an eye on their rise in our 2024 Draft Rankings.
Minnesota, on the other hand, has more questions than answers. Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall are the quarterbacks left on the roster, and neither inspires much confidence. Dave Kluge pondered,"Wow! I wonder who MIN's QB is. And if it isn't someone big, how long until Jefferson demands a trade?" The loss of Cousins certainly hurts, but adding Justin Jefferson to that loss would be devastating.
Even a stop-gap measure won't help the fantasy value for Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson. Jason Wood noted, "(Tom) Pelissero says Sam Darnold, Joe Flacco, and Gardner Minshew are all possible options for Minnesota. Ughhhh, brutal news for Hockenson/Jefferson." With Hockenson already set to miss some time recovering from a knee injury, this offense could be in for a rough year. You're not entirely writing any of these guys off, but you must bump their fantasy value down in the short term.
Stock Watch
Risers
Fallers
Overview
Kirk Cousins is leaving Minnesota for Atlanta. It's a four-year deal with an average annual value of $45 million. This move helps Atlanta as much as it hurts Minnesota. Cousins can be viewed as a top-12 fantasy quarterback, while Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts should all see a significant boost to their 2023 production.