2024 Pass/Rush Stats
YDS
890
TD
5
INT
4
YDS
124
TD
1
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Heinicke took a pay cut to stay in Atlanta this season and back up new starter Kirk Cousins. But then the Falcons drafted Michael Penix eighth overall, dropping Heinicke to third string. But who knows? Cousins is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and Penix is no sure thing. Heinicke is next man up. The 2015 undrafted free agent started 28 games the last three years, four in 2023 in place of Desmond Ridder, who was traded this offseason. But while he has starting experience, none of it was all that good. In five games last season, his 65.4 on-target percentage ranked 43rd among 45 QBs with at least 135 attempts, and he had just five TD passes to four interceptions. Heinicke is at least mobile -- 110 rush yards, TD in four starts. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Joins Bolts via trade
The Chargers acquired Heinicke from the Falcons on Wednesday in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Heinicke was the odd man out in Atlanta's quarterback room, where both Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix stood firmly above him on the depth chart. He now joins a Los Angeles team that will feel more secure with a more proven option behind Justin Herbert (foot), who recently returned to 7-on-7 work while recovering from a plantar fascia injury. Herbert is expected to be ready for Week 1, but if the Chargers have any concerns about his recovery timetable, Heinicke and Eason Stick could both be in the mix as backup options. Stick is familiar with the offense and looked fine in limited action in 2023, but Heinicke is the more experienced signal-caller, having started 28 games over the last three seasons.
Heinicke was the odd man out in Atlanta's quarterback room, where both Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix stood firmly above him on the depth chart. He now joins a Los Angeles team that will feel more secure with a more proven option behind Justin Herbert (foot), who recently returned to 7-on-7 work while recovering from a plantar fascia injury. Herbert is expected to be ready for Week 1, but if the Chargers have any concerns about his recovery timetable, Heinicke and Eason Stick could both be in the mix as backup options. Stick is familiar with the offense and looked fine in limited action in 2023, but Heinicke is the more experienced signal-caller, having started 28 games over the last three seasons.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2019
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2015
An undrafted free agent in 2015, Heinicke finally carved out a playing career the last couple years in Washington. He turned that into a two-year $14 million contract with Atlanta in March, a decent deal for a backup quarterback. He enters training camp No. 2 behind Desmond Ridder, after opening last year as the backup in Washington and ending up a nine-game starter. While he went 12-11-1 as a starter, Heinicke was far from prolific. In 25 games, he completed 64.0 percent of his attempts (23rd) with a 72.0 on-target percentage (22nd). His 7.0 YPA ranked 24th, and his 21 interceptions gave him a 2.8 INT percentage, the seventh-highest rate in the league. Heinicke isn't likely to start putting up big numbers if he ends up playing in Atlanta, where eighth overall pick Bijan Robinson joins Tyler Allgeier in the backfield for an offense that finished second in run rate last season and has virtually no receiving depth behind 22-year-olds Drake London and Kyle Pitts.
More Fantasy News
Struggles in exhibition opener
Heinicke completed four of 11 passes for 11 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and netted no gain on two carries in the Falcons' 20-13 preseason loss to the Dolphins on Friday night. He also fumbled once but recovered.
ANALYSIS
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Accepts pay cut
Heinicke took a pay cut in March to stay with the Falcons, reducing his $5 million base salary to $1.21 million, ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein reports.
ANALYSIS
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Future in Atlanta murky
Heinicke is poised to drop to No. 3 on Atlanta's depth chart with the team slated to sign Kirk Cousins (Achilles), Michael Rothstein of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
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Listed as emergency QB
Heinicke (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's matchup against the Saints, but he'll operate as the emergency quarterback, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Aiming to play Sunday
Heinicke (ankle) remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints but is hopeful to play, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Time running out in Atlanta?
In his list of players on the roster bubble, Eric Edholm of NFL.com believes that the Falcons' crowded quarterback room will lead to Heinicke being traded at the conclusion of training camp.
ANALYSIS
After rotating with Desmond Ridder for the starting quarterback job in 2023, Heinicke is firmly behind veteran Kirk Cousins and rookie first-round pick Michael Penix on the Falcons' depth chart. Edholm relays that there are teams who could use an upgrade at backup quarterback -- such as the Rams, Chargers and Dolphins -- and Heinicke could provide the Falcons a solid return in a trade. Heinicke has proved to be an effective spot starter in his career, showcased in 2021 when he started in 15 of 16 regular-season games for Washington and finished with 3,419 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
After rotating with Desmond Ridder for the starting quarterback job in 2023, Heinicke is firmly behind veteran Kirk Cousins and rookie first-round pick Michael Penix on the Falcons' depth chart. Edholm relays that there are teams who could use an upgrade at backup quarterback -- such as the Rams, Chargers and Dolphins -- and Heinicke could provide the Falcons a solid return in a trade. Heinicke has proved to be an effective spot starter in his career, showcased in 2021 when he started in 15 of 16 regular-season games for Washington and finished with 3,419 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.