2024 Pass/Rush Stats
YDS
28
TD
0
INT
0
YDS
12
TD
0
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
Comes in for injured Herbert
Heinicke completed his only two passes for 24 yards in Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Steelers after entering the game midway through the third quarter in place of the injured Justin Herbert (ankle).
ANALYSIS
Though he attempted just two passes over a quarter and a half of action, Heinicke took sacks on three of his other dropbacks. Both of the Chargers' starting tackles, Rashawn Slater (pectoral) and Joe Alt (back), suffered injuries Sunday, which didn't help Heinicke's chances of leading the Chargers to a win, even though Herbert departed with the game tied at 10. Given that Herbert was listed as questionable heading into Sunday before aggravating his right high-ankle sprain, the Chargers may be inclined to take a more cautious approach with their franchise signal-caller heading into the Week 4 matchup with the Chiefs. If that's the case, Heinicke could be the preferred choice to step in as a starter rather than Easton Stick, who struggled during the preseason and ultimately wasn't called upon off the bench to replace Herbert in Sunday's contest, despite being active for the contest.
Though he attempted just two passes over a quarter and a half of action, Heinicke took sacks on three of his other dropbacks. Both of the Chargers' starting tackles, Rashawn Slater (pectoral) and Joe Alt (back), suffered injuries Sunday, which didn't help Heinicke's chances of leading the Chargers to a win, even though Herbert departed with the game tied at 10. Given that Herbert was listed as questionable heading into Sunday before aggravating his right high-ankle sprain, the Chargers may be inclined to take a more cautious approach with their franchise signal-caller heading into the Week 4 matchup with the Chiefs. If that's the case, Heinicke could be the preferred choice to step in as a starter rather than Easton Stick, who struggled during the preseason and ultimately wasn't called upon off the bench to replace Herbert in Sunday's contest, despite being active for the contest.
NFL Stats
Loading NFL Stats...
Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
Loading Fantasy/Red Zone Stats...
Advanced NFL Stats
How do Taylor Heinicke's 2024 advanced stats compare to other quarterbacks?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Bad Pass %
0.0%Avg Target Depth
6.3 YdsSack Rate
50.0%Avg Receiver YAC
3.0 YdsReceiver Drop %
0.0%Loading Advanced NFL Stats...
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2018
2017
2016
2024 NFL Game Log
Loading Game Log...
Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Heinicke
#% of Team Snaps
Loading Weekly Snap Counts...
This Week's Opposing Pass Defense
How does the Broncos pass defense compare to other NFL teams this season?
The bars represents the team's percentile rank (based on QB Rating Against). The longer the bar, the better their pass defense is. The team and position group ratings only include players that are currently on the roster and not on injured reserve. The list of players in the table only includes defenders with at least 3 attempts against them.
vs Broncos
Thursday, Dec 19th at 8:15PM
Overall QB Rating Against
70.3
Cornerbacks
63.3
Safeties
80.2
Linebackers
79.2
Loading Opponent Pass Defense Stats...
2024 Taylor Heinicke Split Stats
Loading NFL Split Stats...
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Taylor Heinicke See More
WR Jauan Jennings looks like a legit WR1 for fantasy, dominating the 49ers' pass volume for the past month. RW's Jerry Donabedian comments on that and more in his weekly NFL recap.
Erik Siegrist previews the Monday night matchup as the Browns take on the Broncos.
Juan Carlos Blanco has the latest early Sunday morning news on a host of key Week 4 injuries across the NFL.
Erik Siegrist previews the Monday night matchups as Geno Smith and the Seahawks take on the Lions in the nightcap.
Nick Whalen offers up his ATS picks for every game on the NFL Week 4 slate.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2019
2018
2017
2016
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
Inactive as third QB
Heinicke (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
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
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this 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
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
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
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
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
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could be headed for Week 4 start
Heinicke could be in line to start against the Chiefs in Week 4, as Justin Herbert underwent X-rays on his injured ankle and left in a walking boot after Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Steelers, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic.
ANALYSIS
Heinicke entered in relief after Herbert got hurt in the second half, suggesting that the former Falcons quarterback has leapfrogged Easton Stick on the depth chart as Herbert's top backup. Heinicke has made 29 NFL starts, but he would be fighting an uphill battle against the reigning Super Bowl champs, especially with the Chargers banged up on the offensive line.
Heinicke entered in relief after Herbert got hurt in the second half, suggesting that the former Falcons quarterback has leapfrogged Easton Stick on the depth chart as Herbert's top backup. Heinicke has made 29 NFL starts, but he would be fighting an uphill battle against the reigning Super Bowl champs, especially with the Chargers banged up on the offensive line.