Kirk Cousins
36-Year-Old
2024 Pass/Rush Stats
YDS
3508
TD
18
INT
16
YDS
0
TD
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Cousins was on pace for close to 5,000 yards and 40 TDs last year when he snapped his Achilles tendon in October. As it was, he finished QB24 in fantasy, despite playing only eight games. That’s what hefty volume will do for you -- when he went down in Week 8, he was the league leader in attempts (311). For the second year in a row, his average target depth dropped -- to 7.3, 24th in the league -- which boosted his on-target rate to a career-high 80.4 percent (2nd) and his completion rate to 69.5 percent (3rd). Cousins eschewed the deep ball (6.4 percent of attempts, 31st) for intermediate targets (26.0 percent, 3rd). That’ll probably be the formula again this season for the 36-year-old, especially because he never had elite arm strength in the first place. Whether he gets 600 attempts is the question after he signed with Atlanta in March for $100 million guaranteed. First, he’s still working back from the injury; second, new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, after five years as a Rams assistant, is somewhat of an unknown; and third, the Falcons surprisingly drafted QB Michael Penix eighth overall in April. A lot can go sideways, including risk of eventually being usurped by Penix and his cannon arm. Cousins will need elite volume to have value in single-QB leagues, as he doesn't provide any rushing stats and isn't quite a top passer. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Tabbed for backup role in 2025
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said Thursday that Cousins will head into the 2025 season as the No. 2 quarterback behind Michael Penix, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports. "Kirk is a great man and he's been great support for Mike, a great teammate, great support for everybody in the building, so we're very confident moving forward with him as the backup," Fontenot said.
ANALYSIS
Shortly after the Falcons benched Cousins in favor of Penix in Week 16, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the expectation in league circles was that Atlanta would cut Cousins before March 17, when the 36-year-old quarterback is due a $10 million roster bonus. Fontenot pushed back on that report during his press conference Thursday, noting that Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal last March with the expectation that they would "get high-level quarterback play for two seasons." That didn't come to fruition, as Cousins completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns while committing 18 turnovers (16 interceptions, two lost fumbles) in 14 starts before Atlanta turned the offense over to the rookie Penix. While Fontenot acknowledged that Cousins didn't perform as well as anticipated, the GM reiterated that the Falcons are comfortable with him as a backup heading into the upcoming season, though that won't preclude the organization from trading him if the right deal emerges. Atlanta would almost certainly have to absorb some of the $27.5 million on Cousins' base salary for 2025 to facilitate any trade.
Shortly after the Falcons benched Cousins in favor of Penix in Week 16, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the expectation in league circles was that Atlanta would cut Cousins before March 17, when the 36-year-old quarterback is due a $10 million roster bonus. Fontenot pushed back on that report during his press conference Thursday, noting that Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal last March with the expectation that they would "get high-level quarterback play for two seasons." That didn't come to fruition, as Cousins completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns while committing 18 turnovers (16 interceptions, two lost fumbles) in 14 starts before Atlanta turned the offense over to the rookie Penix. While Fontenot acknowledged that Cousins didn't perform as well as anticipated, the GM reiterated that the Falcons are comfortable with him as a backup heading into the upcoming season, though that won't preclude the organization from trading him if the right deal emerges. Atlanta would almost certainly have to absorb some of the $27.5 million on Cousins' base salary for 2025 to facilitate any trade.
NFL Stats
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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.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Kirk Cousins' 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 %
18.3%Avg Target Depth
8.0 YdsSack Rate
5.8%Avg Receiver YAC
5.6 YdsReceiver Drop %
2.6%Loading Advanced NFL Stats...
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
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2016
2024 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
2024 Kirk Cousins Split Stats
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Measurables Review
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How do Kirk Cousins' measurables compare to other quarterbacks?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 3"Weight
205 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.93 secShuttle Time
4.50 secCone Drill
7.05 secVertical Jump
28.5 inBroad Jump
109 inHand Length
9.88 inArm Length
31.75 in
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
Cousins pushed his streak of at least 3,500 passing yards and 25 TD passes to eight consecutive seasons last year, the longest active streak in the league. But he got there a little differently than in recent years. After throwing deep on at least 11 percent of his attempts each of the previous three seasons, only 7.9 percent of his attempts traveled at least 20 yards last season, 29th in the league, as his average target depth fell by nearly a full yard to 7.7 (22nd). Cousins doesn’t have a strong arm to begin with and his on-target rate on deep attempts fell to a three-year-low 50 percent. He made up for it, though, with a career-high 643 attempts overall. More volume, less efficiency — 7.1 YPA (15th) and a career-high 14 interceptions. He has enough weapons for another effective season in 2023. Adam Thielen left for Carolina, but the Vikings think they upgraded with first-round pick Jordan Addison, who will team with perhaps the league’s best wideout in Justin Jefferson. K.J. Osborn is proven as a solid No. 3 receiver, and a full season out of T.J. Hockenson (60 catches in 10 games with the Vikings last year) will help too. Cousins may even improve his efficiency in his second year in Kevin O’Connell’s system, but a lack of rushing production means he doesn't have much upside beyond last year's QB8 fantasy finish.
More Fantasy News
Expected to be cut in offseason
Cousins is expected to be cut by the Falcons before his $10 million roster bonus is due March 17, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Will work as backup
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said Wednesday that Cousins will serve as the team's No. 2 quarterback behind rookie Michael Penix in Sunday's game against the Giants, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
ANALYSIS
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Loses starting QB job
Head coach Raheem Morris announced Tuesday that Cousins has been removed as the team's starting quarterback in favor of Michael Penix, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports. "After review we have made the decision Michael Penix will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward," Morris said in a statement. "This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday's game against the New York Giants."
ANALYSIS
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Not yet confirmed for Week 16 start
Head coach Raheem Morris was non-committal Tuesday when asked if Cousins will remain the Falcons' starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Giants, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports. "We just got back [from Las Vegas]. We still have to go through that process," Morris said. "All those things will happen over the course of the week. We didn't play well enough at the quarterback position."
ANALYSIS
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Pedestrian numbers in win
Cousins completed 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards with a touchdown and an interception and netted no gain on three rush attempts in the Falcons' 15-9 win over the Raiders on Monday night. He also committed a fumble but recovered.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could stay as backup in 2025
General manager Terry Fontenot said Thursday that the Falcons are willing to bring Cousins back as the backup to Michael Penix in 2025, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com.
ANALYSIS
Keeping Cousins around would help the Falcons avoid getting hit with $65 million in dead money, which would either go on the books for 2025 if he's released prior to March 12 or be spread between 2025 and 2026 if he's designated as a post-June 1 cut. If Cousins stays in Atlanta, he would be on the books for a $40 million cap hit in 2025. It's possible Fontenot's comments are intended to buoy Cousins' value for a potential trade in the offseason.
Keeping Cousins around would help the Falcons avoid getting hit with $65 million in dead money, which would either go on the books for 2025 if he's released prior to March 12 or be spread between 2025 and 2026 if he's designated as a post-June 1 cut. If Cousins stays in Atlanta, he would be on the books for a $40 million cap hit in 2025. It's possible Fontenot's comments are intended to buoy Cousins' value for a potential trade in the offseason.