News: The Bears waived DE Nick Reed on Monday to sign DE Chauncey Davis.
Analysis: Davis has been a free agent since the Falcons cut him in September. Davis will provide some DL depth for Chicago, but he is not worth adding in Fantasy IDP formats.
News: The Falcons released three veterans — defensive end Chauncey Davis, linebacker Coy Wire and defensive tackle Trey Lewis — and 14 other players on Friday. The team made the cuts in order to get closer to the 53-man roster limit. The team also waived tight end Marquez Branson, fullback Lucas Cox, center Paul Fenaroli, safety Matt Hansen, wide receiver Brandyn Harvey, running back Gartrell Johnson, defensive end Tom McCarthy, cornerback Kamaal McIlwain, center Ryan McMahon, safety Rafael Priest, defensive end Kiante Tripp, safety Suaesi Tuimaunei and linebacker Bear Woods. The Falcons also reached an injury settlement with wide receiver Andy Strickland.
Analysis: The veterans may have a chance to catch on with another team, but their chances of being put into significant role are minimal at this stage. None of the players listed are worth owning in Fantasy.
News: Falcons DL Chauncey Davis did something against the Saints in Week 16 that he had never done before in his career -- score a defensive touchdown. With Atlanta trailing 10-7 in the fourth quarter, QB Drew Brees made an ill-advised attempt to flip a backhanded pass to escape heavy pressure. The throw was picked off by Davis and returned 26 yards for a touchdown in the opening minute of the fourth -- giving the Falcons their first lead all night. Davis finished with two tackles in the 17-14 loss.
Analysis: Davis is having a down year but picked off his second career pass on Monday night and kept his team in the game. He has 23 tackles this season with just one sack and should continue to be ignored in all Fantasy IDP formats for Week 17 against the Panthers.
News: Falcons DL Chauncey Davis recorded a sack, his first, and also had three tackles, including two solo, at Carolina in Week 14.
Analysis: Davis has never had more than four sacks in a season and certainly won't get more than that in his current reserve role. You can leave him on waivers in Fantasy.
News: Falcons DL Chauncey Davis recorded his third sack of the season Week 16 at Minnesota. He also recovered two fumbles.
Analysis: Davis usually doesn't contribute much in the way of statistics, considering he has only three sacks all season. Leave him on waivers in Fantasy IDP leagues.
News: Falcons DL Chauncey Davis picked up his first two sacks of the season Week 12 against the Panthers. He finished with four tackles, including three solo.
Analysis: Davis needs to get these sacks more consistently before he has any appeal in Fantasy IDP leagues. Leave him on waivers for now.
News: Falcons DL Chauncey Davis led the team with six tackles -- all solo -- Week 8 at Philadelphia. He also recovered a fumble.
Analysis: As a defensive end, Davis doesn't usually get so many tackles, and he doesn't have a sack yet all season. Don't bother adding him off the waiver wire in Fantasy IDP leagues.
News: Falcons defensive end Chauncey Davis signed his tender offer from the team on Monday. Last season, Davis recorded 38 tackles (26 solo) while contributing with a career-high two sacks and one fumble recovery.
Analysis: Davis doesn't produce enough stats to warrant use in Fantasy play. Ignore him.
News: Falcons LB Michael Boley (six tackles), DB DeAngelo Hall (six tackles), RB Keith Brooking (four tackles) and DL Jonathan Babineaux (four tackles) and DL Chauncey Davis (sack) helped out in Atlanta's 28-16 loss to the Rams in Week 13.
Analysis: Boley is a high-end No. 2 Fantasy LB and should definitely start in Week 14 vs. New Orleans, while Hall and Brooking are decent backups at their respective positions. Babineaux and Davis have no Fantasy value at this time.
News: The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that Falcons coach Bobby Petrino is planning to move Jimmy Williams to the No. 2 CB spot opposite DeAngelo Hall, which opens the door for the team to draft a safety. That doesn't bode well for CB Jason Webster. The club will also likely move Chauncey Davis to DE to replace Patrick Kerney.
Analysis: Williams might be worth a late-round flier in IDP league drafts since he will get thrown at quite a bit with DeAngelo Hall on the other side of the field. Davis would also be a late-round flier, while Webster is best undrafted at this point.
News: The Falcons yielded 381 yards and just 14 points in a Week 13 win over the Redskins. DB Chris Crocker and DL Chauncey Davis had interceptions in the game, while Paul Carrington had a sack.
Analysis: Consider the Falcons DST a one-week sleeper against Tampa Bay in Week 14. None of the Falcons defensive stars of Week 13 should be used in IDP play.
News: Falcons DE John Abraham had surgery on his groin Tuesday and will miss the next 3-to-4 weeks. Abraham suffered the injury in Week 1 and had to leave last week's game against the Steelers early. "After rehabbing and working with our medical staff, it was our hope that John would be ready to play against Cincinnati," Falcons coach Jim Mora said. "Unfortunately, a second opinion conducted Monday afternoon confirmed that John will need minor surgery to help him get back to 100 percent."
Analysis: Abraham should be benched (or even cut) in IDP league play, especially if finding a suitable replacement along the D-line is easy. Chauncey Davis and Paul Carrington are expected to fill in for him -- they are not reliable Fantasy options.
News: Notable Falcons defenders in Week 7 include: CB Jason Webster (nine solo tackles, forced fumble), SS Lawyer Milloy (seven tackles), DT Jonathan Babineaux (four tackles, one sack, one forced fumble), LB Ed Hartwell (four tackles), DE Chauncey Davis (three tackles, sack) and CB DeAngelo Hall (three solo tackles). LB Keith Brooking (three tackles) and DE Patrick Kerney (one tackle) also played.
Analysis: Brooking, Kerney, Milloy and Hall are worth using on a regular basis, as should Hartwell once he gets back into the swing of things. The rest can be ignored.
News: Patrick Kerney (abdomen) is listed as questionable for Week 6 at New Orleans. He was unable to participate in team practice Wednesday. Chauncey Davis would probably start if Kerney can't go.
Analysis: Kerney is a solid start in IDP leagues when healthy. The Falcons DST unit has been up-and-down this year and their recent switches at LB are significant. But they are still a solid start in Fantasy leagues this week against the Saints.
News: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the Falcons have signed Chauncey Davis to a three-year contract.
Analysis: Davis has little value in IDP drafts.
