Kirk Cousins
35-Year-Old
Questionable
Injury Achilles
Est. Return 8/1/2024
2023 Pass/Rush Stats
YDS
2331
TD
18
INT
5
YDS
25
TD
0
2024 Projections
2023 Fantasy Outlook
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. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Joined by first-round rookie QB
Cousins (Achilles), who signed a four-year deal with Atlanta in March, is slated to be joined in the team's QB corps by Michael Penix, who was taken with the No. 8 overall pick in Thursday's NFL draft, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Despite the franchise's surprising decision to select Penix, Cousins, who is rebounding from an Achilles tear that he sustained Oct. 29, remains locked in as the Falcons' No. 1 QB for the foreseeable future. Regarding that topic, GM Terry Fontenot noted Thursday, "Kirk Cousins is our quarterback. We're very excited about Kirk, very excited about this team. (With) Michael Penix we're talking about the future. The draft is you look at the future and you look at big picture." In terms of his injury recovery, Cousins relayed last month that he's progressing well and is "optimistic that (he) can be full speed at practice before (the Falcons) break for the summer." In any case, barring any setbacks, Cousins -- who turns 36 in August -- is entrenched atop Atlanta's depth chart, with Penix providing the team with both an insurance policy for the veteran signal-caller, as well as a potential successor down the road.
Despite the franchise's surprising decision to select Penix, Cousins, who is rebounding from an Achilles tear that he sustained Oct. 29, remains locked in as the Falcons' No. 1 QB for the foreseeable future. Regarding that topic, GM Terry Fontenot noted Thursday, "Kirk Cousins is our quarterback. We're very excited about Kirk, very excited about this team. (With) Michael Penix we're talking about the future. The draft is you look at the future and you look at big picture." In terms of his injury recovery, Cousins relayed last month that he's progressing well and is "optimistic that (he) can be full speed at practice before (the Falcons) break for the summer." In any case, barring any setbacks, Cousins -- who turns 36 in August -- is entrenched atop Atlanta's depth chart, with Penix providing the team with both an insurance policy for the veteran signal-caller, as well as a potential successor down the road.
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 Kirk Cousins' 2023 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 %
13.8%Avg Target Depth
7.8 YdsSack Rate
5.2%Avg Receiver YAC
4.8 YdsReceiver Drop %
5.8%Loading Advanced NFL Stats...
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2023 NFL Game Log
Loading Game Log...
Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
2023 Kirk Cousins Split Stats
Loading NFL Split Stats...
Measurables Review
View College Player Page
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
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Kirk Cousins See More
Dig into the fantasy fallout from the first round of the NFL draft with analysis for each pick including looks at Michael Penix's fit in Atlanta and Malik Nabers' fit in New York.
Jim Coventry examines the quarterback trends from past NFL Drafts -- including five times teams hit the jackpot in taking their QB of the future.
Most of the big ADP changes can be easily explained, but there are also guys like Isiah Pacheco and Kenneth Walker dropping down the ranks for unclear reasons.
Jerry Donabedian looks at details for all the big free-agent contracts and notices that age seems to matter as much as skill when it comes to running backs.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Reaches out to Penix
Cousins, who was reportedly disappointed by the Falcons' decision to select fellow quarterback Michael Penix with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday, spoke with his new teammate by phone later in the night, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The new teammates reportedly had a "very good conversation" during a call that Cousins initiated. Penix declined to get into the specifics of what was discussed, only noting he was "super excited" to work with Cousins and adding that the feeling was reciprocated. Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the team in the offseason, was said to have learned of the Washington product's impending selection when the Falcons were already on the clock for the pick.
The new teammates reportedly had a "very good conversation" during a call that Cousins initiated. Penix declined to get into the specifics of what was discussed, only noting he was "super excited" to work with Cousins and adding that the feeling was reciprocated. Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the team in the offseason, was said to have learned of the Washington product's impending selection when the Falcons were already on the clock for the pick.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
Cousins might not be elite, but he’s sure consistent — the only quarterback with at least 3,500 passing yards and 25 TD passes each of the last seven seasons. Last year he also did a good job taking care of the ball, ranking second only to Aaron Rodgers in INT rate (1.2 percent). He’s been criticized — most prominently by former coach Mike Zimmer — for being risk-averse and not taking more shots downfield. But Cousins threw deep at a good clip last season (14.1 percent, 7th), placing sixth in average target depth (8.2) and ranking third both with 79 attempts of 20-plus yards and eight TD passes on those throws. In any event, Zimmer was fired after last season and new coach Kevin O’Connell (for whom Cousins played in Washington in 2017) promises to bring a Rams-like offense after serving as offensive coordinator in Los Angeles last year. The Vikings certainly don't lack for playmakers; Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and K.J. Osborn form a strong WR trio, and Dalvin Cook is one of the league’s best running backs. TE Irv Smith, who missed last season with a knee injury, is younger and more athletic than Tyler Conklin, now with the Jets. Cousins’ lack of mobility limits his ceiling, but he should at least finish near his QB11 fantasy rank from both of the past two seasons.
More Fantasy News
Aiming to be 100 percent by June
Cousins (Achilles) said Wednesday during his introductory news conference with the Falcons that he's "optimistic to be full speed at practice" by the end of the offseason program in June, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Signing with Atlanta
Cousins (Achilles) is signing a four-year contract with the Falcons, according to agent Mike McCartney at Vayner Sports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Ready to talk contract with Atlanta
Cousins (Achilles) is expected to begin negotiating with the Falcons when the legal tampering period begins at 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday, 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.
Expected to test open market
Cousins (Achilles) is expected to test the free-agent market this week, though his agent and the Vikings remain in contact, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Encouraged by progress
Cousins, who is recovering from a torn right Achilles' tendon, posted a video Monday which showed him backpedaling and throwing recently in an indoor tennis facility, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.