Pitts' breakout game the difference in victory over Jets
A week after blowing an eight-point lead early in the fourth quarter, the Atlanta Falcons showed some backbone in a 27-20 victory over the New York JetsOCTOBER 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
OLAMIDE ZACCHEAUS #14 - WIDE RECEIVER - WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
242 YDS •
23 REC •
0 TD
242 YDS
23 REC
0 TD
Sees four targets in Week 5 Zaccheaus caught two of his four targets for 20 yards during Sunday's 27-20 win over the Jets.
Impact The Falcons were without Calvin Ridley (personal) and Russell Gage (ankle), so Zaccheaus entered the contest as the Falcons No. 1 receiver. However, that didn't warrant any more targets as Matt Ryan once again relied on his tight ends and running backs during the Week 5 win. It's hard to envision a better situation for Zaccheaus to succeed then the one he was in Sunday, so it's safe to assume his role will continue to be limited throughout the season.
OCTOBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Ryan, Pitts lead Falcons past Jets 27-20 in London
Matt Ryan threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns including the first NFL score for Kyle Pitts and the Atlanta Falcons held on and closed out the New York Jets in a 27-20 victory in...OCTOBER 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Matt Ryan's 5,000th career completion is a dart to Zaccheaus Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan's 5,000th career completion is a dart to wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus.
OCTOBER 10, 2021 • NFL.COM
Could be team's top receiver Week 5 Zaccheaus is expected to head into Sunday's game against the Jets in London as the Atlanta's No. 1 receiver after both Calvin Ridley (personal) and Russell Gage (ankle) were ruled...
Impact While Gage missed both of the past two contests, Zaccheaus had already enjoyed an elevated profile in the Atlanta offense, playing 96 of the Falcons' 130 offensive snaps (74 percent) during that stretch while collecting four receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. With Gage out for another week and Ridley's 10.5 targets per game now up for grabs, Zaccheaus looks like he'll have one of the best opportunities of his young career to produce a useful fantasy line. While Zaccheaus should absorb some of the vacated target volume, he shouldn't be expected to serve as a 1:1 replacement for Ridley. Instead, expect the likes of Zaccheaus and fellow pass catchers Kyle Pitts, Cordarrelle Patterson, Mike Davis, Hayden Hurst, Tajae Sharpe, Christian Blake and Frank Darby to all enjoy upticks in targets and snaps, to varying degrees.
OCTOBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Falcons top WR Ridley to miss Jets game for personal reasons
Atlanta Falcons leading receiver Calvin Ridley will not play in Sunday’s game against the New York Jets in London for personal reasonsOCTOBER 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Catches one pass Sunday Zaccheaus caught one of his three targets for 15 yards during Sunday's 34-30 loss to Washington.
Impact With Russell Gage (ankle) out again, Zaccheaus had another opportunity to seize a bigger role in the offense. However, Cordarrelle Patterson stole the show against Washington with three touchdowns. Even though Zaccheaus is operating as the No. 2 wideout behind Calvin Ridley, he is more like the fifth option in the passing game. Matt Ryan relies heavily on his tight ends -- Kyle Pitts and Hayden Hurst -- and has developed a connection with the multi-talented Patterson.
OCTOBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Catches touchdown in win Zaccheaus caught three of his six targets for 32 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 17-14 win over the Giants.
Impact Zaccheaus got the start in Week 3 with Russell Gage (ankle) ruled out for Sunday's contest. The 24-year-old wideout didn't disappoint as he hauled in his sixth career touchdown reception. The undrafted free agent had a solid season -- notching 72 catches for 786 yards and four touchdowns -- for the Falcons last year. His role was expected to grow during the 2021 campaign with Julio Jones departing to Tennessee, but until Week 3, that hadn't been the case. If Gage remains sidelined for Week 4, Zacchaeus could build off his solid performance against the Giants and solidify himself as a consistent option in Atlanta's passing attack.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Falcons give Smith first win, beat Giants on Eli's day
Younghoe Koo kicked a 40-yard field goal on the final play and the Atlanta Falcons beat the New York Giants 17-14 to give coach Arthur Smith his first NFL win SundaySEPTEMBER 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Matt Ryan connects with Olamide Zaccheaus for quick-strike TD Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan connects with wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus for a quick-strike TD.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2021 • NFL.COM
Likely starting Week 3 Zaccheaus is the next man up at wide receiver with Russell Gage (ankle) ruled out for Sunday's game against the Giants, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution rep...
Impact Zaccheaus caught five of 10 targets for 116 yards and a TD in two starts last year, otherwise operating as Atlanta's No. 4 receiver. He then played just 26 percent of offensive snaps in Week 1 this season, before seeing 58 percent share and four targets (2-22-0) in the Week 2 loss to Tampa. His increase in playing time largely came in the slot, with Zaccheaus jumping from four snaps there in Week 1 to 18 in Week 2. Gage's ankle sprain played a role, though Zaccheaus wasn't exactly a priority for the Atlanta passing game even in his new role. That could again be the case this Sunday, as new OC Arthur Smith seems to be building his passing game around Calvin Ridley, Kyle Pitts and the running backs. Ideally, the Falcons would probably like some of those dump-offs to the RBs to become deep shots to Ridley or Zaccheaus, but it hasn't worked out that way so far.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Two catches in Week 2 Zaccheaus caught two of four targets for 22 yards in Sunday's 48-25 loss to the Buccaneers.
Impact Zaccheaus was more involved after a goose egg in the season opener, but he still finished sixth on the team in targets, catches and receiving yards, with all five players ahead of him catching at least five passes. With Atlanta involving its running backs and tight ends in the passing game, the No. 3 wide receiver's volume will remain capped barring injuries to some of his teammates.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
No touches in season opener Zaccheaus didn't record any touches in Sunday's 32-6 loss to the Eagles.
Impact Zaccheaus was on the field for 26 percent of Atlanta's offensive snaps against Philadelphia, but he wasn't targeted in the blowout loss. The 24-year-old may take on an increased role at some point after Julio Jones was traded to the Titans during the offseason, but he got off to a slow start in the season opener.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
After Jones' trade, Ridley is Falcons' new go-to receiver
Calvin Ridley is the new veteran leader of the Atlanta Falcons' wide receiversAUGUST 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Role likely to grow Zaccheaus is a candidate to see increased work in the Falcons' passing game in 2021 as a result of Julio Jones' departure from Atlanta, Deen Worley of USA Today reports.
Impact Zaccheaus approaches the coming season with the potential to see a significant increase in his target share now that Jones no longer in the mix. Calvin Ridley now profiles as the team's clear-cut top wideout, while Russell Gage should be locked into a starting role in the slot. The Falcons will still need another outside receiver opposite Ridley in three-wideout sets, and Zaccheaus could be an early favorite to fill that opening. If Zaccheaus can impress in the preseason, the speedster has a chance to carve out a more prominent role in the offense, and in turn, gain value as a fantasy sleeper.
JULY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Ends year on injured reserve Zaccheaus (toe), who ended the season on injured reserve, finished with 20 receptions for 274 yards and a touchdown over 11 games.
Impact Though Zaccheaus missed the final five weeks of the regular season, he was still much more involved offensively compared to his rookie campaign in 2019. The Virginia standout only totaled three catches for 115 yards last season, with 93 of those yards coming from a single Week 14 touchdown reception. With a long offseason on tap to recover from the toe injury, Zaccheaus should receive full medical clearance well in advance of training camp.
JANUARY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Falcons learn ailing receiver Julio Jones can't be replaced
Julio Jones’ nagging hamstring injury has made his value to the Atlanta Falcons more obvious than everDECEMBER 16, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saints go for their 2nd win in three weeks vs. Falcons
The first-place New Orleans Saints will go for their second win in three weeks over the Falcons when the NFC South rivals meet Sunday in AtlantaDECEMBER 3, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Falcons WR Zaccheaus lands on IR, Treadwell off COVID list
The Atlanta Falcons have placed wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus on injured reserve with a toe injuryDECEMBER 1, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Falcons place Olamide Zaccheaus on IR, activate Laquon Treadwell With All-Pro WR Julio Jones out on Sunday due to a hamstring injury, Olamide Zaccheaus was primed to have a big day. That was up until he hu...
DECEMBER 1, 2020 • USATODAY.COM
Out at least three weeks The Falcons placed Zaccheaus (toe) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Impact Zaccheaus suffered this injury during this past Sunday's win over the Raiders, and he'll be required to miss at least three games while on injured reserve. The 23-year-old speedster has made two starts this season, both when either Julio Jones (hamstring) or Calvin Ridley was sidelined. He's established a 20-274-1 line over 11 games. To add depth during Zaccheaus' absence, the Falcons signed Laquon Treadwell to the active roster.
DECEMBER 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Falcons show plenty of pride after 0-5 start, coach change
After losing their first five games and firing the head coach, the Atlanta Falcons had every reason to throw in the towel on this seasonNOVEMBER 30, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Giants QB Jones, Panthers WR Moore depart with injuries
Daniel Jones left the New York Giants' 19-17 victory at Cincinnati with a hamstring injuryNOVEMBER 30, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jones returns pick for TD, Falcons rout Carr, Raiders 43-6
Deion Jones returned an interception 67 yards for a touchdown, Matt Ryan threw a pair of short scoring passes, and the Atlanta Falcons thoroughly dominated Derek Carr and the bumbl...NOVEMBER 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Falcons WR Olamide Zaccheaus leaves game with toe injury Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus has exited the team’s Week 12 matchup against the Raiders with a toe injury.
NOVEMBER 29, 2020 • USATODAY.COM
