Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Solid production in finale
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McCloud secured four of seven targets for 66 yards in the Falcons' 44-38 overtime loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
With Darnell Mooney (shoulder) sidelined, McCloud was able to finish a distant second in receptions, receiving yards and targets to Drake London. The solid season-ending performance was a fitting final installment on McCloud's career-best campaign, one in which he posted a 62-686-1 line across 17 regular-season games after previously topping out at 39 receptions and 277 yards in terms of single-season highs. McCloud will head into his second season in Atlanta likely poised to reprise his No. 3 receiver role.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Two touches against Washington
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McCloud caught his lone target for a 13-yard gain and rushed once for 14 yards in Sunday's 30-24 loss to the Commanders.
McCloud played 40 of the Falcons' 64 offensive snaps but wasn't especially involved. Though he appears to have settled in as Atlanta's No. 3 receiver of late, McCloud is averaging just 2.6 targets per contest over the past three weeks. That level of volume isn't enough to make McCloud a dependable fantasy option heading into Atlanta's Week 18 game against Carolina.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Three grabs in big win
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McCloud caught three of four targets for 19 yards and added eight rushing yards on his only carry in Sunday's 34-7 win over the Giants.
With rookie Michael Penix getting his first start at quarterback, the Falcons' passing game took a back seat to Bijan Robinson and the team's defense, and there wasn't much volume available for McCloud. Drake London did leave the game in the fourth quarter with a hamstring issue, however, and while initial reports suggest the injury isn't serious, his absence for a Week 17 clash with the Commanders would thrust McCloud into a larger role. The 28-year-old wideout has already set new career highs in 2024 with 57 catches for 607 yards on 79 targets.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: One grab in win
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McCloud caught one of three targets for 14 yards in Monday's 15-9 win over the Raiders.
McCloud could not get much going in Week 15 as the Falcons' passing attack continued to struggle with quarterback Kirk Cousins at the helm. Monday's game marked the first contest in which the veteran wideout failed to record multiple catches this season. McCloud will look to bounce back in a Week 16 matchup against the Giants, but he'll be receiving targets from Michael Penix after the Falcons announced Tuesday that the rookie will be the team's starting quarterback moving forward.
McCloud was a dud in Week 14, but he had double-digit PPR Fantasy points in three straight games before that. He's a deep PPR league add for teams that can start three wide receivers and a flex.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Week 15 Waiver Priority List
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In his past two games, McCloud has 17 targets for 12 catches and 193 yards, and he scored at least 13.3 PPR points in each outing against the Chargers and Vikings. It's hard to expect McCloud to stay hot with Kirk Cousins struggling and still trying to support Drake London and Darnell Mooney. But he could be worth the risk with upcoming matchups against Las Vegas in Week 15 and the Giants in Week 16. In deeper leagues, McCloud is worth adding and potentially using as a No. 3 receiver.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Just shy of century mark Sunday
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McCloud secured eight of 11 targets for 98 yards, rushed once for three yards, returned a kickoff for 31 yards and lost a fumble in the Falcons' 42-21 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.
McCloud finished with team-high reception and target totals while checking in second to Darnell Mooney in receiving yards. All three components were season highs for McCloud, who's become a legitimate No. 3 receiver in coordinator Zac Robinson's offense. McCloud's fumble came on an early fourth-quarter kickoff return and did lead to a Vikings touchdown, but he carries an impressive 18-239-0 receiving line over the last three games heading into a Week 15 road matchup against the Raiders on Monday night, Dec. 16.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Week 14 Waiver Priority List
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McCloud had a solid game in Week 13 against the Chargers with four catches for 95 yards on six targets, and he scored 13.3 PPR points. That's now three games in his past four outings with at least 10.6 PPR points, and he has six targets in each of his past two contests against Denver and Los Angeles. In deeper leagues, McCloud could be a No. 3 receiver in Week 14 at Minnesota, and McCloud is worth adding for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Surge continues in Week 13 loss
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McCloud brought in four of six targets for 95 yards in the Falcons' 17-13 loss to the Chargers on Sunday. He also rushed once for minus-2 yards.
McCloud generated a career-high receiving yardage tally with a big assist from a 60-yard reception late in the third quarter that helped set up a field goal. That catch was preceded by a 22-yard grab earlier in the period, making McCloud the only Falcons pass catcher to have any success generating chunk plays through the air Sunday. The veteran's career-best receiving line now stands at 45-476-1 through 12 regular-season games, and McCloud could be making some inroads into Darnell Mooney's No. 2 receiver snaps heading into a Week 14 road matchup against the Vikings.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Ties season-high mark
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McCloud caught all six of his targets for 46 yards during Sunday's 38-6 loss to the Broncos.
McCloud tied his season high with six receptions, a mark he's reached three times. He continues to play nearly every offensive snap but remains firmly behind Drake London and Darnell Mooney on the WR depth chart, with TE Kyle Pitts and RB Bijan Robinson also siphoning targets from Kirk Cousins. McCloud already has career-high marks in receptions (41) and receiving yards (381) this season, and his role as the top slot wideout isn't in danger.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Week 12 Waiver Priority List
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The Falcons are on bye in Week 12, but Darnell Mooney (hamstring) was injured in Week 11 at Denver. If Mooney can't play coming off the bye then McCloud could be an option in all three-receiver leagues. And he scored at least 10.6 PPR points in two of his past three games. McCloud is worth adding for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Records three more catches
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McCloud caught three of four targets for 30 yards and rushed once for six yards during Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Saints.
McCloud has caught exactly three passes in four of the last five weeks, but other than a touchdown in Week 9, he doesn't have much fantasy production to show for it, totaling 106 yards on 14 receptions (18 targets) during that stretch. Drake London and Darnell Mooney are the undisputed top wideouts in Atlanta, while RB Bijan Robinson and TE Kyle Pitts will see their fair share of targets, as well. Even with Kirk Cousins outperforming expectations following an Achilles injury, it'll be difficult for McCloud to generate enough attention to be a viable fantasy option on a weekly basis.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Four touches against Tampa Bay
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McCloud caught all three of his targets for nine yards and added one carry for 17 yards in Sunday's 31-26 win over the Buccaneers.
McCloud's three targets in the contest were tied for a season low, and the veteran was unable to get much going as the No. 3 wide receiver behind Drake London and Darnell Mooney. As long as both London and Mooney are healthy, McCloud will find it difficult to produce consistently in a passing attack with several mouths to feed. Through eight games, the 28-year-old wideout has recorded 29 receptions for 277 yards and has yet to find the end zone. Up next for McCloud is a Week 9 matchup against the Cowboys.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: DNP on Monday's estimation
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McCloud (ankle) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice estimation, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
McCloud caught a season-high six passes for 52 yards in the Falcons' Week 4 win over the Saints, but it appears he picked up an ankle injury in the process. The 28-year-old wideout likely will need to upgrade to at least limited participation either Tuesday or Wednesday to have a chance at suiting up Thursday night. If McCloud is unable to go Week 5, expect KhaDarel Hodge to see increased work in Atlanta's wide receiver corps.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Season-high six receptions in win
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McCloud caught six of seven targets for 52 yards during Sunday's 26-24 win over the Saints. He also returned two kicks for 39 yards.
Kirk Cousins attempted a season-high 35 passes Sunday, allowing McCloud to notch season highs in targets and receptions. The slot wideout has seen at least five targets in three of the first four games, totaling 146 yards on 13 receptions during those contests. Kyle Pitts was held without a catch on three targets versus New Orleans and hasn't developed a rapport with Cousins yet, and until that happens, McCloud should continue to benefit. McCloud has played all but four of Atlanta's offensive snaps over the past three weeks.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Secures three receptions in win
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McCloud caught three of five targets for 42 yards during Monday's 22-21 win over the Eagles. He also rushed once for three yards.
After leading the Falcons in targets while playing only 48 percent of the offensive snaps in Week 1, McCloud played every offensive snap during Monday Night Football. He finished third on the team in receiving yards behind Darnell Mooney (3-88-1) and Drake London (6-54-1). McCloud was also called for an unnecessary roughness penalty after one of his catches in the second quarter, but that didn't impact his role in the second half. While his production and playing time to start the campaign are encouraging, it remains unclear how many viable fantasy wideouts the Falcons' new-look offense can sustain, especially if tight end Kyle Pitts gets going.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Getting regular first-team work
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McCloud has been getting regular first-team snaps and "seems to have the inside track on the slot receiver role" in Atlanta's offense, according to ESPN's Marc Raimondi reports.
Multiple Atlanta beat reporters have McCloud working ahead of Rondale Moore, not only during training camp but dating back to spring practices. It sounds like McCloud has even seen a good number of targets from Kirk Cousins, including passes deep downfield. That's somewhat surprising given that McCloud played for four different teams over the past six seasons and amassed more punt returns (138) and kickoff returns (108) than receptions (90). He did have a couple stints as a No. 3 receiver, including most of the 2021 season in Pittsburgh and a chunk of 2022 for the 49ers. There's a good chance McCloud factors in on punt/kick returns even if he's a significant part of Atlanta's offense.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Battles through injury in 2023
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McCloud accrued 135 receiving yards and 428 combined return yards across 12 regular-season games with San Francisco in 2023.
McCloud overcame a broken wrist suffered during training camp to suit up as the 49ers' return specialist in Week 1. The 27-year-old still sat out five games over the course of the regular season due to injury, with Deebo Samuel and rookie Ronnie Bell handling return duties in McCloud's absence. The veteran wideout performed up to standards as a return man, chipping in 165 combined yards from scrimmage on offense. This upcoming offseason, the 49ers may opt to have the cheaper Bell take over return duties while letting McCloud walk in free agency to save cap space in 2024.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Exits game with back injury
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McCloud (back) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Rams.
McCloud was activated off the 49ers' injured reserve list Saturday and returned for his first game since Week 12. He had three catches for 22 yards and one carry for seven yards before exiting with a back injury.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Will play Sunday
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McCloud (ribs) is good to go for Sunday's matchup with the Rams, Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site reports.
McCloud was activated off injured reserve Saturday before subsequently getting a questionable designation. He will now be available to play in his first game since Week 12. Look for him to take on his usual role providing depth at receiver and contributing on special teams assuming he avoids any setbacks.
