Xavier Watts has seized the Falcons’ rookie spotlight four games in, posting 23 tackles, four passes defended and two interceptions. Named Defensive Rookie of the Month, the third‑round safety sits among top rookies in coverage grades and turnover potential, signaling a breakout that could shape Atlanta’s defense and fantasy value alike. Coach Jeff Ulbrich believes Watts will only get better after Week 1's drops opened the door for greater recognition.

The same rookie class includes James Pearce Jr., but Watts’ rapid ascent has overshadowed the trade that brought Pearce to Atlanta. Watts’ elite ball skills, instinct and tackling efficiency anchor a Falcons defense on the cusp of a landmark season, with veteran benchmarks like Byard and Baker noted as the yardstick for Watts’ ceiling.

Seattle’s big-play offense outgunned Arizona 23-20 as the Seahawks piled up 384 yards with 317 coming on 18 plays of 10+ yards. Seattle stitched together two lengthy drives, including a 90-yard march highlighted by three explosive plays, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba and company exploited a thinning Cardinals secondary. Arizona’s defense, thin at corner, yielded chunk gains and two scoring drives, while the offense failed to generate a telltale fourth-quarter takeaway or a decisive late-score surge.

For fantasy managers, Smith-Njigba’s second-half surge and Walker III’s workload on the decisive drives stand out, as does Darnold’s efficiency in the late drive. Arizona’s pass rush showed signs with Campbell and Sweat recording sacks, but the unit again missed opportunities for takeaways. Special teams had its moments, but a late field-goal miss and a conservative burn-the-clock approach kept this one in Seattle’s favor.