Atlanta's Friday night clash with Tennessee ended 23-20 in a preseason thriller, with the Falcons resting most starters but still delivering a wave of roster auditions. Undrafted free agent Nate Carter totaled 63 yards on nine carries, including a 43-yard TD that sparked a late spark. Chris Blair added a 52-yard TD grab to knot the game. On defense, Simeon Barrow Jr. dominated with a 89.5 PFF grade, while James Pearce Jr. continued to flash on the edge. Raheem Morris even offered a hopeful update on Jalon Walker, who tweaked his groin but is expected back next week.

The Falcons’ offense found a gear in the third quarter, scoring 17 points to flip the game’s momentum before Tennessee steadied. David Sills turned in a 90.8 PFF score on six snaps, underscoring how depth players can shine in limited action. With UDFA and late-round talent driving the effort, Atlanta’s roster battles took center stage as final cuts approach.

Atlanta fell to Tennessee 23-20 in a sunlit preseason tilt, but the Falcons found some juice in the second half. Nate Carter and Chris Blair sparked a 17-point burst in the third quarter, while Easton Stick settled in down the stretch after a rough start. Raheem Morris praised the squad’s competitiveness and provided injury updates that matter for fantasy angles: Jalon Walker was held out with a groin tweak, Emory Jones exited late with a ?check, and the rookie’s recovery will shape Falcons’ depth next week. Carter’s rugged, contact-rich rushing style stood out, hinting at a possible workload reversal if Walker misses time. The performance from Atlanta’s rooks, including Carter and Blair, gave a clean signal that the Falcons’ path to meaningful carries and targets could be evolving quickly as the schedule tightens.

On the other sideline, the Titans’ alignment kept Atlanta honest, but the Falcons showed resilience in the final frame, tightening the gap and leaving fans and fantasy managers circling Week 1 implications. The mix of a steadier late drive from Stick and the continued emergence of Carter as a physical runner adds intrigue to Atlanta’s backfield and pass catching corps, even if the injury notes remain fluid heading into next week.

The Falcons battled back in a 23-20 preseason loss to Tennessee, showing grit in a game that doesn’t count but matters for depth. Easton Stick orchestrated a late push, completing a sequence that culminated in a 52-yard TD to Chris Blair and a 43-yard burst by Nate Carter in the third. Atlanta’s defense also forced a late stop, with Natrone Brooks picking off a pass and Lamar Jackson tallying eight tackles to anchor the effort. The result isn’t predictive of regular-season outcomes, but the film offered meaningful fantasy angles as Atlanta builds its 90-man roster.

The performance spotlighted backfield competition and potential depth-chart surprises. Stick’s late drive hints at his roster intrigue, Carter’s big run raises his short-term fantasy upside, and Blair’s 52-yard score provides a tantalizing target for deeper fantasy stashes. Tennessee’s early defense kept the Falcons from sealing the comeback, but the takeaway is clear: depth players flashed and could matter in late-season or dynasty formats.

The second week of the 2025 NFL preseason produced a revealing dress rehearsal for Titans and Falcons, with Tennessee leveraging young playmakers Ayomanor and Helm as they topped Atlanta 23-20. Ayomanor bounced back from a rough camp session to haul in two passes for 47 yards, flashing middle-field control, while Gunnar Helm carved out the seam with four catches for 48 yards and a 25-yard score against two Falcons defenders. Atlanta countered with a flurry of evaluation at receiver: David Sills V, Chris Blair, and Dylan Drummond all flashed, Blair fueling a highlight with a 52-yard TD on Easton Stick’s pass. Drummond has been targeted consistently in the two tune-ups, and Sills’ early series usage might have him in the 53-man mix. Casey Washington sat out Friday, a likely lock for the roster, while Easton Stick’s connection with Blair and Stick’s situational use provide a few fantasy pivots for late drafts. The nightcap slate and Saturday games highlighted a broader depth-chart reset across the league, with teams treating the second week as a bona fide dress rehearsal for the regular season and fantasy implications across WR rotations, back-end RBs, and special-teams roles.

Falcons night in Tennessee flipped in the second half as undrafted Nate Carter bolted for a 43-yard touchdown in the third quarter, flashing burst after a slow start. Teagan Quitoriano forced and recovered a kickoff fumble on the ensuing drive, and Chris Blair hauled in a 53-yard score from Easton Stick to spark Atlanta’s offense. The trio helped Atlanta tie the game at 20 late in the fourth, following a 17-point third quarter after a six-point first half. The Titans provided the test, but these flashes highlighted depth pieces with fantasy upside in the Falcons’ camp.

From a fantasy lens, Carter’s long run is the type of moment that nudges a long-shot RB into the conversation for depth roles and practice-squad chatter. Blair’s big-play connection with Stick adds a potential vertical option for the Falcons’ passing game, especially in keeper or dynasty leagues where late-round darts matter. Quitoriano’s special-teams impact, paired with disciplined offensive reps, keeps him on the radar for a roster spot that could translate to some opportunistic fantasy value if roles open up.

The Falcons will take the positives into their next preseason tilt, hoping these performances translate into more meaningful reps during the regular season. It’s still preseason, but the emergence of Carter, Blair, and Quitoriano provides early indicators of a deeper Falcons roster that could yield streaming or depth options for savvy fantasy players as rosters prune down.