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: Week 13 Waiver Priority List
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If Darnell Mooney (hamstring) remains hurt heading into Week 13, then McCloud is worth adding in deeper leagues. Prior to the Week 12 bye, Mooney left Week 11 at Denver, so keep an eye on his status. McCloud scored at least 10.6 PPR points in two of his past three games and is worth adding for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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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: Week 10 Waiver Priority List
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Drake London (hip) is expected to play in Week 10 against New Orleans, but we'll have to monitor his progress during the week. If he's out, then McCloud would have a bigger role playing behind Darnell Mooney, and McCloud is worth adding in deeper leagues for 1 percent of your remaining FAB. McCloud just had three catches for 28 yards and a touchdown on three targets against Dallas in the game where London was injured in Week 9. He also has three games this season with at least seven targets, and he scored at least 11.2 PPR points in two of them.
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Falcons' Ray-Ray McCloud: Finds end zone Sunday
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McCloud caught all three of his targets for 28 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-21 win over the Cowboys. He added seven yards on his only carry.
It was the journeyman wideout's first TD of the season and just the second of his career. McCloud has already set a new personal best with 305 receiving yards on the year, and he's caught multiple passes in every game so far in 2024. His role in the Atlanta passing game could grow further in Week 10 if Drake London (hip) ends up being sidelined, but McCloud will still be an intriguing dart throw regardless against a reeling Saints defense.
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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.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Lands on IR
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The 49ers placed McCloud (ribs) on injured reserve Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
McCloud was already ruled out of Sunday's game against the Seahawks for the second straight week. He'll be forced to miss at least the next four games and will be eligible to return Week 18 against the Rams on Jan. 7. In a corresponding move, San Francisco signed Chris Conley to the active roster.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Sitting out second straight game
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The 49ers have ruled McCloud out in advance of Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
McCloud will miss his second game in a row after he took a step back in terms of practice activity this week, opening with a limited session Wednesday before regressing to no participation Thursday and Friday. The 27-year-old serves as a depth receiver for San Francisco, but his absence will loom larger on special teams, where he serves as the 49ers' top kickoff and punt returner when healthy. While McCloud was out in the team's 42-19 win over the Eagles last Sunday, Deebo Samuel stepped in as the 49ers' kickoff returner while Ronnie Bell returned punts.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Still dealing with injury
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McCloud (ribs) is considered day-to-day to start Week 14 prep, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
McCloud missed the team's Week 13 win over the Eagles, but it appears he has a chance to return Sunday against the Seahawks based on his day-to-day status. However, if he's unable to play, Deebo Samuel and Ronnie Bell will likely fill in for the return game as they did against Philadelphia.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Misses practice
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McCloud sat out Wednesday's practice with a rib injury, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
McCloud has played just 10 snaps on offense over the past three weeks but has an important role on the team as the primary returner for both kicks and punts. An absence for Sunday's showdown with the Eagles might free up a few more snaps and routes for Ronnie Bell, who also would be one of the leading candidates to replace McCloud on kick and punt returns.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Back to full session
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McCloud (illness) participated fully in practice Thursday.
McCloud was dealing with an illness Wednesday and unable to practice as a result. With his quick return to the field, he should return to his role primarily as the 49ers' kick and punt returner.
