Falcons' Jessie Bates: Stars in first season with Atlanta
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Bates finished 2023 with 132 tackles (89 solo), 11 pass defenses, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and one defensive touchdown in 17 appearances.
Bates joined the Falcons on a four-year deal last offseason after five campaigns in Cincinnati and immediately provided a spark to Atlanta's defense. He set career highs in tackles, interceptions and forced fumbles while notching his first defensive touchdown since his rookie campaign. Bates is a bonafide star in reality and fantasy, and should be utilized as a defensive playmaker again in 2024, regardless of who's hired as the new head coach.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Snags sixth pick
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Bates registered six tackles (four solo), two pass deflections and an interception during the Falcons' 29-10 victory versus the Colts on Sunday.
Bates was dominant once again while recording his sixth interception of the season. The 2018 second-round pick is having a career year, already setting new personal bests in both tackles and sacks across 15 games.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Records 10 tackles in loss
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Bates recorded 10 tackles (six solo). in Sunday's 9-7 loss to the Panthers.
Bates was once again a very busy man in Week 15, reaching double-digit takedowns for the fifth time this season. The safety has now compiled 111 tackles (tied for career high) while intercepting five passes, deflecting nine others and forcing three fumbles over 14 contests so far in his first season with Atlanta.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Another interception
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Bates recorded seven tackles (five solo) and one interception during Sunday's 13-8 win over the Jets.
Bates has recorded interceptions in back-to-back games, but unlike last week, he didn't return this one for a touchdown. However, he did tie Bud Dupree with a team-high seven tackles, giving him a strong fantasy floor. Bates was Atlanta's top free-agent signing this offseason, and he's been as advertised, notching four double-digit tackle outings and five interceptions through his first 12 appearances.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Snatches pick-six in win
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Bates recorded 12 tackles (seven solo), a pass deflection, a forced fumble and a pick-six during Atlanta's 24-15 win over the Saints on Sunday.
Bates intercepted Derek Carr in the first quarter and ran it back 92 yards for his first touchdown since his rookie season. The 2018 second-round pick also led the team in tackles once again and has now compiled 85 stops (55 solo) to go along with four interceptions in 11 games this season.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates: Records four picks in fifth season
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Bates finished the regular season with a career-low 71 tackles and a career-high four interceptions in 16 appearances. He added 20 tackles in the Bengals' three postseason contests.
Bates was playing under the franchise tag for his fifth NFL season after he and the Bengals tried but failed to come to a long-term contract agreement. He hasn't completely closed the door on returning in 2023, but Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic suggests Bates is unlikely to be retained. The Bengals have an estimated $44 million in cap space available, but with extensions with quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Tee Higgins likely viewed as greater priorities, Cincinnati may not have much money left over for Bates. Cincinnati already prepared for Bates' possible departure by selecting safety Dax Hill in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates: Bounces back in win
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Bates recorded eight tackles (four solo) during Sunday's 27-24 win versus the Chiefs.
Bates had one of his strongest performances of the season as he led the team in tackles. After combining for just six tackles over the past two weeks, the former All Pro safety bounced back this week and helped limit Patrick Mahomes and one of the NFL's most explosive offenses. Bates will look to build off of this strong performance next week against the Browns.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates: First double-digit tackle outing
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Bates recorded 10 tackles (four solo) in Monday's 32-13 defeat against the Browns.
While Bates finished as the Bengals' leading tackler in this blowout loss, the safety's production so far in 2022 has severely lacked compared to his previous four seasons, as he's recorded just 36 tackles (24 solo), two passes defended and an interception over eight games. Bates will look to repeat this prolific performance against the Panthers this coming Sunday.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates: Signs franchise tag
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Bates signed his franchise tag with the Bengals on Tuesday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Bates reported to training camp Tuesday for the first time this season and signed his $12.9 million franchise tag for 2022. The 2018 second-round pick had his worst statistical season last year, but he bounced back in the playoffs, recording more pass defenses (six) and interceptions (two) than he'd had during the regular season. He's played a prominent role in Cincinnati's secondary since he was drafted and should once again be on fantasy radars in IDP leagues.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates: Not reporting to camp Tuesday
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Bates won't report to Bengals training camp Tuesday with the rest of the team's veteran players, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
One of the NFL's premier safeties, Bates hit the ground running as a second-round pick in 2018 and hasn't looked back, averaging 110 tackles and 2.7 interceptions per 17 games played in four pro seasons. The Bengals predictably applied the franchise tag to Bates back in March, and after the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on an extension before the July 15 deadline he's required to play out the upcoming campaign on the tag. With a holdout imminent, it remains to be seen how the situation will play out.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates: Could skip OTAs
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Bates said he intends to take it day-by-day when asked if he'll join the Bengals for voluntary OTAs, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
The Bengals placed their franchise tag on Bates at the beginning of March. The two sides have until July 15 to work out a multi-year deal, but if they don't, Bates will operate under the terms of the franchise tag during the 2022 campaign. His comments suggest he may be willing to sit out if he's unhappy with the negotiation progress.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates: Franchise tag applied by Cincy
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The Bengals on Monday used their franchise tag on Bates, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Bates totaled 20 tackles (11 solo), six pass deflections and two interceptions across four postseason games during the team's Super Bowl run. With the move, Cincinnati will have until July 15 to work out a multi-year contract with the safety, but if they don't, Bates will operate under the terms of the franchise tag during the 2022 campaign.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates: Picks off first pass of season
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Bates totaled eight tackles (six solo) and one interception during Sunday's 34-31 loss to the Jets.
Sunday's performance was Bates' fourth game with at least eight tackles this season. He now has 50 stops through seven contests this year and is on pace for his fourth straight 100-plus tackle campaign. The 24-year-old safety's fantasy value has a solid floor due to his tackling totals, but if he can continue to force turnovers, then his fantasy ceiling will grow exponentially.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates: No limitations Wednesday
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Bates (neck) was a full participant at Wednesday's practice, Jay Morrison of The Athletic reports.
Bates missed last Thursday's win over the Jaguars, but he's back at practice with no limitations Wednesday. The 24-year-old should reclaim his starting role at free safety this weekend against Green Bay.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates: Posts 13 tackles
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Bates made 13 tackles (10 solo) and forced a fumble in Sunday's 19-7 loss to the Dolphins.
Bates put up his fourth double-digit tackling performance of the season. He's up to 88 tackles through 12 games, putting him on track to reach a career high in the category. The 2018 second-round pick has already registered a career-high 13 pass breakups as well.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates: Racks up 10 stops
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Bates posted 10 tackles and two pass breakups in Sunday's 33-25 win over the Jaguars.
Bates hit double-digit tackles for the second time in three weeks, and he's piled up five pass breakups through four games. The 23-year-old safety is averaging eight tackles per game and is on track for a third straight 100-tackle campaign. With an every-down role locked in, Bates should be deployed accordingly in IDP formats.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates: Another 100-tackle season
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Bates accumulated 100 tackles (71 solo), nine defended passes, three interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery across 16 regular-season contests in 2019.
Bates has reached 100 total tackles in each of his two NFL seasons, solidifying his value as a solid IDP asset. The 22-year-old will reprise a starting role in Cincinnati's secondary when the 2020 season kicks off.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates: Registers four stops
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Bates made four solo tackles in Sunday's 34-13 loss to the Patriots.
Bates is closing in on his second straight 100-tackle season, as he sits at 95 stops through 14 games. The 23-year-old has also notched a career-high eight pass breakups this season, rounding out as a solid IDP asset.
Bates had 12 tackles (eight solo) during Sunday's loss to the Jaguars.
Bates led the Bengals in tackles as he reached double digits for the second time this season. The 2018 second-round pick has been a solid IDP contributor at safety with 55 tackles (36 solo), one pass defensed and one fumble recovery in seven games.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates: Dealing with wrist issue
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Bates (wrist) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.
Bates practicing in some capacity with this new injury is a positive sign that he'll be able to play Sunday versus the 49ers. The second-year pro has massive value for the team, as he recorded 111 tackles, seven pass breakups and three interceptions in his rookie year. If Bates isn't able to shake this issue, however, Brandon Wilson will take over as the team's starting free safety.
