Falcons rule out RB Brian Robinson Jr. for Madrid game with hamstring

Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson Jr. will miss Sunday's Week 9 game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid with a hamstring injury. The Falcons corrected Friday's injury report and changed him from questionable to out, per Adam Schefter of ESPN and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, after Tori McElhaney of the team's official site first reported the downgrade.

Robinson practiced in a limited role Wednesday through Friday as the Falcons worked at Real Madrid's training grounds. That was enough for Atlanta to list him as questionable earlier Friday, then the club updated the report and ruled him out. ESPN's injury report now lists him as out with a hamstring and carries a return date of Nov. 15.

This is the second straight week Robinson has been unavailable. Atlanta already ruled him out for last Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay with the same hamstring issue. In six games this season he has 53 carries for 211 yards and four rushing touchdowns, plus five catches for 30 yards. He signed a one-year deal with the Falcons in March after four seasons in Washington.

Bijan Robinson remains the clear lead back. With Brian out again, the complementary work is expected to go to practice-squad back Khalil Herbert if Atlanta elevates him for the Madrid game, which ESPN's injury note flags as the likely plan. Herbert has no fantasy standing until he is on the active roster and sees snaps.

For redraft and best-ball, Robinson is a sit this week and a wait-and-see for Week 10. The Nov. 15 return date on ESPN's report lines up with Atlanta's next game after Madrid, but hamstrings often stretch past the first target date. Dynasty and season-long owners who use him as a handcuff or committee piece should keep him rostered; the volume he had before the injury, including four rushing scores, still matters if he comes back healthy after the bye in Week 11.

What RSO owners should do now: take Brian Robinson Jr. out of every Week 9 lineup. Do not burn a claim on Herbert until he is elevated and the game-day roles are clear. Bijan Robinson absorbs the full early-down and goal-line picture in Madrid, so he is a locked starter in every format that rostered him.

What to watch next: whether Atlanta elevates Herbert before Sunday, and whether Robinson is limited or shut down when the Falcons reopen practice after Madrid. An IR move would change the handcuff math; nothing on Friday's report points there yet.