Falcons RB Bijan Robinson delivered for fantasy owners in the opener, gaining 83 total yards and tallying 1 score on 16 touches. He caught all 6 of his targets, with one coming on a smooth catch-and-run for 6. On the day, Atlanta fired off only 48 offensive plays. Still, there was enough for Tyler Allgeier to lead the way in rushing (15-75-2). It’s clear Robinson won’t be a workhorse, as long as Allgeier remains efficient and healthy. Still, the rookie will project as an RB1 going forward. He'll get a fine home matchup with Green Bay in Week 2.
Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson (thigh) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Panthers. That leaves a few touches behind for RBs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.
Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson (thigh) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s opener vs. the Panthers. He was limited in practice all week. Patterson shouldn’t be in your Week 1 fantasy plans, but his absence would be a slight boost for RB Bijan Robinson.
Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson (thigh) got in a limited practice on Wednesday. He went down with this thigh injury in mid-August but seemingly has a shot to play vs. the Panthers this weekend. Patterson isn't a fantasy option but could siphon a few touches from RB Bijan Robinson.
Falcons HC Arthur Smith used the phrase no fantasy owner likes to hear when discussing his 2023 backfield plans: "hot hand." Here's Smith: “We may have the idea that we want to get guys a certain number of carries and then all of a sudden [Tyler] Allgeier gets a hot hand and what you’re doing with him is working. Don’t be rigid. We have to win the game.” Drafters are clearly expecting RB Bijan Robinson, who has a first-round ADP, to dominate the backfield touches this season. But Allgeier might stay involved just enough to keep Robinson from hitting his ceiling. It's worth noting that The Athletic's Josh Kendall projects Robinson for 215 carries and 86 targets this year to Allgeier's 158 carries and 12 targets. Check out our projections for the Falcons backfield.
Falcons RB Tyler Allgeier ran efficiently as a 2022 rookie. Among 61 RBs with 70+ carries (including the playoffs), he ranked sixth in yards after contact per attempt, sixth in Pro Football Focus' elusive rating, and tied for 12th in yards per carry. He also ranked ninth in NFL Next Gen Stats' rush yards over expected per carry, among 36 RBs with 90+ carries. Allgeier took over the backfield after the Week 14 bye, averaging 19.8 carries per game and claiming 56% of the team's rushing attempts over the final four games. He's not going to get anywhere near that after Atlanta drafted RB Bijan Robinson eighth overall. But it's fair to wonder whether Allgeier will cut too far into Robinson's workload to allow the rookie to pay off his Round 1 fantasy ADP. We'll watch for signals of the work share plan through training camp and preseason. Expect Allgeier to remain more handcuff than standalone fantasy option. You can read more about his outlook in our 2023 RB rankings.
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson is taking reps with the WRs during individual drills at minicamp. In clips posted to Twitter, Robinson looks smooth running routes and making catches. It’s not exactly a breaking news development. Robinson tallied 60 catches, 803 yards, and 8 TDs across three seasons at Texas. Keep in mind: Falcons RBs totaled only 64 targets last year, as HC Arthur Smith opted for a run-heavy approach. Our current RB projections have Robinson for 53 targets and 41 receptions.
Asked about whether a RB was worth taking inside the top 10 picks of the NFL Draft, Falcons HC said of new RB Bijan Robinson: "He's a lot more than a running back. He's an impact football player." GM Terry Fontenot added that Atlanta wants to play "positionless football." The Falcons hadn't invested heavily into the position since Smith arrived. Their top signings included Mike Davis, Damien Williams, and Cordarrelle Patterson. Tyler Allgeier (Round 5 of 2022) had been the only RB they drafted. So they clearly believe Robinson to be special. Expect his opportunity count to reflect that. Robinson already leads our dynasty RB rankings.
The Falcons selected Texas RB Bijan Robinson with the eighth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Once heralded as the top RB in the 2020 high school recruiting class, Robinson made an immediate impact as a freshman. By the end of 2020, Robinson had seized the starting job and won the Alamo Bowl MVP with a 10-182-0 rushing performance against Colorado. From then on, he never let go of the job and consistently wowed the nation with his incredible combination of size, speed, quickness, and pass-catching abilities. Robinson logged nearly 2,000 scrimmage yards as a junior this past season with 20 total TDs. Still just over 21 years old, the 5’11, 215-pound back is an immediate candidate to lead the league in carries. (Atlanta led the NFL with 559 team carries in 2022.) Robinson projects as a top-5 fantasy RB.
As anticipated, Texas RB Bijan Robinson tested superbly well at the NFL Combine on Sunday. The Longhorn standout measured in at 5’11 and 215 pounds and put his smooth movement and burst on display in drills. The biggest takeaway from Robinson’s day is the fact that he logged a sub-4.5 second 40-yard time. His official 4.46 time ranks 6th among RBs, and his 1.52-second 10-yard split ranks tied-3rd with Texas teammate Roschon Johnson and Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs. Robinson is a smidge faster than expected, and his performance only solidifies his bonafide RB1 status in this 2023 class.
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