Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson (thigh) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. He's on track to make his 2023 debut vs. the Packers this weekend. Patterson isn't a viable fantasy option but figures to steal at least a few touches from RBs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.
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 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.
The Athletic's Josh Kendall expects Tyler Allgeier to operate as the Falcons' lead back in 2023. Allgeier somewhat quietly topped 1,000 rushing yards on 4.9 yards per carry as a rookie last year, with 431 of his rushing yards coming over the final 4 games. He ranked 6th among 45 qualifying RBs in Pro Football Focus' rushing grades and 3rd in Elusive Rating. Allgeier totaled just 16 catches last year -- and a lack of pass-catching work could cap his fantasy ceiling this coming season. But he at least has a shot at RB2 value if he can garner 15 or so carries per game. We'll see what else Atlanta does with the RB group this offseason.
Falcons RB Tyler Allgeier racked up 20 carries for 83 yards and a TD in Sunday's win over the Cardinals. He more than doubled RB Cordarrelle Patterson (9) in rushing attempts but watched Patterson control the receiving. Patterson caught a team-high 6 passes -- on a team-high-tying 8 targets -- for 42 yards. Patterson added a ground TD on 9-42 rushing. Atlanta closes out against a Buccaneers defense that has been a negative matchup for RB scoring but a neutral matchup for rushing overall (4.5 yards per carry allowed to RBs). Tampa Bay also might not have much to play for after clinching the NFC South title with a Week 17 win. Allgeier has claimed 17+ carries in 3 straight games.
Falcons RB Tyler Allgeier once again the team in rushing for Sunday's loss to the Ravens. He rushed 18 times for 74 yards (4.1 per carry), compared with just 8-17 for RB Cordarrelle Patterson (2.1). Allgeier also beat his backfield mate in targets (5-1), receptions (4-1) and receiving yards (43-14). The rookie will be an intriguing play in Week 17 against a Cardinals defense that entered this week as the 5th most friendly RB-scoring matchup by our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
Falcons rookie RB Tyler Allgeier racked up 139 yards and a TD on a team-high 17 carries in Sunday's loss to the Saints. He edged RB Cordarrelle Patterson by 3 carries and trailed Patterson 3-1 in targets. Patterson took his 14 rushes for 52 yards (3.7 per attempt) and a TD. He caught just 1 of his 3 targets for no gain. Week 16 holds a terrible rushing matchup with the Ravens, who entered the week 7th in our adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs -- and have played even better more recently. A Week 17 matchup with Arizona looks much friendlier to Atlanta rushing.
Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson averaged a strong 5.5 yards per rush across 11 carries in Sunday's loss to the Steelers. He split carries evenly with RB Tyler Allgeier once again, though. The rookie took 10 rushes for 52 yards (5.2 per attempt). No Falcons RB logged a target. That's particularly disappointing for Patterson, who garnered 5 targets last week. That makes 7 games with 2 targets or fewer (1 or fewer in 6 of those) vs. just 2 games with more. We'll see if HC Arthur Smith says anything about targeting Patterson more after the Week 14 bye.
The bad news for Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson was that he split carries evenly with Tyler Allgeier in Sunday's loss to the Commanders, trailing his rookie teammate 54-52 in yards. The good news: He saw a target increase in the 1st game since TE Kyle Pitts landed on IR. Patterson's 5 looks ranked 2nd on the team and tied a season high he set back in the opener. Patterson had totaled just 6 targets over his 6 appearances since then. Even better: Those 5 targets marked a 20% share of Atlanta's pass attempts. Patterson caught 3 balls for 19 yards against Washington. Continued target shares anywhere around there would make Patterson easier to start in fantasy football lineups going forward.
Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson tallied a record-breaking 9th career kickoff return TD in Sunday’s win over Chicago. The 103-yarder was in addition to leading Atlanta RBs in carries (10) and finishing behind Tyler Allgeier in yards (52 vs. 55). Patterson remained a low-volume passing option, catching both of his targets for 7 yards. His 2 targets actually marked the most he’s seen since Week 1 (5). With Atlanta insisting on a RB rotation, Patterson looks like a low-end RB2/FLEX going forward. Next up is a Jets run D ranking a formidable 13th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.
Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson returned from a knee injury to post 13 carries for 44 yards and 2 scores. He added 1 catch for 9 yards. Caleb Huntley and Tyler Allgeier combined for 17 carries for the run-heavy Falcons, with Allgeier impressing at 9.9 YPC. C-Patt saw the team’s only 2 carries inside the 5, though, and he turned both into scores. He looked back to pre-injury form following a 5-week layoff. The veteran will look to keep rolling Thursday night at Carolina.
Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson is not expected to get a full workload in his return against the Chargers today, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports. That's not a surprise -- and it's what we've had projected for Patterson all along. RBs Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley will remain involved today, although we're betting on Patterson leading the group in touches.
Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) is officially active for today’s game vs. the Chargers. It’ll be his first action since Week 4. Patterson operated as Atlanta’s lead back before going down, averaging 16.3 carries and 2.3 targets over the season’s first 3 games. We’re not expecting him to get that big of a workload in his 1st game back, but we are projecting Patterson to lead the Falcons backfield in touches.
The Falcons are activating RB Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) from IR ahead of Sunday's game against the Chargers. Patterson told The Athletic's Josh Kendall on Friday, "Hopefully, I'll feel 100 percent come Sunday." We're betting that Patterson goes right back to leading the backfield, so try not to use Tyler Allgeier or Caleb Huntley in any fantasy football lineups.
Falcons RB Tyler Allgeier led the team's backfield in snaps in Sunday's win over the 49ers. But his 15-51 rushing line trailed RB Caleb Huntley's 16-59. Neither drew a target. Avery Williams claimed the only backfield target, catching it for 2 yards. He added 2 carries for 6. Allgeier remains the top play in a situation with a low ceiling and floor. The matchups get better in the coming weeks than the Bucs and 49ers the past 2 games.
Falcons RB Tyler Allgeier led the backfield in playing time and rushing work in the 1st game since RB Cordarrelle Patterson landed on IR. Allgeier drew 13 of the team's 24 RB rushes, totaling 45 yards but losing the only rushing score to Avery Williams. That came on 1 of 3 attempts for Williams. Caleb Huntley took the other 8 carries for 34 yards. Williams also claimed the backfield's only 2 targets, but Allgeier beat him 19-8 in routes run, according to Pro Football Focus. Week 6 brings another difficult RB matchup in the 49ers. Allgeier should be the RB target if you need someone from the Atlanta backfield, but don't expect him to crack the top 24 in our Week 6 RB rankings.
The Falcons are placing RB Cordarrelle Patterson on IR with a designation to return. According to multiple reports, Patterson had a "procedure" Monday morning. We're assuming it addressed the left knee that had him questionable entering Sunday and limited his touches against Cleveland. Patterson will miss at least the next 4 games, leaving the backfield to rookie Tyler Allgeier, Caleb Huntley and Avery Williams. Damien Williams figures to be in the mix as well if he makes it back from his IR stint for a rib injury. There's no exciting option in this group, but we'd bet on Allgeier as the most productive. A Week 5 meeting with Tampa Bay likely won't prove as favorable as it looked to Chiefs RBs on Sunday night.
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