The Atlanta Falcons have been one of the pleasant surprises to start the year. They are currently 3-2 on the season and just a half-game back of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for first place in the NFC South. The Falcons have been great at home, as they are currently 3-0 at home.
One reason why the Falcons have been so good is because they are effective running the ball. They have two guys, Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, who are both capable of producing in a big way.
With that in mind, which Falcons running back should fantasy football managers have in mind?
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Tyler Allgeier’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
It was expected that with Robinson being drafted No. 8 in the 2023 NFL Draft, Allgeier may not have the same role he did last year. As a rookie, he rushed for 1,035 yards, despite being drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
However, through five games, the carries are even — Allgeier has 62, Robinson has 67. The fact that Allgeier is getting the ball so often is a good sign, but he needs to produce at a higher clip. He has only 191 yards this year, which is just barely over three yards per carry.
Another issue for Allgeier is that he doesn’t make a ton of plays catching the ball, as he has only six catches in five games.
Bijan Robinson’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
It is still early in the year, but Robinson has shown all the talent and potential the Falcons hoped for when they took him last year. Despite having only five more carries than Allgeier, Robinson has 173 more yards. He is a rare combination of size and speed and can make the big play at any time.
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For Robinson, where he separates from Allgeier is his ability to make plays in the passing game. He has 21 catches for 146 yards, while also scoring two more touchdowns there.
It might sound a little early to say this, but Robinson might already be a top-five running back in the league. He can be on the field for all three downs and can contribute in every way possible.
Which of the Falcons’ RBs Should You Start?
As someone who has both of these guys on his team, Robinson will play every single week as long as he is healthy. This is a very good matchup too for Robinson, as the Commanders rank 24th against the run (133.6 yards per game).
Robinson is capable of having a top-five fantasy RB day every time he steps on the field. As a runner, he is solid, but his ability in the passing game separates him from nearly every other running back in the NFL.
The Commanders are coming off a horrible game, as they gave up 460 yards of total offense to the Chicago Bears. Justin Fields had a strong game passing, but the Bears also ran the ball 32 times for 178 yards. This could be a huge day for Robinson, and he must be in your lineup.