When the Atlanta Falcons selected running back Bijan Robinson with the eighth pick in the 2023 NFL draft, it seemed like Tyler Allgeier was going to be an afterthought. Even after an impressive rookie season in Atlanta, there was no denying that Robinson was going to be the new lead back for the Falcons.
But then something funny happened: a little thing called “Week 1 of the 2023 season.” While Robinson was used in the offense, the top-scoring fantasy back in Atlanta was none other than Allgeier.
Was this a fluke? Do we expect this to continue in Week 2? Can we expect it to continue all year? Let’s dig into all these questions as we decide whether to start or sit Allgeier in fantasy football.
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Should I Start or Sit Tyler Allgeier in Fantasy This Week?
The breakdown of stats in the Falcons’ Week 1 win over the Carolina Panthers is pretty amazing considering the hype we heard all offseason. “Bijan Robinson is a generational talent.” “He is a top-five running back before even stepping onto an NFL field.” “Bijan Robinson is the next big thing.”
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And while Robinson is still poised to be a fantastic back in the NFL (and showed why with a jaw-dropping touchdown catch in Week 1), many managers threw Tyler Allgeier to the side, assuming he was now useless.
But Allgeier got the last laugh in Week 1. While Robinson totaled 83 yards and a touchdown on six catches and ten carries, Allgeier had 94 total yards and two touchdowns on three catches and 15 carries.
On top of this, when Atlanta got near the goal line, Allgeier’s number was being called on running plays. Inside the Panthers’ 10-yard line, Allgeier had four carries and two touchdowns. Robinson did not see a single carry within the 10. Additionally, when the Falcons were leading in the game, Robinson saw only one carry and had just one catch. Allgeier, meanwhile, had seven carries and one reception.
But the question is this: Will any of these trends continue into Week 2? Honestly, it’s very tough to know. But Allgeier is currently the RB4 in fantasy football. How do we deny that in our lineup?
While the Falcons have a tough matchup in Week 2 with the Green Bay Packers in town, I think Allgeier deserves a look in your Flex spot. If he is going to continue getting goal-line opportunities, he will be hard to keep out of your lineup.
Fantasy Outlook for Allgeier vs. Green Bay
While the Green Bay Packers were able to have their way with the Chicago Bears in Week 1, Chicago was still able to amass 122 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries on the ground. While 59 of these yards came from a scrambling Justin Fields, the Packers weren’t completely stout on run defense.
Atlanta is going to want to control the clock on Sunday with the Packers in town. And there is no better way to do that than to have a sound rushing attack. While I think Bijan Robinson is going to slowly get more and more action in this offense, I don’t think head coach Arthur Smith is ready to take away Allgeier’s carries quite yet.
While touchdowns are not a sticky stat, Allgeier getting the goal-line carries in Week 1 is a great sign for the future. If Allgeier and Robinson are going to be splitting action like they did in Week 1, Allgeier is certainly a great option for fantasy teams.
A solid number of carries and the bulk of touches near the end zone are enough to have me excited about Allgeier in Week 2. We will see if he can continue to have success when the Packers come to town.