Blogging Dirty
FanSided

Six Atlanta Falcons that have the highest expectations for 2016

By Colin Hubbard

Nov 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half at the Georgia Dome. The Colts defeated the Falcons 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half at the Georgia Dome. The Colts defeated the Falcons 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
Nov 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half at the Georgia Dome. The Colts defeated the Falcons 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half at the Georgia Dome. The Colts defeated the Falcons 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

5) Devonta Freeman – RB

Devonta Freeman has quickly become a fan-favorite in Atlanta. He burst onto the scene in 2015 and put up number that nobody saw coming. So now there’s really only one question being asked about him. Can he repeat it?

That’s a very hard question to answer for multiple reasons. One, nobody knows how valuable Tevin Coleman really is to the Falcons. It’s hard to forget that it was his starting job to lose as a rookie last season and he did just that. But heading into year two, how often does Kyle Shanahan want to use the second-year back?

A good way to look at this situation is to compare these two running backs to the Cincinnati Bengals’ duo of Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard. It seems as if these two guys are as interchangeable as it gets. One mistake and it’s the other running back’s job.

I could very easily see that being the same in Atlanta. Coleman is only going to get better and long-term might be the better option. But who’s to say Freeman is going to slow down anytime soon? So will he repeat his successes next season? Probably not. But that isn’t because of a lack of talent.

Either way Freeman will be put into the spotlight and will be asked to produce at a high level.

Next: No. 4

Home/Atlanta Falcons News