Falcons Post-Week 1 Fantasy Outlook
By Adnan Ikic
Another football season is upon us, and with it comes the arrival of fantasy football.
The Atlanta Falcons had a resilient comeback attempt that just fell short, in a divisional week 1 match-up against division rivals Tampa Bay.
In the midst of the comeback attempt, the offense helped out some fantasy players, as the game turned into somewhat of a shootout.
Here is the week 1 Falcons fantasy review, and outlook heading into week 2.
(Note: This is based on NFL.com standard scoring)
1. Devonta Freeman
Disappointment of the day: Devonta Freeman (11 carries, 20 rushing yards, 4 catches, 20 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns: 4.0 points)
Devonta Freeman had a 20/20 game but it was far from perfect like one’s vision would be with those numbers.
The first touchdown of the game, set up by a Desmond Trufant interception, probably should have been scored by Freeman, but a false start penalty on the half yard line by TE Austin Hooper robbed him of the opportunity.
Last year’s number 1 scoring fantasy running back could get nothing going against Gerald McCoy and the stout Buccaneers front 7 (LB Kwon Alexander had 17(!) tackles), having a long rush of 10 yards, and 10 more combined rushes for 10 more total yards.
Freeman wasn’t much of a factor in the passing game either; those receiving yards are something which greatly helped his fantasy production last year. Most of the passing game was going through backup RB Tevin Coleman.
All in all, it was a very disappointing day for a player taken in the first or second round of most fantasy drafts.
Analysis: The added involvement of Tevin Coleman (who got 46% of the running back touches) is very worrisome to Freeman’s fantasy prospects – especially as a first or second round pick. OC Kyle Shanahan said before this game that he’ll ride the hot hand at running back, and that looked to be what he did.
The fact that Freeman was in there for most of the goal line snaps (6 to Coleman’s 1) is the saving grace of this situation. Had Hooper not moved early on that 1st and goal from inside the 1, Freeman’s fantasy owners might be singing a different tune right about now.
With Coleman’s presence in the backfield, threatening Freeman’s touches, consider the Florida State product an RB2 moving forward. He will be hard pressed to repeat last year’s success.