Atlanta Falcons: Most important player in each of their first eight games

Week 3 – at New York Giants

Key Player: Tyeler Davison (NT)

This may seem surprising to see Tyeler Davison on here but in the projected 3-4 defense the Dean Pees will be running, the nose tackle is the key to stopping the ground game.

The New York Giants last year lost one of the league’s most dynamic players in Saquon Barkley. The Giants may try to ease him in during the first half of the season, or they may want to establish him as one of the best running backs in the league again.

It does not matter which turns out to be true, Barkley is a home run hitter no matter the situation, and the Atlanta Falcons need to neutralize that.

It is up to Davison to eat up the inside blocks to allow Grady Jarrett and others to be able to stop Barkley in the backfield or for a minimal gain.

Saquon is the face of the offense for the Giants, Tyeler Davison needs to play his best game in order for the Falcons to win.

Week 4 – Washington Football Team

Key Player: Jake Matthews (LT)

This defensive line for Washington is a nightmare matchup for the Atlanta Falcons offensive line.

Washington’s line is led by Chase Young, who mostly lined up on the right edge for his team, thus Jake Matthews will have his work cut out for him.

Jake Matthews can neutralize Young as a pass rusher, for the most part, it is in the run game that he may struggle a lot. Matthews has never been a consistent run blocker, while Young as a rookie was one of the best run stuffers at his position.

If the Atlanta Falcons are able to consistently make their way down the field, it will lie mostly on the whole offensive line, but it starts with Jake Matthews making a statement to Chase Young from the first snap of the game.