Atlanta Falcons need to put Patterson back in utility role this off-season

Arguably the most exciting aspect of the Atlanta Falcons 2022 season was finding their running back of the future in Tyler Allgeier. Tyler finished the season with 1,035 rushing yards and clearly was the starting running back at the end of the season.

Allgeier has an elite ability not only to run people over but to use what burst he has to outrun the field and create big plays. Moving into the 2023 season Allgeier is clearly the perfect running back for Arthur Smith’s system and should be the starter despite Patterson still being under contract.

Patterson signed a two-year team-friendly deal a season ago and will be brought back as Atlanta’s second option at the position.  Atlanta’s best move would be adding a third reliable running back and using Patterson in the utility role he played a season ago.

Patterson was elite as a utility player creating mismatches at receiver or shifting into the backfield and creating a big play. Arthur Smith’s offense is at its best when there is positional flexibility and Patterson brings that ability.

An ability Atlanta didn’t utilize nearly as much in the 2022 season using Patterson as the starting running back to start the season before his injury and Allgeier emerging. Once Patterson returned the veteran shared carries with the impressive rookie who slowly took over the starting role.

If the Falcons have Patterson return to the utility role along with Kyle Pitts returning the team will be two receivers and one backup running back away from having a potentially lethal offense needing Desmond Ridder to simply play point guard and avoid the big mistakes.

Atlanta needs to put Patterson back in the position that he succeeded the most in his career focusing on using his unique skill set to create mismatches and allow Allgeier the heavy workload the rookie earned in his first season.