It is officially rivalry week in the NFL (not to be mistaken with Heated Rivalry week), at least for the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons are set to head down to New Orleans to face off with the arch-rival Saints on Monday Night Football for a game that will place the winner atop the NFC South standings.
The Falcons are hoping to see their momentum carry over from last week's commanding victory against the Green Bay Packers since their defensive line had a field day on TNF. They held the Packers to just 17 rushing yards on the game, the lowest total allowed in franchise history, and currently boast the NFL's best run defense--a unit that's allowing less than 50 rushing yards a game.
The good news here is that this should continue in Week 4 against a Saints team who doesn't have much of a run game. Travis Etienne (or Achane, however you want to pronounce it) has been a non-factor after coming over in free agency, but Atlanta's defensive line won't even have to worry about him because he's currently hurt.
Etienne was limited in practice all last week due to a hamstring injury that he re-injured in the Saints' Week 3 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders at the end of a 16-yard run. He left and never returned, and Kellen Moore told reporters there will be "time lost" for him, which sounds like he won't play on MNF.
The Atlanta Falcons' run defense will shine on Monday against the Saints
Moore never specified how long his $52 million running back will be sidelined, but didn't rule out a stint on IR--which would keep him out for at least four games. All signs point to Travis Etienne not being available, which makes Monday's matchup even more advantageous for the visiting Falcons.
Without Etienne, the Saints' run game will be led by a three-man backfield: Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, and undrafted rookie CJ Donaldson. And this isn't the prime Kamara we all saw a half-decade ago. This is an older model with more tread on his tires and is more like an old Chevy than a Ferrari.
The 31-year-old can still be a capable pass-catcher, but that's about it. He's averaging just 2.8 yards per carry. Yikes. I know being a dangerous runner like Bijan Robinson was never his calling card, but that's just something you cannot justify, even with him still looking to get back to 100% post injury.
As for Miller and Donaldson, they're not much more than complimentary backs. They both will come in as change-of-pace options for Kamara, with Miller likely seeing more run while Donaldson comes in as a short-yardage guy, so for all of my fantasy football owners, I'd avoid this matchup like the plague.
Moreover, the Saints are also going to be without star tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., which will make it even tougher to find running room. And given the Dirty Birds have a defensive line that has been making it tough on opposing offenses, not having the run game as a crutch for Tyler Shough is not ideal.
Without Travis Etienne, the Saints have no go-to option in the run game, which means that if they want to knock off the Falcons, Shough and Chris Olave are going to have to pick this defense apart.
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