Jahan Dotson is starting to give the Atlanta Falcons the kind of production they probably hoped for when they signed him to a two-year, $15 million contract in free agency, as he caught three passes for 87 yards and a touchdown in the 31-23 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 6.
In that game he led the Falcons in receiving yards, including a 41-yard catch and a beautiful 13-yard touchdown from Michael Penix Jr. that helped continue a strong stretch that has made him a more intriguing part of the offense…
Dotson has now recorded at least 54 receiving yards in three straight games. For a player who had a quiet start to the season, that is a noticeable change. He's starting to cement himself as the supporting WR behind Drake London this Atlanta offense has been looking for, and is better-suited for the downfield threat role Darnell Mooney played a season ago.
Jahan Dotson is making his limited opportunities with the Falcons count
This recent run is even more impressive when you realize the former first-round pick opened the season with just 19 receiving yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He then followed that with 11 yards against Carolina and another 11 against Green Bay before turning things around.
But he said after that game that he spoke to president of football Matt Ryan about becoming more available for his quarterback, which has seen his rapport with Penix start to develop of late. He was brought in to be a downfield threat, and it's his return that has unlocked him.
Now his recent performances don't mean Dotson has overtaken London as Atlanta’s top receiver by any means. London leads the team with 550 receiving yards, while Kyle Pitts has 169. Dotson is giving the Falcons something a little different though with his speed, and the offense can use that.
Defenses already have to account for London as Penix's favorite target and Pitts as a red zone threat, as well as being trying to contain Bijan Robinson in space. Dotson’s recent production adds another player who can punish coverage when he gets space downfield.
However, the 25-year-old's emergence could help take some pressure off the team’s established playmakers. Opponents cannot focus all their attention on London if Dotson keeps making them pay for leaving him 1-on-1 opportunities.
His recent numbers also give the Falcons a reason to keep looking for ways to get him involved. Dotson has not needed a large number of catches to make an impact, and his 87 yard outing against Chicago showed what that can look like when the opportunities are there.
There is still work to do. Atlanta lost this game despite Dotson’s performance, and three strong outings do not guarantee that he will keep producing at this rate. He will need to sustain it before anyone can call this a full breakout season.
But several Falcons execs spent time with him in Philadelphia, and knew he could thrive in this role if given the chance, and he's been one of their most successful reclamation projects of the offseason.
As he keeps breaking out, Jahan Dotson is giving the Falcons a reason to trust him with a larger role in the passing game. If he keeps producing explosive plays, Atlanta may have found a valuable piece of its offense just as it looks for answers to a disappointing stretch.
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