The Atlanta Falcons have plenty of problems to address following back-to-back demoralizing losses to quality opponents (the Bears and Ravens) but their situation at wide receiver is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore…
Veteran Olamide Zaccheaus has struggled to make much of an impact through six games after returning to Alanta, and his Week 6 performance only made matters worse as he finished the afternoon without a single reception on four targets, bringing his season total to just four catches for 17 yards.
He also dropped another pass, bringing his total to two drops on just 11 targets (18.2%) this season. That's the highest drop rate of his career, and given he isn't even a focal point of this offense, it's easier than ever to usher him out of the starting lineup.
For an offense already struggling to find consistency, that's just simply not enough production. And with explosive rookie Zachariah Branch waiting for a larger opportunity, the Falcons may have a difficult decision to make regarding Zaccheaus' role moving forward.
Zachariah Branch deserves a bigger opportunity, and the Falcons should start him over Olamide Zaccheus
Zaccheaus' struggles against the Bears went beyond his disappointing box score too. The veteran had trouble creating separation against Chicago's coverage, failed to make an impact as a blocker on several screen plays and struggled to find openings when Atlanta needed someone to get free.
And the numbers don't exactly help his case. Through six games, Zaccheaus has managed just 17 receiving yards. His four targets against Chicago produced nothing, despite the Falcons desperately needing their offense to get going after falling behind early.
There's only so long the Falcons can continue giving opportunities to a receiver who isn't making much of an impact. Especially when they have a young playmaker in Zachariah Branch sitting behind him on the depth chart.
The Atlanta Falcons used a third-round pick on Zachariah Branch for a reason, and it's becoming harder and harder to justify keeping him behind Olamide Zaccheaus.
And yet, six games into his rookie season, the 22-year-old is still listed behind Zaccheus on the depth chart. That's starting to look like a questionable decision, which goes beyond easing him into the offense because that ship has sailed. They need Branch starting so they can scheme up more touches for him now.
Now sure Branch hasn't exactly been perfect himself. He caught both of his targets for nine yards against Chicago but also had two costly fumbles on special teams. But Atlanta drafted Branch for what he could bring to its offense, and the Falcons aren't getting much out of the player currently ahead of him--and he also had a special teams lapse.
With Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson already commanding attention from opposing defenses, the former Georgia star could give Atlanta another weapon capable of creating something after a short completion.
Branch still has plenty to prove, particularly when it comes to taking care of the football. But Zaccheaus hasn't done much to make a convincing case for keeping the current arrangement intact. At this point, you may as well go with the explosive rookie, the option with a far higher ceiling.
Atlanta spent a valuable draft pick on Zachariah Branch, and with Olamide Zaccheus struggling, now might be the time to find out what he can actually do.
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