Julio Jones should have an outstanding 2015 (Getty).
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In 2013, the Atlanta Falcons took a huge step back. What was supposed to be a rebound season last year ended up being the nail in the coffin for the coaching staff. Seeing the roster potential, GM Thomas Dimitroff cleaned house with his sidelines. Now calling the shots is Dan Quinn, who coached a Seattle defense that led the team to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. Quinn is tasked with rebuilding a defensive unit that gave up almost 400 yards per game in 2014.
From a fantasy perspective, the heavy hitters are all still here. Steven Jackson is gone, leaving Atlanta’s backfield wide open. The real cause for concern is new OC Kyle Shanahan. In the seven seasons he’s been an NFL OC, Shanahan’s teams have only been ranked top 10 in points twice. Granted, he’s never had an offense as complete as this one, so it’s possible this could be the year Shanahan validates himself as an NFL coach. Last year in Cleveland the offense was driven by the rushing attack, so it’ll be interesting to see what Shanahan does with Ryan and Co.
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Here’s how the Falcons stack up:
1: Julio Jones, WR
Jones will come with a hefty price tag in this year’s drafts (Getty).
When Julio Jones is healthy, he’s a near-unstoppable wideout. The former Alabama standout led all Falcons last year with 163 targets, and Jones still produced through double and combo coverage. Although he gained more than 500 yards than next receiver Roddy White, Jones disappointed with only 6 touchdowns to Roddy’s 7.
Atlanta scored 22 times this season inside the 10, where coverage gets tight and Julio is less effective. If owners want the big points, Julio needs to finish on his long catch-and-run plays. And if he’s the big-play target in Shanahan’s offense, that shouldn’t be that hard of a task.
2: Matt Ryan, QB
Ryan is one of the NFL’s most consistent QBs (Getty).
Matty Ice remains in that second tier of quarterbacks, earning a draft pick and week-to-week consideration. Ryan has missed only two starts in his seven seasons in Atlanta, throwing for over 25 TDs every year since 2009. In 2014 Ryan started hot, throwing three scores three of the first four weeks. Ryan let owners down in the stretch run, however, throwing three total touchdowns in the final three weeks of the season.
In 2015, look for the same efficient passing we’ve come to expect from Ryan. If his system were the same, I’d expect a slight numbers increase after Atlanta signed four offensive linemen in free agency. In a new system, however, expect the same or slightly less production this year.
3: Devonta Freeman, RB
Freeman has a chance to break out this season (Getty).
Steven Jackson arrived in Atlanta as the savior to the team’s backfield. For fantasy owners, Steven Jackson was one of the more frustrating ownership experiences in the game. Jackson totalled 100 rushing yards just once in two seasons with the Falcons, a disappointing stat to say the least.
Replacing him in 2015 will be former Seminole Devonta Freeman, a back similarly built but with better burst. Freeman’s numbers weren’t particularly strong last year, but should do more given the absence of Jackson and Shanahan’s affinity for the ground game.
4: Antone Smith, RB
If Freeman isn’t the guy, Antone Smith is prepared to make plays out of Atlanta’s backfield. After spending five years on the Atlanta bench, the 29 year-old Smith provided a spark for Atlanta, coming out of nowhere in several games for long touchdowns. Moving forward, Atlanta likes Smith’s soft hands and explosive speed.
All four of Smith’s touchdowns were longer than 37 yards. Think about that. Smith needs just one play to provide a solid fantasy score, and if his touches increase, he could be a solid producer in 2015.
5: Matt Bryant, K
Bryant is one of the best distance kickers in the league (Getty).
Regardless of Atlanta’s offensive struggles, 2014 was a great season for Matt Bryant. Bryant, who was ranked third in our preseason kicker rankings, led all NFL kickers in 2014 with seven field goals from beyond 50 yards. The only way Bryant regresses is if Atlanta switches to a more ball-control style offense. Considering their talent, it’s hard to believe Bryant won’t have another big kicking season, and is definitely worth a roster spot.