Expectations were so high for 2023 Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson that his 1,463 yards and eight touchdowns from scrimmage in 2023 were considered disappointing.
The No. 8 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft was often used as a punchline to explain his inability to get the ball to former head coach Arthur Smith's biggest weapon. Mr. Smith may have a point in his criticism.
Despite finishing 10th in the NFL in yards from scrimmage, Robinson was 19th with 214 carries. He only had 15 or more carries four times as a rookie.
That doesn't take anything away from backfield mate Tyler Allgaier, who had 186 carries, but the running back won't be available as a top-10 pick for development.
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No one will be happy to see Robinson sit on the bench for three or four years.
Pro Football Focus' Nathan Janke expects Robinson to be the focal point of the Falcons' offense in 2024. His fantasy football rankings rank Robinson as the No. 2 running back behind Christian McCaffrey.
His full rankings have not yet been released, but if he is the No. 2 running back, he will likely be No. 2 overall. He layered his running backs and put McCaffrey in his layer, which makes sense considering he threw for 2,023 total yards and 21 total touchdowns on the year.
Robinson and Breece Hall of the New York Jets will be considered Tier 2, while Kyren Williams of the Los Angeles Rams will start in Tier 3 at No. 4.
The Falcons threw “positional value” into the wind in two of the three drafts led by Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot. They selected Kyle Pitts fourth overall in 2021, making him the highest-paid tight end in history.
They went against conventional wisdom and selected Robinson in 2023.
A big reason why Arthur Smith is currently working in Pittsburgh is that he failed to make the most of his premium draft options during a tenure that included three straight seven-win seasons.
It's also a big reason why Fontenot signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract. Cousins and new coach Raheem Morris will now be charged with getting the best out of Atlanta's young stars. Pitts has two years left on his contract, and the clock is always ticking for the running back.
According to PFF's Fantasy Football Rankings, they're looking to see if Robinson can live up to the high expectations they've had for him.
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