From the moment he took the field in Austin, Bijan Robinson showed shades of Saquon Barkley. A physical marvel with quads that could crush a watermelon and quickness that puts defenders in a blender, he had all the tools of a “can’t miss” prospect. After winning the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s premier running back in 2022, he cemented that notion and became the first ball carrier since the aforementioned Barkley to go top-10 in the NFL Draft.
Even compared to Atlanta’s other first-round weapons in Kyle Pitts and Drake London, Robinson was the one expected to change the direction of the franchise. So far, that hasn’t exactly happened. The 22-year-old showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie, but coach Arthur Smith seemed reluctant to go “all in,” with his young playmaker, finishing 19th in total attempts.
With Smith canned and offensive guru Zac Robinson coming over from Los Angeles to take over the unit, fantasy managers had high hopes for a second-year surge from number seven. That hasn’t quite materialized, and it’s been far more concerning than prosperous. Is it time for fantasy managers to start shopping the Falcons‘ rusher? In short, yes.
Why you should shop Bijan Robinson
Robinson’s efficiency has taken a considerable step back in his sophomore campaign. Excluding his sensational performance against the free-falling Eagles in week two, Robinson is producing just 3.09 yards per carry. His backup, Tyler Allgeier, is averaging over double that mark, albeit on fewer touches.
The vision that helped make him a budding superstar has gone a bit sideways. He’s not hitting holes with the same burst and often dashes right into contact. Opposing defenses are trying to limit him between the tackles, but he’s failing to adjust. As a pass catcher, he’s looked the part and still been dynamic in open space, likely because much of his work has been outside the numbers.
This team has spent a lot of money improving its roster and thinks it can win now. If Allgeier continues to significantly outgain Robinson on the ground, the latter will have to lose opportunities. That could start in the red zone, where the 5’11, 220-pound Allgeier thrives.
With the upper echelon of fantasy starters seemingly more limited than ever, trying to get players in that tier at all costs is essential. Robinson still has enough cache to carry weight in a trade package, which you should use to your advantage. With his scoring chances and snap count taking a hit, it’s not difficult to patch together a viable replacement plan while upgrading elsewhere.
In DFS, he is matchup-dependent at best if his top-tier salary remains. Avoid the dip with Robinson and sell before his value depreciates any further.
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