Atlanta Falcons Week 12 Fantasy Analysis

Week 12 – vs Cleveland – L 24-26

QB: Ryan with a few bad throws but a good game overall.  Was protected well at home again and hopefully that continues.

RB: Jackson a good game but not a ton of yards.  Rodgers looked a little better than Freeman this game.  Looks like the team will stick with Jackson as the workhorse.

WR: White and Jones good games and Hester decent.  Same story: can trust them at home but less confidence in them on the road.

TE: Toilolo did little.  Still TD-dependent and that’s clearly not changing at this point.

OL: Looked good in pass protection but did little for running game against improving D.  Makes the RBs so much more unstable for fantasy.

Def: Helped by bad QB throws for picks but gave up a ton of yards and should have given up more points.  Got run on and thrown on with ease.  Gave up monster to RB and good games to 3 WRs.  Held backup TE to little.

Atlanta Falcons Week 11 Fantasy Analysis

Week 11 – @ Carolina – W 19-17

QB: Ryan had average game as blocking was shaky again.  Just wasn’t able to convert on any big plays.  Looks good when he gets time but isn’t happening often.

RB: Jackson was disappointing in this one.  Freeman actually looked a little better and might steal some more carries in the coming weeks.  Worth keeping an eye on.

WR: White a big game getting the only TD.  Jones was decent.  Both are fine if QB has time to find them down field instead of on short throws only.

TE: Toilolo a couple catches and made one very impressive one.  Still not usable but hopefully is progressing.

OL: Still pretty bad.  Not a great game against a struggling D.  Still look better than earlier in season but will get dominated by elite D-lines.

Def: Some bad QB play and bad blocking helped.  Didn’t really stop the run and got thrown on for plenty.  Gave up good games to scrambling QB, #1 WR, and TE.

Atlanta Falcons Week 10 Fantasy Analysis

Week 10 – @ TB – W 27-17

QB: Ryan an okay game but should have been better considering opponent.  A lot of dropped passes.

RB: Jackson a big game and continues to look like he could carry the load if the blocking was there.  A nice option with this kind of match up.

WR: Jones and White both had big games despite some drops.  Did the bulk of the work in the passing game, as it should be.

TE: Toilolo did nothing but got an end zone target that wasn’t close enough to catch.  Ignore.

OL: An decent game all-around.  Could have run more but team wants to throw.  Pass blocking was pretty strong against good D-line.

Def: Pretty solid against the run but hurt on stat sheet by some QB scrambles.  Gave up a lot through the air.  Big games by QB, WRs, and TE.

Atlanta Falcons Week 8 Fantasy Analysis

Week 8 – vs Detroit (London) – L 21-22

QB: Ryan was solid as blocking was greatly improved and was able to step into throws.  Did have a couple bad plays and an atrocious interception.  Offense is adjusting to strengths but faded in this one.

RB: Jackson a fairly good game with TD but no receptions.  All catches were made by backups.  Running really hard and well when he gets room, however.

WR: White and Jones solid games but no TDs.   Numbers hurt by O running and trying to kill clock with early lead.  Failed and might force more throws even when they lead now.

TE: Continue ignoring.  Toilolo made a couple grabs but just isn’t targeted enough.

OL: Much improved in this one, particularly against a tough D-line.  Faded as the game wore on but both run and pass blocking looked a ton better.  Some quick-strike plays helped a ton as well.

Def: Stout against the run in this one.  Held RBs to virtually nothing on the ground.  Gave up huge games to QB, #1 WR, and receiving RB.  Still no pass rush.

Atlanta Falcons Week 7 Fantasy Analysis

Week 7 – @ Baltimore – L 7-29

QB: Ryan got no blocking and was forced to make mostly short and quick throws.  Looks good but had to get some better protection.

RB: Jackson did little along with other RBs.  Hard to trust with such a bad line, especially on the road.

WR: White a huge game making some good catches and shaking the drops from recent weeks.  Jones okay but the D clearly focused a little more on him instead of White.

TE: Toilolo better but still TD-dependent.  Wouldn’t risk.

OL: Awful.  Did little on run plays and almost zero pass blocking.  Got QB killed this game.

Def: Couldn’t stop much and burned by some big plays.  Gave up big games to RBs, WRs, and TE.  Just a bad unit, particularly on the road.

Atlanta Falcons Week 6 Fantasy Analysis

Week 6 – vs Chicago – L 13-27

QB: Ryan killed by receivers dropping passes.  Was on target and making good throws and they got dropped a ton.  Would not expect it to be this bad again.

RB: Team chose not to run and not sure why.  Jackson continues to look fine when given the chance.  Smith busted another long TD on a screen.  Still doubt he would ever get the starting job unless injury got him there.

WR: So many drops.  Jones a decent game and still the best by far.  White did little because of drops and took some shots.

TE: Toilolo a few catches but had 3 terrible drops.  Assuming this is the reason he wasn’t highly valued in fantasy going into the season.

OL: Decent run blocking on the few runs but awful against the pass rush.  Got Ryan hit and sacked quite a bit.  Pretty awful showing.

Def: All kinds of bad.  Got run on and thrown on at will.  Gave up monster to RB and 2 100+ yard WRs.  Just a terrible unit.

Atlanta Falcons Week 5 Fantasy Analysis

Week 5 – @ NYG – L 20-30

QB: Ryan was better on the road this time but still not as good as a home game.  Did have some drops that should almost never happen with this receiving corps.

RB: Jackson looked strong against tough front.  Had good game with receiving added.  Smith busted a long TD catch and run.  Freeman had decent game receiving as well.  Between the 3 RBs – 13 catches, 164 yards, and 1 TD.

WR: Jones had big game while White was quiet.  Hester also didn’t get as many touches.  Didn’t matter who was covering Jones, he was making plays.

TE: Nothing for TEs.  Toilolo continues to be TD dependent and not usable.

OL: Didn’t look good at anything here.  Definitely can’t handle good front on the road right now.

Def: Didn’t look as bad as expected.  Didn’t give up a lot of yards but gave up decent games to RBs and some WRs but held Cruz (3 catches) and Donnell (zero) in check.  Donnell was barely targeted.

Atlanta Falcons Week 4 Fantasy Analysis

Week 4 – @ Minnesota – L 28-41

QB: Ryan looked better on the road against weaker D.  Big game and second pick came on final play of the game.  Did have some drops by receivers that cost him.

RB: Jackson continues to look good.  Running hard, with patience, vision, and surprising speed.  Just needs a game that stays close and they have the lead.  Smith busted a long one.  Great speed shown again.

WR: Jones, White, and Hester all good games.  White did have a few drops that looked bad.  All usable when a shootout is expected.

TE: Toilolo only one grab.  You pretty much play him in fantasy only if you expect the TD.

OL: Run blocking looked pretty good.  Did get QB hit a few times but pass blocking wasn’t too bad.

Def: Obliterated on the road as expected.  200+ yards on the ground and 300+ through the air.  Gave up 4 TDs on the ground.  Until they prove the can stop someone, start everyone against them on the road.

Atlanta Falcons Week 3 Fantasy Analysis

Week 3 – vs TB – W 56-14

QB: Ryan has been stud at home and dud on the road so far.  As many TDs as incomplete passes.  Wasn’t rushed and picked the D apart.

RB: Jackson looked great especially on short TD run.  Still think he’ll be good in closer games.  Was pulled with the rest of the starters.  Rodgers and Freeman looked awful on their carries.  Smith hit a home run but did lose a fumble.

WR: Jones had a monster game.  Coverage on him was terrible.  White DNP.  Douglas got a TD before injury.  Weems was next best WR.  Good game but didn’t look like a game-breaker.

TE: Toilolo did little but kind of expected in a game like this.  He wasn’t needed and won’t be looked at much when D can’t cover WRs.

OL: Looked good against weak D.  Run blocking was not spectacular but good enough early.  Never let pass rush do much.

Def: Made a lot of big plays against struggling offense.  Still looks like a below average unit, just a little better at home.

Atlanta Falcons Week 2 Fantasy Analysis

Week 2 – @ Cincy – L 10-24

QB: Ryan threw a lot of balls away because of coverage.  Rush flushed him a little but just had no where to throw.  Kind of surprising with receiving corps.

RB: Jackson still looks great but big deficit kept him from getting more carries.  Is going to have a big game once they get out ahead of a team.  Rodgers looks okay but doesn’t have Jackson’s vision.

WR: Jones had a big game.  White and Douglas were average.  Seemed to have trouble getting open for Ryan to throw.

TE: Toilolo going to be mostly a red zone guy that will be good with a TD or do little.  Can’t count on him for 6+ catches a game right now.

OL: Blocking was pretty good.  Run blocking was solid against a tough D.  Did good job pass blocking.  Gave Ryan a ton of time and the chance to scramble.

Def: Pretty awful.  Ball was run down their throats with the big lead.  Gave up a few big pass plays despite Green, Eifert, and Jones not playing/catching a pass.  Looks weak overall.