How will Bijan Robinson's fantasy potential be affected by the Falcons' new coaching staff?

The Los Angeles Rams finished seventh in the NFL with 359.3 yards per game in 2023. The Atlanta Falcons finished 17th with 334.3 yards per game.

This is relevant to Bijan Robinson’s value in fantasy football. The Falcons will run the Rams’ offensive system this year after hiring head coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson away from Los Angeles. So if a rising tide lifts all boats, then Bijan Robinson’s numbers should go up after an impressive rookie season, right?

Probably. Robinson set Atlanta’s franchise record for yards from scrimmage with 1,463 last season, scoring eight total touchdowns. He was one of only four rookies in NFL history to rush for 1,400-plus yards from scrimmage, 55-plus receptions and four or more touchdowns.

After his first professional offseason, Robinson should be even better in his second year. There are a few details worth digging into, though. Robinson’s total yards as a rookie came from 976 rushing yards and 487 passing yards, with an even split in scoring — four rushing touchdowns and four receiving touchdowns.

That’s a significant fact because former Falcons head coach and broadcaster Arthur Smith is one of the league’s most vocal advocates of throwing the ball to running backs. Robinson caught 58 passes as a rookie.

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Over the past three seasons, all Rams running backs have averaged 50 receptions per year. Falcons running backs have caught 88 passes in 2023, so Robinson likely loses value as a pass catcher this season.

Can he compensate by carrying more than the 214 he carried last year and increasing his running ability? That depends on how the new staff values backup running back Tyler Allgeier. Rams coach Sean McVay, who developed Zac Robinson, has a reputation for giving most of the carries to his best running back. But one of the first things Atlanta’s new staff did when he hired him was assure Allgeier that he would still be heavily involved in the running game, according to a league source.

Allgeier set the franchise rookie rushing record in 2022 with 1,035 yards and had another 683 yards in backup to Robinson last year, so he’s shown an ability to make the most of his opportunities.

Robinson is The AthleticThe third-ranked Fantasy running back in early 2024 projections, behind the San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey and the Indianapolis Colts’ Jonathan Taylor, is clearly worthy of being a top pick in any draft. However, it’s worth noting how his situation has changed since the end of last season.