When the Atlanta Falcons took Bijan Robinson eighth overall in the 2023 draft, they knew he was something special. With his ability to make people miss in a phonebook, to catch the ball out of the backfield and down the field, his charismatic personality, Robinson was a budding superstar before he took a snap in the NFL. So, when he set the record for most yards from scrimmage by an Atlanta rookie last season with 1,463 yards, nobody was surprised. It was almost expected.
With the new offensive infrastructure in place, the expectations for Robinson are sky-high, and according to ESPN’s Mike Clay's 2024 projections, Robinson is on pace to meet them.
Robinson's rookie season was a mixed bag that included limited rushing contributions (15th or lower in carries, yards and TDs) but excellent receiving production (top five among RBs in routes, targets, yards and TDs), as well as terrific efficiency. Robinson's season felt underwhelming considering his early-first-round pedigree, but he finished fifth among RBs in snaps, sixth in yards and ninth in fantasy points. With Kirk Cousins now under center and Zac Robinson replacing run-heavy Arthur Smith as the team's play caller, a leap forward for Robinson seems likely in his second campaign.
In Clay’s fantasy projections, Robinson is the fifth-best option in fantasy football this season due to the countless ways he can attack a defense. The combination of him and fellow running backs Tyler Allgeier, Jase McClellan and Avery Williams, Clay ranks the Falcons running back room the third-best in the NFL behind only the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.
Robinson is also the third-most productive running back behind 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and New York Jets running back Breece Hall. What was most interesting about the projection is that of the top-seven running backs, Robinson is the only one not projected for 1000+ yards rushing. His role is projected to be so diverse that he is still a top-three running back despite his lack of actual rushing yards. If these projections are accurate, Falcons fans are in for a show whenever Robinson takes the field.
