Since the Atlanta Falcons drafted Matt Ryan in 2008, the franchise has made the playoffs in three of the past four seasons. They are a solid regular season team, but sport an 0-3 playoff record during the same time span. The Falcons have the pieces on both sides of the ball to take the next step but it will be up to Ryan to lead the charge. With Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez as his primary receiving weapons, the former Boston College quarterback has a shot to put up elite numbers.
Quarterback
Matt Ryan's passing yards and touchdowns have continued to go up since 2009. There's no reason why that trend won't continue with sophomore wideout Julio Jones. By utilizing Jones' speed, the passing attack will become even more explosive with a year of experience under his belt. The offense is slowly transitioning toward Ryan's skill set while relying less on Michael Turner and the run game. Expect him to reach about 4,200 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. Ryan is not the flashiest name out there, but he can put up numbers similar to those ranked ahead of him (Michael Vick, Tony Romo, Philip Rivers).
Running Back
Michael Turner has been a steady workhorse since joining the Falcons, as he has reached double-digit touchdowns in four straight seasons. He looks to continue that streak, but at the same time, his rushing totals in general could suffer a small decline. Turner is 30 years old, and in three full seasons with Atlanta, he has averaged 337 carries. He's a powerful runner, but those hits will take a toll on his body. To reduce the wear and tear, the Falcons will likely use him strictly as a two-down back and let Jacquizz Rodgers come in on third downs. Turner remains a viable No. 2 fantasy running back because of his scoring ability, but a drop in carries and rushing yards is to be expected. Rodgers has speed and quickness to be the team's change-of-pace option, but is not capable of handling a full-time role. If Turner misses time with an injury, the Falcons will look to use Rodgers and Jason Snelling together. However, neither has enough value to handcuff to Turner.
Wide Receivers and Tight End
Roddy White is the model of consistency. He has yet to miss a single game in his seven-year career and has recorded at least 83 catches since 2007. His last two years have been even more impressive as he led the league with an astounding 215 receptions. Ryan has White's trust, so he will continue to see a majority of targets even with Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez apart of the passing game. Treat White as a top-five fantasy wideout. Jones has quickly developed into a legitimate threat who can put pressure on opposing defenses. In just his rookie season he ended with 959 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Much of that production came in the final four weeks of the regular season where he totaled at least 75 receiving yards and a score. Jones is a big play waiting to happen, but what makes him a premier wideout is his versatility. He's not solely a deep threat, but is also skilled enough to make tough grabs over the middle, turning short gains into big plays. Jones is a low-end No. 1 fantasy receiver who looks to be even better in year two. Harry Douglas will likely remain the team's slot receiver. He has no fantasy value being the team's fourth receiving option.
Tony Gonzalez is seriously considering retirement after this upcoming season. He'll want to go out on a high note, but the emergence of Jones makes it hard for him to top last year's numbers. Even though Gonzalez lost his speed, he still has reliable hands and knows how to get open. The 16-year veteran ranks just outside the top 10 among tight ends.
Kicker
Matt Bryant led the league in field goal accuracy, making 93 percent of his attempts. Kicking for a high-powered offense that will play in 10 dome games is also an appealing factor. Bryant's only drawback is his lack of power, as he only made three field goals of more than 50 yards over the past two seasons. Overall, the positives outweigh the lone negative, so draft Bryant as a safe, top-10 kicker.
Defense
Even though the Falcons acquired four-time Pro Bowler in Asante Samuel, the defense remains a middle-of-the-pack option in fantasy. John Abraham is Atlanta's best defensive lineman but is 34 years old. If Ray Edwards and Kroy Biermann could help him get after the quarterback, this unit would be more desirable. Losing Curtis Lofton to New Orleans and Lofa Tatupu to a pectoral injury also raise some concerns about the middle linebacker position. Bringing in defensive coordinator Mike Nolan helps, but take a wait-and-see approach before inserting this unit into your lineup.
Sources:
nfl.comTravis Chan is a fantasy sports enthusiast and contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. You can follow him on Twitter @Travischan1.
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