2025 Team Previews: Atlanta Falcons
All ADP data is courtesy of Fantasy Pros.
** = target in drafts at this ADP
Relevant Players
Bijan Robinson, RB (ADP: 3, RB2): The Atlanta Falcons are one of the most cut and dry teams in fantasy to figure out, because there’s major talent here and the offense makes sure those players are involved at all times. That starts with Bijan Robinson, who is currently my favorite pick at No. 1 overall. After a rookie season that was pretty solid, but frustrating due to Arthur Smith’s refusal to treat him like a true bell cow Robinson realized his potential in Year 2.
After failing to hit 1,000 yards rushing as a rookie, he exploded for 1,456 yards on the ground last season and totaled 1,887 yards from scrimmage with 15 touchdowns. Robinson is built for three down work, and he’s arguably the best pass-catching RB in the NFL too after posting 61 receptions, 431 yards and a score through the air. Bijan’s combination of prototype size, explosiveness, polish between the tackles and dual threat capability make him an ideal first overall pick. There are arguments for the likes of Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffery or WR Ja’Marr Chase at No. 1 too, but I’ll take Bijan’s youth + the RB eligibility.
Drake London, WR (ADP: 20, WR9): London was a favorite of many to have a true breakout season, and they were right! He was typecast as a pure X receiver, and it’s easy to see why. His size is perfect for an outside role, and his skill set lends itself to that role as well. London was an absolute monster on slants (85.7%), nines (59.3%) and curls (81%). But last season the Falcons’ new coaching regime decided to deploy him far more off the line and in the slot, and the resulting numbers tell the whole story.
London leapt from 69 receptions to 100, 905 yards to 1,271 (his first time breaking the 1,000-yard mark) and from two touchdowns to nine. London blossomed into the superstar WR1 that his underlying metrics told us that he was. The arrow can only point up now in the same system, but with Michael Penix at QB, whom we hope is an upgrade from Kirk Cousins’ tired arm. This ADP is spot on, because while I can see him finishing better than WR9, he’s in a cluster of really excellent WRs and they’re all in this range. London is a WR1 for fantasy rosters, especially if paired with an elite RB.
Interesting Sleeper(s)
**Darnell Mooney, WR (ADP: 136, WR52): Mooney is a little banged up, but provided he’s good to go for Week 1, this is a clear value. It’s interesting that he’s somewhat of a “boring” pick considering he averaged 15.5 yards per reception last year. Mooney was very, very quietly a WR2/high-end WR3 in 2024, finishing with 64 receptions, 992 yards and five touchdowns. No, he isn’t lighting the world on fire but those numbers at this ADP are crazy useful. Nothing has changed in the Falcons’ hierarchy that should dramatically reduce Mooney’s role, and Penix has a much bigger arm than Cousins. Steal.
Kyle Pitts, TE (ADP: 140, TE17): Is Pitts really interesting? Well, we’re finally at the point where fantasy managers aren’t talking themselves into stupid ADPs for him based on his physical traits. At this point we’re beyond him being big and fast and we’re smack in the middle of questioning whether he is good at all at football. It seems so long ago that Pitts was the second rookie to ever post a 1,000-yard season, and that’s because he put up 1,023 yards in the next two seasons COMBINED.
This guy has been a nightmare since that rookie campaign, failing to hit even 700 yards in either of the last two seasons despite appearing in a full 17 games. There is no world where I recommend Pitts as a possible season-long bet on Draft Day, but I will allow a last-round selection as a dart throw that’s easy to discard if he doesn’t pop early. This is still an offense that doesn’t have a bona fide second option that’s a full-field threat. Pitts has not proven that he is either, but in theory, he’s bringing London’s qualities from an interior spot in the formation. It’s a long shot, and I won’t be making this attempt, but there’s truly very little to lose this late in a draft.
Notable Players
Michael Penix, QB (ADP: 159, QB23): Penix was not electric when he took over from Kirk Cousins last season, but he was competent. Penix throws an absolutely gorgeous deep ball, and he has the arm strength to make tight window throws, particularly in the red zone, that Cousins was absolutely killing Atlanta with. There are big drawbacks though, and ones that if they don’t get better, will prevent him from ever being more than a spot start fantasy QB.
First off, he doesn’t and can’t run. That will always lower his ceiling, and it’s not changing. The other drawback is, surprisingly, accuracy. Penix posted just a 58.1% completion rate last year, well below where it needs to be for a pocket passer. He threw only three touchdown passes in his five games, and matched that with three interceptions. He also had substandard completion rates to the left and right side on passes from 1-10 yards, and very poor success between 10-20 yards to his right side. Penix is super talented, and he was a rookie. This stuff can get a lot better in a hurry, and if it does he has a shot at being a real QB1. Until he shows it though, there’s not much value outside of two-QB/SuperFlex leagues in making Penix your dart throw.
Ray-Ray McCloud III, WR (ADP: 293, WR90): McCloud being a notable name is really striking, and says something about this pass-catching group. McCloud is very explosive, and he actually drew 87 targets last season, but he’s far closer to a gadget player than a viable slot receiver. His 62 receptions, 686 yards and one score are respectable marks, but unspectacular. And despite his stature and playmaking, it’s hard to see him becoming a PPR force because he hasn’t proven his route running chops. If Mooney misses time, and McCloud got a chance to be in that role, it’s possible he becomes relevant but that’s just comparing two smallish receivers. McCloud has never demonstrated he’s on Mooney’s level as a receiver, and I don’t expect McCloud to stun us in Year 8 of his career.
Handcuffs
Tyler Allgeier, RB (ADP: 163, RB55): Allgeier deserves more than a handcuff role, and he had one in Robinson’s rookie year, hence the disappointing rookie year. Allgeier was PFF’s No. 8 running back in 2024. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry, nearly 40 yards per game on just eight attempts and continued to be effective on the goal line when given a chance. Allgeier has the most upside of any handcuff in the NFL to be a league winner in the event of injury to the lead back, and on most teams he’d have a big standalone role regardless of who else was present. It’s just that Bijan was PFF’s No. 2 back last season. He’s just too good, and to complete, to ever come off the field for any reason beyond needing a spell.
Even though durability is a big part of the Bijan pitch, those who draft him should absolutely make it a point to draft Allgeier too.