Running Backs

Bijan Robinson (Falcons) NFL Draft Preview

By Joe Orlofski

Posted on May 5, 2023

Post-Draft Fantasy Impact

As expected, Bijan Robinson was drafted on Day One of the NFL Draft, although unexpectedly he went to the Atlanta Falcons.  The Falcons grabbed him as the eighth overall pick, which was the highest a Running Back has gone since the Giants took Saquon second overall in 2018.

Many fantasy fans were hoping Robinson would fall to the Eagles, who let Miles Sanders walk after the 2022 season.  When asked about it, Eagles’ GM Howie Roseman stated “I think at the end of the day, we got the right guys,” Roseman said, “and there is no what if here, there is what is. I just made that line up.”  So who knows if the Eagles would have taken Robinson anyway, so you can’t really complain cause there are worse landing spots than Atlanta.

Now as far as fantasy impact, Robinson joins second-year back Tyler Allgeier and WR-turned-RB Cordarelle Patterson in the backfield. Allgeier led the team in rushing last year with over 1000 yards on the ground.  Patterson was no slouch himself, rushing for 695 yards and scoring eight touchdowns.  Neither one did much in the passing game, although Patterson had a great year in 2021 in that regard when Matt Ryan was under center.

At this point, we could see a three-headed monster in the backfield.  Now Robinson “should” be the day one starter based on draft capital and skill, but you never know with NFL head coaches.  Robinson could slot in behind Allgeier and Patterson to start.  Or he may be the 1b to Allgeier’s 1A.  Maybe Patterson gets moved back to WR to help the receiving corps.  Until camps start and we actually get some news out of Atlanta, it’s anyone’s guess as to how this backfield shapes up.

Either way, Robinson will be a big fantasy asset this year, although his fantasy draft stock probably went down slightly with this landing spot.  Desmond Ridder didn’t prove anything last year, so this offense may struggle to move the ball.  That said, it seems like Atlanta may focus more on being a run-first offense, which means plenty of opportunities for the rookie.  I won’t be surprised if Robinson goes high in drafts and at least becomes startable in most leagues relatively quickly.

Bijan Robinson NFL Draft Preview

Pretty much the consensus #1 Running Back in most mock drafts, Bijan Robinson comes into the 2023 draft with high expectations.  The Junior from Texas has a ton of hype around him, and he figures to be a day-one starter, depending on where he gets drafted, of course.

Robinson made an impact early in his college career, rushing only 86 times but for 703 yards and four touchdowns as a Freshman.  He also caught 15 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns.  Talk about efficient (8.2 ypc and 13 yards per catch).  He only got better from there, rushing for 1157 yards as a Sophomore and 1580 yards as a Junior.  He finished his college career with 539 carries for 3410 yards and 33 touchdowns.  He also caught 60 passes for 805 yards and eight touchdowns.

He won the Doak Walker award as a Junior and was a Unanimous All-American and All-Big-12 Team in 2022.

Robinson is currently projected as a potential first-rounder, although he may slip into the second round based on previous Running Back drafts.

Measurables 

• 5’11” 215 lbs
• 40-yard dash – 4.46 seconds
• Vertical jump – 37″
• Broad Jump – 10’4″

POSITIVES

Robinson is a good-sized back with a ton of strength.  He is listed as 5’11” and 215 lbs, and his 4.46 second time in the forty-yard dash makes him one of the faster backs in the class.  His combination of size and speed makes him a nightmare for opposing defenses.

He is considered a true three-down back, and although he didn’t have a ton of catches in his college career, he made the most of them as evidenced by his 13 yards per catch.  He will be tough to stop on wheel routes and screens.

As mentioned above, Robinson has the size to bounce off tackles and runs low to the ground, making him difficult to bring down with arm tackles alone.  He also has the leg strength to push forward on short-yardage plays and always fights for more yards.

He has quick feet that allow him to make jump-cuts and juke defenders for bigger plays.

Robinson also is a pretty solid pass-blocker, which is a huge deal in today’s NFL.  He doesn’t shy away from blocking or blitzing defenders, making him a well-rounded asset in the backfield.

Basically, Robinson is one of the most well-rounded backs in recent draft history and should fare well wherever he ends up.

NEGATIVES

Robinson’s biggest flaw is that he can be indecisive running the ball.  He often hesitates behind the line of scrimmage, which can lead to tackles for a loss.  He also sometimes looks for holes to open before charging forward, which sometimes also leads to a busted play.

He also tends to be impatient (which is kind of the opposite of what I mentioned just above), missing holes and giving up on blocking too soon.  One of his biggest knocks is that he tends to give up on pass-blocking too early.

And although he is quick, Robinson doesn’t have the breakaway speed other backs have and could be caught by opposing defensive backs.

GRADE – A

I mean it’s hard to give him anything lower than this.  Robinson is one of the most hyped backs to come into the NFL in a while, and seems to be miles ahead of all the other backs in the draft class.

Robinson has the strength and quickness that make him hard to tackle, and his skillset allows him to be a true workhorse back.  He can run, catch, and pass-block, and should be a day-one starter for most teams in the NFL.

He should easily go in the first three rounds of fantasy drafts, and could very well be a league-winner.

Bonus: If you draft him you can call your team Bijan Mustard