X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community!

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
Fantasy Updates
24x7 News and Alerts

NFL Draft 32 for 32 - Atlanta Falcons

The 2018 Atlanta Falcons were a Jekyll and Hyde team. On offense, they were among the league's best in moving the ball (sixth in total yards) but on defense, they could not stop anyone (25th in 26.4 PPG allowed). Matt Ryan rebounded in a big way from a poor 2017 (4,923 yards with 38 total TDs) to finish as the QB2 in fantasy scoring (416.15 FP). The continued brilliance of Julio Jones (329.80 FP) and the emergence of rookie Calvin Ridley (208.80 FP) helped propel this offense into one of the most lethal in the NFL. The passing attack seems to be hitting on all cylinders and should have Ryan and company as some of the more popular options in fantasy drafts.

In the backfield, Devonta Freeman is returning from a lost season due to injury. He will be without his backfield mate, Tevin Coleman, who departed to play in San Francisco. Freeman has shown in the past an ability to carry the workload, but the wear and tear could be catching up to him. Outside of Freeman, Ito Smith flashed some potential in spurts, but he is best suited in a complementary role on this team as a short-yardage guy. If he plays the full 16 games, Freeman is a running back that can give you RB1 value and will come at a decent price in drafts.

As for the draft. this could be a year that lines up perfectly for a team like the Falcons. With the depth that this class has on the defensive side of the ball, look for the team to spend plenty of capital in that area. They could use some help at each level of the defense. I see them taking numerous stabs there with each selection, starting with the defensive line.

Be sure to also check our other Week 14 fantasy football waiver wire pickups articles:

 

Top Three Projected Selections

First Round- Brian Burns, DE Florida State (14th overall)
Second Round- Tre Lamar, LB Clemson (45th)
Third Round- Tae Hayes, CB Appalachian State (79th)

Remaining Picks
Fourth Round- 117th, 137th
Fifth Round- 152nd, 172nd
Sixth Round- 186th
Seventh Round- 230th

For a defense that struggled in stopping the run, the selection of Brian Burns could help to improve that aspect. Burns is a defensive end that has an elite get-off speed that allows him to outrun tackles to get into the backfield. His ability to track down ball carriers will be important as he gets implemented into the rotation in his rookie season. But his lack of play strength and slender frame can hinder him as a pass rusher. Until he builds more muscle and improves technique, he could get overpowered in passing situations.

Jumping into the linebacker position with their second pick, the Falcons add Tre Lamar. Lamar is a true "size guy" at linebacker. He has the rare size for the position and applies that with thumps on the ball carrier. He has great discipline playing from inside or low in the box. His below-average athleticism limits him to strictly being an early down specialist. Lamar undoubtedly will be a vital piece in improving the Falcons run defense but could be a liability to go into coverage against opposing running backs.

Hayes is a defensive back that is slowly climbing up boards with a strong offseason of workouts. He may not have the ideal size (5'10 185lbs.) to play on the outside against some of the upper echelon receivers in the league. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for in play speed. He has the ability to catch up to any play with his quickness and above average ball skills. He could easily file in as a slot corner to open his career while projecting out as a potential CB2 on this defense.

More NFL Draft Coverage




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
Fantasy Updates
24x7 News and Alerts

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

D'Andre Swift10 mins ago

Practices On Wednesday
Anthony Edwards10 mins ago

Has Been Upgraded To Active On Wednesday
Grant Williams16 mins ago

Receives Questionable Tag Against Jazz
Justin Jefferson21 mins ago

"On Track" To Return On Sunday
Mark Williams23 mins ago

Tagged As Questionable On Wednesday
Breece Hall32 mins ago

Unable To Practice Wednesday
Bam Adebayo34 mins ago

Ruled Out On Wednesday
Dawson Knox42 mins ago

Dalton Kincaid Practicing In Full
DeVante Parker47 mins ago

JuJu Smith-Schuster Both Questionable
Kayshon Boutte55 mins ago

Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte Won't Face Steelers
Rhamondre Stevenson1 hour ago

Officially Ruled Out For Week 14
Najee Harris1 hour ago

Questionable To Play Thursday Night
Erasmo Ramírez1 hour ago

Erasmo Ramirez Re-Signs With Rays
Aaron Judge2 hours ago

Could Be Regular Center Fielder
Connor Seabold2 hours ago

Rockies Release Connor Seabold
New York Yankees2 hours ago

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Expected To Meet With Yankees Monday
Dylan Cease2 hours ago

White Sox Have High Asking Price For Dylan Cease
Trent Grisham2 hours ago

Expected To Be Shipped To Yankees
Bryce Harper2 hours ago

Hoping To Discuss Another Long-Term Deal
Craig Kimbrel2 hours ago

Orioles Agree To One-Year Deal
Mason Plumlee2 hours ago

Not Close To Returning
Tari Eason2 hours ago

Iffy To Play With Illness
Dalton Schultz3 hours ago

Returns To Practice
Bradley Beal3 hours ago

Suns Optimistic Bradley Beal Could Return Next Week
Cleveland Browns3 hours ago

Browns Undecided On Starting QB In Week 14
Kyrie Irving3 hours ago

Tim Hardaway Jr. Both Active Against Jazz
Dorian Thompson-Robinson3 hours ago

Expected To Practice
Kristaps Porzingis3 hours ago

Fully Practices, Targeting Return Friday
Darren Waller3 hours ago

Hopes To Return Next Week
Dallas Goedert3 hours ago

Sounds Ready To Return In Week 14
Hayden Hurst3 hours ago

Returns To Practice Wednesday
Frankie Montas3 hours ago

Fully Healthy
D'Onta Foreman3 hours ago

A Full Participant In Practice Off The Bye
Michael A. Taylor3 hours ago

Receiving Interest From Reds, Red Sox, Blue Jays
A.J. Puk4 hours ago

To Be Stretched Out As A Starter
Eduardo Rodriguez4 hours ago

Expected To Have Decision By Thursday
Oakland Athletics4 hours ago

Mitch Spence Taken First In Rule 5 Draft
Trevor Lawrence4 hours ago

Won't Participate In Practice On Wednesday
Dylan Coleman4 hours ago

Goes From Royals To Astros
Kareem Hunt4 hours ago

Missing Wednesday's Practice
Amari Cooper4 hours ago

Won't Take Practice Field On Wednesday
Isiah Pacheco5 hours ago

No Practice For Isiah Pacheco On Wednesday
DJ LeMahieu5 hours ago

Is The Team's Starting Third Baseman
Jake Cronenworth5 hours ago

Another Trade Candidate For Padres
Juan Soto5 hours ago

To Yankees "Close To Being Finalized"
Joshua Dobbs5 hours ago

Vikings Sticking With Joshua Dobbs As Starting Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers5 hours ago

Won't Practice Wednesday
Nathan MacKinnon7 hours ago

Extends Scoring Streak With Three-Point Effort
Tomas Hertl7 hours ago

Posts Sixth Career Hat Trick
Vladimir Tarasenko7 hours ago

Shines In Win Over Rangers
J.T. Miller7 hours ago

Grabs Three Points In Loss Versus New Jersey
Jack Hughes7 hours ago

Continues Tear Versus Canucks
Matt Boldy8 hours ago

Notches Three Points In Tuesday's Win
Devin Vassell8 hours ago

Probable For Wednesday
Landry Shamet8 hours ago

Questionable For Wednesday's Game
Dean Wade8 hours ago

Listed As Questionable Wednesday
Caris LeVert8 hours ago

Sits Out Second Consecutive Game
Jonathan Isaac8 hours ago

Questionable For Wednesday's Matchup
Joe Harris8 hours ago

Considered Doubtful Wednesday
Marvin Bagley9 hours ago

III Probable For Wednesday
Michael Tonkin17 hours ago

Agrees To Big-League Deal With Mets
Luis García17 hours ago

Angels Sign Luis Garcia To One-Year Deal
Gregory Santos17 hours ago

Might Not Be Full-Go For Start Of Spring Training
Craig Kimbrel17 hours ago

Orioles "Seriously Engaged" With Craig Kimbrel
Jordan Clarkson20 hours ago

To Miss Third Straight Game
Lauri Markkanen20 hours ago

Out On Wednesday
Aaron Gordon20 hours ago

Listed As Probable
Josh Green21 hours ago

To Miss A Few Weeks
Anfernee Simons21 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Wednesday
Connor Ingram1 day ago

Takes Winning Streak To Five Games With Second Shutout
Clayton Keller1 day ago

Records Hat Trick Of Assists
Travis Konecny1 day ago

Logs Two Assists In Monday's Win
Anthony Cirelli1 day ago

Nets Two Goals As Tampa Bay Ends Slide
Andrei Vasilevskiy1 day ago

Bounces Back In Style On Monday
Nikolaj Ehlers1 day ago

Takes Down Hurricanes
Beneil Dariush2 days ago

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss At UFC Austin
Beneil Dariush2 days ago

Arman Tsarukyan Knocks Out Beneil Dariush In 64 Seconds
Jalin Turner2 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Bobby Green2 days ago

Gets Knocked Out In The First Round
Punahele Soriano2 days ago

Dustin Stoltzfus Submits Punahele Soriano
Punahele Soriano2 days ago

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Nathan MacKinnon2 days ago

Pushes Point Streak To Eight Games
Quinton Byfield2 days ago

Pots Two Goals Against Colorado
Alex Tuch2 days ago

Exits With Injury
Artemi Panarin2 days ago

Amasses Four Points In Sunday's Win
Mats Zuccarello2 days ago

Shines As Wild Keep Improving
Brad Marchand2 days ago

Scores First Natural Hat Trick
Clay Guida3 days ago

Falls To .500 In The UFC
Joaquim Silva3 days ago

Gets Decision Win At UFC Austin
Kelvin Gastelum3 days ago

Submitted In Welterweight Return
Jordan Greenway3 days ago

Won't Play On Sunday
Sean Brady3 days ago

Returns To Win Column
Rob Font3 days ago

1-4 In Last Five Fights After Loss At UFC Austin
Deiveson Figueiredo3 days ago

Wins Bantamweight Debut
Cale Makar3 days ago

Out On Sunday
Cole Sillinger3 days ago

To Miss Another Game
Beneil Dariush5 days ago

Arman Tsarukyan A Favorite Over Beneil Dariush At UFC Austin
Beneil Dariush5 days ago

Has A Dangerous Task In Front Of Him
Bobby Green5 days ago

Looking For Third Win In A Row
Jalin Turner5 days ago

A Favorite At UFC Austin
Dustin Stoltzfus5 days ago

In Dire Need Of Victory
Punahele Soriano5 days ago

Looking To Return To Win Column