3 years agoIn many ways, 2021 was a career year for Atlanta Falcons running back/wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson. Known for his athleticism and big-play abilities, offensive coordinators have always struggled to find ways to get Patterson involved as a consistent part of the game plan. Patterson has made quite a name for himself as a kick returner before 2021, making first-team All-Pro on four different occasions. But after showing flashes as an RB/WR in the past, Head Coach Arthur Smith was finally able to unlock his full potential in 2021. Patterson was one of the biggest surprises for fantasy managers, finishing the season as RB9 in PPR leagues after going undrafted on most sites. While he did help boost fantasy lineups for the majority of the season, his role was drastically reduced during the final four games, averaging 5.25 PPR points per game in that span. Whether it was due to wear and tear or the Falcons not wanting to put unnecessary mileage on a 30-year-old running back in a lost season, fantasy managers had to be disappointed. Running back Mike Davis and wide receiver Russell Gage are both gone, perhaps leaving a path for more carries and targets for Patterson. Patterson will have to compete with rookie running back Tyler Allgeier for carries and another rookie, wide receiver Drake London for targets. If he can do that, Patterson has a great chance to outperform his current ADP of RB35.--Aaron Knight