Fantasy Football: Offensive coordinator breakdown – Atlanta Falcons
Fantasy Football Winners:
Every statistical category under Koetter backs up my feeling that Matt Ryan is in for yet another monster year in Atlanta. The benefit of Matt Ryan playing in a dome for the first 11 games of the season cannot be talked about enough.
Last season, Ryan scored more than 25 fantasy points seven times with five of those coming indoors. He has a very high floor and is the perfect QB2 or streaming quarterback this coming season.
Wait, how is Devonta Freeman a winner after you mentioned so many negatives about running backs in a Dirk Koetter lead offense you might ask?
For starters, Tevin Coleman is no longer in Atlanta and Freeman officially recovered from multiple leg injuries the past couple of seasons. I am expecting a solid workload as not only a runner but as a pass-catcher as well eclipsing over 325 touches and double-digit touchdowns. I also forgot to mention.
The Falcons drafted two highly touted offensive linemen in the first round of this years NFL draft to pair with Pro-Bowler Alex Mack and Jake Matthews.
The only knock on Freeman is his ability to stay healthy, which makes taking his handcuff a priority.
Entering his second season in the NFL, Julio Jones exploded for 79 catches 1,198 yards and his only double-digit touchdown season of his career happened with Dirk Koetter as his offensive coordinator.
He is probably the most physically gifted wide receiver in the NFL, averages 15.4 yards a reception and is going to be playing for a team that is going to throw over 600 times this year. Volume is king in fantasy football and Julio Jones is about to get a ton of it.
After a sensational rookie season (64 catches for 821 yards and 10 touchdowns) Ridley looks to take the next step in what will be Pro-Bowl filled career. While touchdown regression is for certain, Ridley should increase his snap share from 65% which should lead to more targets and yards for the second year player out of Alabama.
The duo of Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley reminds me an awful lot of Roddy White and Julio Jones in 2012 and 2014. Those were the only two seasons they played together in which Dirk Koetter was calling plays.
The numbers are staggering.
Julio Jones 2012- 79 Rec 1,198 Yds 10 Touchdowns 2014- 104 Rec 1,593 Yds 6 Touchdowns
Roddy White 2012- 92 Rec 1,351 Yds 7 Touchdowns 2014- 80 Rec 921 Yds 7 Touchdowns
One thing that is very noticeable in a Dirk Koetter offense, is the amount of targets allocated to the tight end position.
In Koetter’s 11 seasons as an offensive coordinator, the TE1 was targeted 70 or more times in 7 of his 11 seasons with five of those generating more than 80 targets in a season. I would look for Hooper to be third in targets for the Falcons this season and a viable starting tight end in fantasy this season.
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Fantasy Football Losers:
None. I absolutely love this offense this season. Not only will the defense struggle to stop anybody but the offensive line should be dramatically improved and fit the elite weapons they have in Atlanta.