The Falcons made Bijan Robinson the highest-drafted running back since the Giants took Saquon Barkley in 2018.
The selection was met with polarizing opinions. Some had harsh words for the club, while others saw the vision, which is beginning to reveal itself during Atlanta’s training camp.
Regardless of who you follow on social media, Bijan Robinson videos are littered across the internet. The Texas product has consistently made highlight-reel plays as a pass catcher, which was a driving factor in the Falcons’ decision to draft him.
However, don’t let his rushing ability get lost in the excitement. He’s still one of the best pure runners I have ever seen; his contact balance, burst, vision, explosiveness, and toughness pops when you watch him. It’s apparent what the Falcons see in Robinson, especially considering Arthur Smth’s run-heavy offense.
There might not be a better fit than Robinson and Atlanta’s offense. He’s going to get a ton of touches and be an immediate impact player, begging the question, will he lead the NFL in rushing?
1,409 yards would equate to just under 83 yards per game, which seems attainable for someone as talented as Robinson, especially considering the opportunities he’ll garner in this offense.
If he were to lead the NFL in rush yards, he’d become the first rookie to do so since Kareem Hunt recorded 1,327 yards in 2017 and Ezekiel Elliott put up 1,631 in 2016.
Given Robinson’s ability to contribute in the passing game as well, nobody should be surprised if he sniffs 2,000 all-purpose yards en route to the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, becoming the first Falcons player to do so since Matt Ryan.
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