A lively discussion recently emerged about who currently holds the title of the biggest superstar in Atlanta sports. My friend Brian Diaconu quickly pointed out that the Winnipeg Jets' transformation from the old Thrashers days shouldn't be included.
Without missing a beat, I declared, 'Bijan Robinson.' Despite Ronald Acuna's impressive NL MVP season a few years back and Trae Young's consistent double-doubles on the court, I firmly believe Bijan is the one to watch, no doubt about it. With running backs regaining popularity, largely thanks to Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry, one has to wonder if new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson will unleash #7 against rival defenses. It's worth noting that Bijan didn't surpass 20 rushes in a game until he faced Seattle on October 20th. Why it took seven weeks to reach that point remains a mystery. In his 33 professional starts, Bijan Robinson boasts an impressive 4.7 yards per carry. Walter Payton, often regarded as the greatest running back ever, finished his career with an average of 4.4. Interestingly, Payton's third season was his most statistically remarkable. In 1977, during a 14-game schedule, he achieved his highest offensive output, rushing for 1,852 yards, the best total of any season for Sweetness. Robinson is nearing his third season now. The big question is whether the offense will truly revolve around him. To find a Falcons running back who led the entire NFL in rushing, you'd have to go back to 1998, when Jamal Anderson accomplished that feat. The Falcons rode his success all the way to the Super Bowl that year. Why not follow that same strategy for 2025? Currently, Bijan is just 4,199 yards shy of Gerald Riggs' all-time franchise record of 6,631 yards. If they let him loose, we could see a new king crowned in a few years.
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