'He's a nightmare to prepare for' - Rising Falcons star gets big recognition in latest ESPN positional rankings

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson became a bona fide star in 2024.

He put it all together in his second NFL season, rushing for 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns, also adding 431 yards and one TD as a receiver. He earned a Pro Bowl nod for his efforts, which will hopefully (and likely) be the first of many.

The folks over at ESPN compiled their RB rankings for the 2025 season, and Robinson shot up two spots from last year's list, going from No. 6 to 4. Here was their breakdown on him:

From ESPN: "After spotty usage in his rookie year, Robinson earned primary back status in 2024. It's no surprise that his game subsequently took off with 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns on 304 carries. Robinson entered the league with considerable expectations and has largely met them. He's one of three players in NFL history to produce 2,400 rushing yards and 100 receptions in a player's first two seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Edgerrin James and LaDainian Tomlinson. Robinson was voted among the top three on half the running back ballots cast for these rankings, but fell just short of Gibbs. His 365 touches last year ranked second behind Barkley (378). Young Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will need similar reliability in 2025. Given all this, Robinson is totally justifiable as a No. 1 or No. 2 pick in fantasy drafts."

An anonymous NFL coordinator described Robinson as the total package:

"Size, speed, acceleration, pass game, value, breaks tackles, can hit home runs. He's a nightmare to prepare for."

It's exciting times for the Falcons' offense, as guys like Robinson and Drake London have been getting the recognition they deserve, and Michael Penix Jr. taking the reigns at quarterback. Atlanta sporadically flashed the potential of having an elite offense in 2024, now it has the opportunity to put it all together throughout the course of an entire season in 2025.