Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons Post-Week 7 Fantasy Outlook

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Diego Chargers kicker Josh Lambo (2) celebrates his game winning field goal with quarterback Kellen Clemens (10) and tight end Hunter Henry (86) as Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (21) looks on during overtime at the Georgia Dome. The Chargers won 33-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Falcons lost another heart-beaker, this one in the form of a 33-30 defeat at the hands of the San Diego Chargers.

Falcons fans, I wouldn’t blame you at all if you were very nervous about the rest of this season: I sure am. The birds blew a 17-point late first half lead in a game which had a very collapse-like feel to it. Hopefully this defeat is just a speed-bump, and nothing more.

Things looked so promising too, as Atlanta scored 27 points in the first half and just kept throwing hay-makers at the dazed Chargers. Alas a victory wasn’t to be, despite a great performance from Julio Jones. The offense scored just 3 second half points, while San Diego made the comeback.

Here is the week 6 Falcons fantasy review, and outlook heading into week 7.

(Note: This is based on NFL.com standard scoring)

Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs past San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Chargers defeated the Falcons 33-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

1. Devonta Freeman

Double Digit Day: Devonta Freeman (15 carries, 58 rushing yards, 5 catches, 42 receiving yards: 10.00 points)

Devonta Freeman got an uptick in touches after Tevin Coleman exited the game with a hamstring injury in the 3rd quarter. He looked good on a few runs (had a series of three straight touches with at least 14 yard gains).

However, it really wasn’t a strong day at the office for the Florida State man. He averaged a lackluster 3.9 yards per carry, and was either dropped for a loss or held to a minimal gain (2 yards or less) on first down on eight separate occasions.

The crucial play which everyone will talk about is the loss on 4th and 1 in Atlanta territory in overtime.

However, despite being stuffed on most of his carries, Freeman was able to salvage his fantasy day with 42 receiving yards to bump his floor. That number was no doubt aided by Coleman’s second half absence.

Analysis: With Coleman hurt, Freeman had a chance to really explode for fantasy owners, but instead finished with fewer rushing yards than Tevin despite having almost twice as many carries.

If Coleman can’t play vs. the Packers next week Freeman will be a must start in a potential shootout.

Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) catches a ball out of bounds against the San Diego Chargers in overtime at the Georgia Dome. The Chargers defeated the Falcons 33-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

2. Julio Jones

Best Fantasy Performance of the Day: Julio Jones (9 catches, 174 receiving yards: 17.40 points)

Julio Jones had the most fantasy points of any Falcons player this week, as he tried his best to will the team to victory.

After getting receptions of 19 yards and 16 yards, respectively, on the first drive, it was clear that this was going to be “one of those days” for Jones. Ryan looked his way early and often, and the result was another yardage explosion.

The culmination of Jones’ afternoon came on a beautiful 50-yard reception, between two defenders, in the second quarter. The Alabama product also willed the Falcons into fringe FG range with receptions of 25 yards and 10 yards in the final 18 seconds of regulation.

The league’s best wide receiver has now totaled double digit fantasy points in five of his seven games so far, and leads the league with 850 receiving yards on the season.

Analysis: Jones is the highest scoring WR in fantasy, and is an obvious must start. He’ll be an elite WR1 in a potential shootout against the Green Bay Packers — a team he torched for 259 receiving yards the last time he played against them.

Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Diego Chargers inside linebacker Denzel Perryman (52) and outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) and outside linebacker Kyle Emanuel (51) celebrate after a fourth down stop as Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) looks on in overtime at the Georgia Dome. The Chargers defeated the Falcons 33-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

3. Matt Ryan

Fantasy Disappointment of the Day: Matt Ryan (22-34, 273 passing yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception: 13.72 points)

Coming into this game against San Diego’s porous passing defense, Ryan was supposed to light up the stat sheets. However, his final numbers (and his second half performance) were very underwhelming.

The one touchdown was a disappointment, especially considering the fact that the birds had to settle for field goals on three separate drives — including one which started on San Diego’s 10-yard line, following a Deion Jones interception return.

The late 4th quarter interception on a 1st and 20 was also utterly unacceptable, and ended up being crucial in San Diego’s comeback.

In the end, missed opportunities and the interception resulted in a disappointing day for Matt Ryan.

Analysis: Despite the sub-15 point performance, Ryan remains the number 1 scoring QB in fantasy. Roll with him in what should be a shootout against the Green Bay Packers next week.

Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman (26) runs the ball for a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers in the second quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

4. Tevin Coleman

Good Day Cut Short: Tevin Coleman (8 carries, 64 rushing yards, 1 catch, 10 receiving yards, 1 rushing touchdown: 13.40 points)

Tevin Coleman looked well on his way to having another memorable fantasy day until a hamstring injury robbed him of most of the second half.

The second year man out of Indiana looked very spry in this one — averaging 8.0 yards per carry on eight carries, in addition to a 10-yard catch.

The culmination of Coleman’s afternoon was a blazing fast 30-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He got to the second level in an instant, and gave the Chargers’ defensive players no chance at catching up to him from there.

Unfortunately, Coleman’s 17-yard first down run with 12:10 left in the third quarter was his last piece of action due to the aforementioned hamstring injury.

Analysis: Coleman was clearly the team’s best running back in this one, but it looks like he’ll miss the game against Green Bay next week. Monitor the situation and be ready to potentially adjust your lineups accordingly in response to an absence.

Even if Coleman is cleared to play I would advise against starting him in fantasy, as he would probably be very limited. Bills RB Lesean McCoy just got a start while battling hamstring problems and totaled just 11 yards on eight carries before aggravating the injury. A hamstring is nothing to mess with.

Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme (83) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (12) against the San Diego Chargers in the second quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

5. The Others

Mohamed Sanu (2 catches, 16 receiving yards: 1.6 points)

When Julio Jones is feasting, the way he was in this one, Mohamed Sanu and the other pass catchers will suffer. Even so, the 16 yards is especially disappointing to those who rolled the dice on him as a flex. Ever since that 80-yard performance in week 1, the Rutgers man hasn’t cracked more than 47 yards once. He’s just far too inconsistent to play.

Jacob Tamme (1 catch, 17 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown: 7.70 points)

Jacob Tamme payed off as a bye week plug-in for an actual TE1 this week. He managed to secure a receiving touchdown, but that was his only reception of the game. Treat him as a last resort bye week plug-in, but as nothing more than a touchdown dependent TE2, due to the inconsistency.

Justin Hardy, Patrick Dimarco, Levine Toilolo, Aldrick Robinson (4 catches combined, 14 receiving yards combined: 1.4 points combined)

Move along, nothing to see here.

Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn (99) returns a fumble for a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers during the second quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

6. Matt Bryant and the Defense

The Kicker: Matt Bryant (3-3 PAT, 1-1 20-29, 1-1 30-39, 1-1 40-49, 0-1 50+: 12.00 points)

Matt Bryant was as reliable as ever in this one, converting on every single kick inside 50 yards.

Atlanta’s offensive struggles, and stall-outs in San Diego territory, led to plenty of opportunities for the kicker: who converted on his first three field goals of the game.

Then came the 58-yard attempt to try and win the game as time expired, which just went off the upright. Considering the circumstances, that was an incredibly difficult kick to make, and Bryant should not be blamed at all for not making it. It was his first miss of the season.

Analysis: Matt Bryant continues to be one of the elite fantasy options at the kicker position this season. Keep him locked and loaded for the potential shoot-out against the Green Bay Packers, in the Georgia Dome, next week.

The Defense (4 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, 1 touchdown, 33 points allowed: 13.00)

It was a very good fantasy day for the Atlanta Falcons defense, despite the high point total given up. In the first half, the defense looked like it would put up absolutely elite numbers this week.

Vic Beasley registered 2.0 of the team’s 4 sacks (Vic is now at 6.5 for the season — fourth in the NFL), and he also forced a fumble, while Deion Jones almost took an interception back for a touchdown on San Diego’s second drive of the game. Adrian Clayborn recovered the aforementioned forced fumble for a touchdown, on a play which got the defense 10 extra fantasy points.

The 33 points given up brought the defense’s fantasy point total back down to earth, however. The 3rd and longs which QB Philip Rivers converted in the second half were absolute back-breakers.

Analysis: This game actually brings Atlanta’s defensive ranking in fantasy up to 12th. However, I’m still not ready to pull the trigger on the defense as a streaming option, at least not against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.