No Roddy White or Devin Hester. White was let go after setting team receiving records over 11 seasons, and star return man Hester won’t return either, so the Falcons have big shoes to fill. Julio Jones, fresh off his first All-Pro season, becomes the unquestioned No. 1 and could make a run at 2,000 receiving yards this season. Newcomer Aldrick Robinson was impressive in the preseason, and signing Pro Bowl center Alex Mack away from Cleveland also should help quarterback Matt Ryan. On defense, seven-time Pro Bowl end Dwight Freeney was signed to bring some teeth to a pass rush that ranked last with 19 sacks last year. The Falcons haven’t ranked higher than 28th in sacks since 2012. At 36, Freeney still can unleash the beast: He had eight sacks in 11 games for Arizona last year without a training camp, and his 119.5 sacks are fourth among active players.
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With White gone, Jones is the unquestioned No. 1 receiver. He caught 136 passes for 1,871 yards last year — the second-highest totals in NFL history — to earn his first All-Pro honor. “He's going to dominate whatever he does,” former Panthers cornerback Josh Norman told ESPN. FANTASY SPIN
Freeman emerged as a dual threat last season, with 1,056 rushing yards and 73 catches — third-most by a running back. He’ll be just as dangerous this season, in part because he won’t be an every-down back. Second-year RB Tevin Coleman is expected to help lighten the load. FANTASY SPIN
The Clemson linebacker was one of the top pass rushers in the draft when Atlanta took him with the eighth pick in 2015. He had just four sacks as a rookie. Coach Dan Quinn was expected to bring defense with him from Seattle, and the turnaround starts with Beasley.
Was last year's campaign a sign of decline or an aberration that should be easily forgotten? It's hard to say, but to his credit, Matt Ryan still has four straight seasons with more than 4,500 passing yards. Before last year, he had five straight years with at least 25 touchdown passes. His resume simply doesn't read like a backup fantasy quarterback. With arguably the best receiver in football in Jones and a big-time receiving threat out of the backfield in Freeman, Ryan has some very nice weapons at his disposal. If you want to wait on a quarterback in your draft, and you should, Ryan is a player to target.
(All lines courtesy of Bovada.com, as of 8/31)
Season win total over/under: 7.5 (over +110, under -140)
Odds to win the Super Bowl: 50/1. Given that the Falcons are -250 to miss the playoffs entirely, betting on Atlanta to win the Super Bowl isn't exactly wise. If you do want to bet on something Falcons-related, consider Jones to lead the NFL in receiving yards (at 3/1). Speaking of which ...
One thing we wish we could bet on: Julio Jones becoming the first WR to break 2,000 yards receiving. Atlanta will find itself playing from behind far too often this season, which will give Jones plenty of opportunity to haul in bomb after bomb as the Falcons try to catch up.
September 11, vs. Tampa Bay
An NFC South shootout with Jameis Winston in the season opener is just the beginning of a tough, tough schedule.
October 2, vs. Carolina
“Super” schedule: The Falcons host the NFC champs in Week 4, then go to Denver in Week 5. (For good measure, they go to Seattle in Week 6. Did we mention this schedule is tough?)
January 1, vs. New Orleans
If the Falcons are still in it on the final Sunday of the season, this divisional showdown with Drew Brees & Co. could be big.
We say: 7-9
WhatIfSports simulation says: 7-9
-- Andre Vergara, D.J. Foster (fantasy), Andrew Lynch (betting)
