2021 Team Preview: Atlanta Falcons

Thanks for checking out our latest article in our 2021 Team Preview series. We will be breaking down the outlook for teams in 2021, key acquisitions during the off-season and through the 2021 NFL Draft, key losses, and looking at each team from a dynasty perspective. We’ll give you some players to consider buying, selling, stashing, and potential sleeper candidates. Stay tuned for more team breakdowns as we approach the 2021 NFL season. Here is our 2021 Team Preview: Atlanta Falcons.

2021 Outlook

The Atlanta Falcons had an anticlimactic 2020 season finishing 4-12 taking last in the NFC South. With only room to improve, the Falcons gave their organization a breath of new life bringing in Arthur Smith, former offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, as their head coach, while also bolstering both sides of the ball through free agency and the draft. The Falcons set themselves up for a quick rebound from last season with a new coaching staff and a highly touted draft class, giving them a strong foundation for the future. 

Key Acquisitions/Losses

The Falcons had an eventful offseason, to say the least. Making major headlines after using their fourth overall pick to draft Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, the highest pick to be used for a tight end in NFL history. Following that, they drafted safety Richie Grant in the second round to enhance their secondary. In the 3rd round, they added some help to their offensive line with Jaylen Mayfield. The Falcons then executed a blockbuster move trading Hall of Famer wide receiver Julio Jones to the Titans for future picks, also deciding to move on from Todd Gurley.  They then added former Carolina Panthers running back Mike Davis to an affordable 2-year $5.5 million deal to create a new spark in their backfield after filling in exceptionally for Christian McCaffrey. All this behind signing new head coach Arthur Smith gives this franchise a new shine and plenty of reason for excitement. 

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Dynasty Quick Hits

Buy Low: Matt Ryan

An aging Pro Bowler quarterback who loses their future HOF receiver of 10 years is obviously going to generate a lot of questions about their future. However, even with the loss of Julio Jones, Matt Ryan, who has thrown for over 4,000 yards the last 10 seasons and had a career-high 626 pass attempts last year, holds onto an elite receiving core with stud wideouts Calvin Ridley. Ridley is heading into this season with WR1 potential and a ton of upside, alongside Russell Gage. With the addition of rookie first-rounder, Kyle Pitts to fill in the hole Austin Hooper left after 2019, and a potential high volume pass-catching running back in Mike Davis, Ryan has a fully stocked arsenal to succeed and be a QB1 in the 2021 season. Now is a chance to add a reliable QB on the low while his future production becomes clouded with uncertainty due to the loss of Jones. He’s cheap enough and could be a nice one to target in Superflex or 2QB leagues if you’re looking to win now. 

Sell High: Mike Davis

Mike Davis is coming off a career-high season with over 1,000 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns in 2020, finishing as the RB12 in PPR scoring leagues. Averaging just under 4 YPC, the 28-year-old running back had 59 catches last year with the Panthers that heavily inflated his numbers last season. Being the only veteran back on the roster, Davis is looking at a three-down role with a team that has a young unproven offensive line, a defense that allowed 26 points per game, and a history of spending so much time behind on the scoreboard the team will be looking to pass the ball downfield. With Ridley, Gage, and

rookie Kyle Pitts running routes, Davis will not be the focus of the offense like he was in Carolina. Although he’s a guaranteed volume play, it’s hard to imagine Davis coming close to touching the same numbers he did last year which is what makes it the perfect time to move him to a team with light running back depth and looking to make a championship run.

Sleeper: Russell Gage

Facing his first sink or swim position, Russell Gage enters his fourth season in the NFL. Once again, the Jones trade is a major influence for the 6th-round pick’s future moving him to the full-time WR2 position. After the Week 10 bye in 2020, Gage was on the field for 83% of Atlanta’s offensive snaps, averaging eight targets per game on a 66% completion rate at almost 11 YPR; finding the endzone three times in that span. 

With Smith taking the helm, Gage will have a brand new offense coming to Atlanta opening up the opportunity to step up and take his share of the usual 100+ targets left vacant by the absence of Jones. Currently being drafted as a WR4, Gage’s upside says he will make a name for himself this season with a mid-level WR2 ceiling. New number. New Era. 

Stash: Cordarrelle Patterson

Cordarrelle Patterson is an interesting choice for a last-round pick or someone to keep an eye on the waiver wire. Davis is the only solidified running back on the Falcons depth chart meaning Patterson has the second-most experience at the position on the team. If Davis were to go down, it would seem more plausible that Patterson would be the handcuff instead of Tony Brooks-James or the two undrafted free agents they brought on this off-season. Patterson will also be competing with Tajae Sharpe for the team’s third wide receiver spot, and being recognized as one of the better kick returners to play the game there is always the possibility of the special teams touchdowns.

Honorable Mention: Kyle Pitts

It seems wrong to not mention Kyle Pitts when discussing dynasty football and the Falcons. Go get Pitts if you can, but don’t overpay. He will become the centerpiece of your team, although keep expectations in perspective, tight ends have a history of slow starts, he just may be an exception. This generational powerhouse is not going away but instead will age over time like a fine wine. His price is extremely high, but rightfully so. If you haven’t had your rookie drafts yet, don’t be afraid to spend a top-three pick on Pitts.

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