Falcons Depth Chart: Madden Projects Atlanta RBs
While the Atlanta Falcons are hopeful that quarterback Desmond Ridder can take a step forward in his second NFL season, their chances to compete in a wide-open NFC South likely depend upon just how dominant their trio of running backs -- Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson -- can be in 2023.
In advance of next month's release of Madden NFL 24, EA Sports released ratings for each of the three this week.
Patterson -- who is more of a Swiss Army knife than a prototypical running back -- was ranked the highest among Atlanta's trio at 85, which was the 15th highest rating among all players at the position. There's no doubt that Patterson's history as one of the better punt returners in NFL history helped the 32-year-old to be ranked so highly.
Meanwhile, Bijan Robinson is preparing for his rookie season after being taken by the Falcons with the No. 8 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft. Robinson will debut in Madden with a 81 rating, which is tied for 22nd among running backs. Like Robinson, D'Andre Swift of the Philadelphia Eagles and Cam Akers of the Los Angeles Rams also were given an 81 rating.
Of the trio, Allgeier probably got the worst break from the ratings team at Madden. A fifth-round pick last year, Allgeier rushed for 1,035 yards in his rookie season, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He was rewarded with a 78 rating, which is 33rd among running backs.
It should be noted, however, that this isn't like the old days where you went to the store in August to buy that year's version of Madden and you were stuck with whatever ratings each player had at the beginning of the season. EA Sports updates Madden ratings each week now, so it's entirely possible that Robinson and/or Allgeier could leapfrog Patterson at some point this season.
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