Atlanta Falcons Bye Week Rookie Review: Bijan Robinson Trending Towards History
For the third consecutive year, the Atlanta Falcons selected an offensive weapon with the No. 8 overall pick in the NFL Draft ... and much like the previous two years with tight end Kyle Pitts and receiver Drake London, the Falcons are getting immediate returns from running back Bijan Robinson.
Atlanta made Robinson the highest-drafted ballcarrier since the New York Giants took Saquon Barkley at No. 2 overall in 2018, and he's largely delivered on the lofty expectations that came as a result of that status.
It hasn't always been straightforward, but Robinson's on pace to etch his name into Atlanta's rookie record book ... and he's well on his way to establishing himself as one of the game's brightest young playmakers.
With the Falcons reaching their bye week some 10 games in, here's a look back at Robinson's rookie season to date ...
KEY NUMBERS: 125 rushing attempts for 612 yards (4.9 yards per attempt) and two touchdowns; 29 receptions for 208 yards and two scores. Sits at 820 yards from scrimmage.
At this rate, Robinson will finish the year with 1,040 rushing yards and 1,394 yards from scrimmage, both of which would be the most by a rookie in Falcons history.
"REMEMBER WHEN": Robinson made a one-handed catch behind his back and ran it into the endzone in Week 5 against the Houston Texans? Falcons coach Arthur Smith described it as "absurd" while noting great players make the hard plays look easy, and Robinson checked that box.
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson carries the ball against the Houston Texans in Week 5.
USA Today
BEST OF THE BEST: In just his second regular season game as a professional, Robinson took 19 carries for 124 yards and added four receptions for 48 yards in a 25-24 win over the Green Bay Packers. Robinson's 172 yards from scrimmage remain a season-high mark.
BIGGEST OBSTACLE: During Atlanta's Week 7 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Robinson took only one carry while battling through a headache that effectively knocked him out of the gameplan.
This capped a three-game stretch in which he mustered just 86 total rushing yards, and outside criticism surrounding the situation only added to the drama.
WHAT'S TO COME: After taking a career-high 22 carries and rushing for 95 yards and a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals, Robinson's trending in the right direction, and his first bye week as a pro could prove vital to re-charging the batteries for a late push.
The Falcons made it a priority to involve Robinson in the offense, especially in the redzone, and if this continues for the remainder of the year, his numbers could skyrocket.
ONE LAST LINE: “There’s a reason we drafted him as high as we did, and same with Kyle (Pitts) and Drake," Smith said prior to Week 3. "All of them had impacts. Bijan can continue to do that and keep improving, but that’s why we had a lot of conviction to draft him, but there’s so much that goes into it.
“Certainly, there are plays he makes that he is very natural at, but that’s kind of taking some credit away from how hard he works.”
