Falcons 'Ideal' Landing Spot for Ravens' Lamar Jackson; Fantasy Impact?
Rumors tying incumbent Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to the Atlanta Falcons continue to gain steam ... and could have massive fantasy football implications.
According to ESPN, Atlanta is the ideal fantasy destination for Jackson, should the Ravens ultimately decide to part ways with the 2019 MVP.
“The speed Jackson could bring to Atlanta’s run-centric offense might be exactly what makes it fly,” said ESPN.
Jackson, 26, has rushed for over 1,000 yards twice in his five-year career and, prior to sustaining an injury, was on pace to cross the century mark yet again in 2022, averaging 6.8 yards per carry and 9.3 carries per game.
Last season, the Falcons led the league in rushing attempts with 559, and their quarterbacks accounted for more than 18 percent of the team's rushing attempts combining for an average of 4.6 yards per carry on 5.3 attempts per game.
Adding Jackson to the already potent rushing attack Atlanta deployed a season ago would be dangerous - however, the biggest benefactors of a Jackson trade would undoubtedly be Kyle Pitts and Drake London.
In Baltimore, Jackson has had tremendous success with tight ends such as Mark Andrews, who has been to three pro bowls, two of which were simultaneously linked to Jackson’s pro bowl seasons (last season, Ravens backup Tyler Huntley made the pro bowl alongside Andrews in relief of Jackson due to injuries).
With Jackson at the helm of the Falcons’ offense, he could lead a bounce-back campaign for Pitts, who saw his role in Arthur Smith’s scheme dwindle as he hit a sophomore slump. As a rookie, Pitts was a Pro-Bowler and averaged 9.9 targets per game, but last season his targets fell by nearly 40 percent, down to 6 targets per game.
Should the Falcons acquire Jackson, expect Pitts to rebound from his disappointing second season and to see London make strides in his development. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2022 draft would provide Jackson with the target No. 1 target he’s lacked up until this point of his career.
If Jackson winds up in Atlanta next season, the Falcons' offense will have some players with the highest upside in all of fantasy football.
You can follow Isaiah DeAnda Delgado on Twitter @IsaiahDDelgado.
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