Atlanta Falcons Depth Chart
- NFC South
- Stadium
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- Head Coach
- Dan Quinn
- Offensive Coordinator
- Dirk Koetter
- Defensive Coordinator
- Raheem Morris
- Special Teams Coach
- Ben Kotwica
- Defensive Scheme
- 4-3
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said that the skill players on the 2020 roster compare favorably with those from the 2012 unit, a team that came close to reaching the Super Bowl. The 2012 offense featured Michael Turner, Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez and an excellent duo of receivers on the outside in Roddy White and Julio Jones. Of this year's offense, Ryan said, "You're talking about Julio in his prime, Calvin Ridley going into Year 3 coming into his own. You've got Todd Gurley II, who is hungry, who wants to prove it this year. Hayden Hurstis a former first-round draft pick who just ended up in a spot where the way they were running the football, it was no fault of his own that he didn't have the stats." There's certainly potential for the unit as a whole to be as good as in 2012, though there will be several mouths to feed for fantasy purposes. Ryan is a safe QB1 if you don't want to spend big on guys like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones remains the best receiver in the league, according to NFL.com's Bucky Brooks. The 10-year veteran is an explosive track athlete with A-plus size and strength. Jones has reached 12,000 receiving yards faster than any pass-catcher in league history (125 games). He also has the highest career average in receiving yards per game (96.2) in NFL history. The 31-year-old has 1,300-plus yards in each of the last six seasons as the gold standard for the position. Jones is a dynamic route-runner with strong hands as well. He's on the wrong side of 30 and has dealt with nagging injuries in recent seasons, so he might not have the elite upside he once had, but Jones is one of the safest top-five fantasy wideouts around.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who also dealt with a unique offseason in 2011 during the lockout, has organized player-run workouts during the coronavirus pandemic this offseason. Ryan and the offense were productive that year, going 10-6. The veteran QB tried to keep the training "as normal as possible" amid a public-health pandemic. Ryan has engaged his teammates for the last nine weeks in both Georgia and California, going three days a week, with sessions lasting between 90 and 105 minutes. Relationship building with some of the younger players has been huge for Ryan during this time. He's had a chance to talk about little nuances in route-running with guys like receiver Calvin Ridley and new tight end Hayden Hurst. Ryan also made it a point to work on individual mechanics more this offseason. Along with Ryan, veteran receiver Julio Jones has taken on an expanded leadership role with coaches not around. Ryan and the Falcons have a lot to prove after missing the playoffs the last two years, and the 35-year-old QB is as reliable and consistent as they come as a QB1 for fantasy owners.
Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter believes the potential of wide receiver Calvin Ridley has yet to be reached. The Alabama product has played superbly in his first two NFL seasons as the WR2 on this team. The 25-year-old amassed 63 receptions, 866 yards, 13.7 yards per catch, and seven touchdowns in 13 games last season. With more rapport with QB Matt Ryan, the 2018 pick will look to elevate further and potentially reach his first 1,000-yard season in 2020. Ridley will certainly be a reliable receiver for fantasy owners considering his massive growth and stable role on the Falcons. He's worth drafting as the WR2 on fantasy teams.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst has already impressed Matt Ryan in his short time in Atlanta. Ryan said that Hurst is one of "the fastest and most athletic tight ends I've ever played with." That's high praise from Ryan, who has played with Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez and Pro Bowler Austin Hooper. The 26-year-old hasn't yet eclipsed 500 receiving yards in two seasons in the league, though he flashed some potential for the Ravens in a game against Buffalo last year, burning their defense for a 61-yard touchdown. Hurst could be a late-round steal for fantasy owners who fail to select an elite tight end in the first several rounds.