Devonta Freeman

While Freeman stayed on the field for 14 games in 2019 - a vast improvement on the previous season - little else went right for the sixth-year back. His 3.6 YPC was a career low, and his efficiency as a receiver also took a step back even as he saw his highest target volume since 2015. The Falcons' scheme and banged-up offensive line did him no favors, but Freeman also failed to do much with his chances as his 1.6 yards per carry after contact was second lowest in the league among qualified running backs. While he still has the vision to spot creases in a defense, he no longer has the quickness or burst to get through them in time, and given his history of lower-body injuries, that lost step probably isn't coming back. The Falcons elected to cut Freeman in March to save a little more than $3 million in cap space, replacing him with Todd Gurley, and the NFL teams in need of backfield help generally weren't shy about using draft capital on the position. Freeman reportedly turned down a contract offer from the Seahawks in May, remaining unsigned at press time.

The good news is that Freeman didn't suffer another concussion last year. The bad news is that he avoided it by only playing two games, thanks to a preseason knee issue followed by a season-ending groin injury that required surgery in October. The 27-year-old has proven he can be a dangerous, versatile back, using his elusiveness and vision to exploit small creases in the trenches while doing damage in open space (and his receiving ability keeps him on the field for passing downs). Tevin Coleman's departure leaves Freeman with little competition at the top of the depth chart (backup Ito Smith is in many ways just a lesser version of the veteran, and fifth-round pick Qadree Ollison may just be a short-yardage specialist). The blocking in Atlanta took a big step back during Freeman's lost season, but it should be back on track this year after the team used a pair of first-round picks on offensive linemen Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary. However, new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has favored the passing game in recent seasons and now returns to Atlanta after flopping as a head coach in Tampa Bay. Koetter failed to produce a 1,000-yard rusher in three years during his last stint in charge of the Falcons offense, and he never developed a consistent ground game with the Bucs. Even if Freeman is healthy and enjoys a bigger workload, he may struggle to match his past efficiency.

Freeman's production dipped last year along with the rest of the Falcons offense, and while injuries played a part - he missed two games due to a concussion and played through a sprained knee down the stretch - the main culprit seemed to be new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian's inability to replicate Kyle Shanahan's magic. The Falcons dropped from a league-high 33.8 points per game in 2016 all the way to 22.1 in 2017, with Freeman declining from 13 TDs to eight and 4.8 YPC to 4.4. His numbers remained strong on a per-play basis, though, and he remains one of the most versatile running backs in the league. He tied for third in carries inside the 5-yard line (14) and was ninth in runs of 15 or more yards (10), thanks to his elusiveness, vision and surprising strength at the point of attack. He's also a dangerous receiver, with his 163 catches the last three seasons ranking fourth in the league among running backs. After signing a big contract extension last offseason, and with Tevin Coleman heading into the final year of his rookie deal, Freeman should again be the top dog in the Falcons' backfield timeshare.

In terms of raw numbers, Freeman's 2016 was very similar to his 2015, as he topped 1,500 yards from scrimmage and scored 11 rushing TDs in each season. On a per-play basis, however, he saw his effectiveness soar, averaging a career-high 4.8 yards per carry and 8.6 yards per catch. Freeman's smallish frame (5-8, 206 pounds) isn't ideal for early-down work, but his willingness to run between the tackles and keep his legs churning allowed him to pick up 1.4 yards after contact per touch, good for 15th among RBs. His excellent pass-catching skills also produced top-five finishes in both receptions and receiving yards, and he was the only RB in the league to finish in the top three in both red-zone carries and targets. The big concern for Freeman, and indeed the entire Atlanta offense, revolves around the departure of Kyle Shanahan. New offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian has a very limited track record, and while he'll continue to employ the no-huddle and play-action elements of Shanahan's scheme, it seems unlikely that the unit will maintain the high level it reached during the Falcons' Super Bowl run. Freeman should remain an integral part of the team's offense, but likely won't be able to match his 2016 efficiency or production.

Where Kyle Shanahan goes, fantasy owners eagerly follow. They know how good he's been for No. 1 receivers and running games. And last year, he was damn good to Freeman. Let's not get caught up in revisionist history, however. Last summer, rookie Tevin Coleman was considered the more interesting back, not Freeman. Coleman wound up getting the Week 1 start (despite an August hamstring injury), but a rib injury opened the door for Freeman, who had an inconsequential second game before spreading his wings. From Weeks 3-7, he piled up an absurd 825 total yards and nine TDs. He snagged 27 of 32 targets in the passing game, and had 5.3 YPC on his 109 attempts. A star was born. And just when we bought in fully on Freeman, the wave crashed a bit. Over his last eight starts he was limited to 3.25 YPC, and he had a modest four overall TDs. PPR owners weren't that sad — he still caught 39 passes over that period, staying on the field in all packages — but he didn't look like the explosive difference-maker we saw during Octoberfest. The team will probably lean on Freeman in the scoring area again — he was first in red-zone carries last year, and second among backs in red-zone targets. TDs can be fluky at times, but they sure pay the fantasy bills. Ten of Freeman's 14 scores came from the 7-yard line and in.

Freeman, a fourth-round pick last year, saw limited action in a crowded backfield, but the Falcons' decision to part ways with Steven Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers could mean Freeman is ready for a more significant role. Undersized at 5-8, 206, Freeman is dangerous in space, using his agility and balance to slip would-be tacklers before lowering his pads and driving forward with surprising power to earn extra yards after contact. He's less effective between the tackles, but his vision is good enough for him to find holes at the line when called upon. He's an asset as a receiver, and his experience in college with a zone-blocking scheme should serve him well as Atlanta's offense transitions to a similar ground attack under new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who oversaw productive running games in Houston and Washington. Third-round speed merchant Tevin Coleman is a threat to Freeman's touches, but even in a committee, Freeman's skills should allow him to have a productive campaign.

The Falcons spent a fourth-round selection on Freeman, a somewhat undersized – 5-8, 203 – but well-rounded back out of Florida State, and he'll immediately enter into the mix for backup duties behind Steven Jackson. He even has good enough receiving skills to cut into Jacquizz Rodgers' third-down work. A shifty runner with great vision and instincts who doesn't shy away from contact, Freeman's in line to be the long-term successor to Jackson in Atlanta, but he never exceeded 200 carries in a college season and may be best served in the long term as the early-down back in a committee approach.