The Atlanta Falcons created an offensive identity built on running the football last season and they leaned into that strength when selecting Texas Longhorns phenom Bijan Robinson with the No. 8 overall pick. Although there are many question marks surrounding the Falcons’ roster, Robinson should be able to fit right in and find immediate success. The dynamic running back is featured in my 3 Atlanta Falcons betting predictions for the upcoming season. Bettors looking for all the best value on NFL futures can check out OddsShopper tools for reference!
Falcons Futures & Betting Predictions: It’s the Bijan Robinson Show
Bijan Robinson Competes For Rookie of the Year
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, Robinson (+250) is the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. He is followed by Bryce Young (+500), Anthony Richardson (+600) and C.J. Stroud (+750). There are plenty of reasons why Robinson enters the season with a leg-up on the quarterbacks. For starters, he is joining a Falcons team that already knows how to run the ball at an elite clip.
Atlanta used the backfield tandem of Cordarrelle Patterson and Tyler Allgeier to finish third in the NFL with 2,718 rushing yards. They will now have an upgrade in Robinson while mixing in Allgeier to keep the rookie fresh and healthy. Very few rookies have such a great situation to jump right into, and Robinson is the best running back prospect in recent memory. If healthy, there is absolutely no reason why Robinson should not be in the Rookie of the Year conversation by the end of the season.
Quarterback Woes Continue To Haunt Atlanta
The Falcons opted not to kick the tires on Lamar Jackson (before he reached an extension) or try to move up to select their quarterback of the future in the draft. That leaves them with Desmond Ridder and free-agent acquisition Taylor Heinicke in their quarterback room. That combination is simply not going to cut it.
Even with their rushing prowess, it is near impossible to make a deep run in this league without elite quarterback play. Either Heinicke or Ridder will try to manage the game the best they can, but down the stretch whoever gets the QB1 nod is going to need to make big plays for Atlanta to make some noise in the NFC South.
Another Disappointing Finish in Atlanta
The Falcons finished 7-10, good for last place in the 2022-23 season. They have made some interesting off-season moves, but none that really push the envelope. While Atlanta should have a solid running back of the future in Bijan Robinson, they already ranked as one of the best-rushing teams in football. Their defense was near the bottom of the league in points allowed per game (22.7) and their quarterback play was nothing to write home about.
Atlanta used their first two picks in the draft to select a running back and offensive lineman and should continue to have success on the ground. But there are simply too many flaws that were not properly addressed to take this team too seriously next season. Feel confident fading most Falcons futures, and the under 8.5 wins (-135 at DraftKings Sportsbook) is a bet that shoudl carry plenty of value heading into next season. New users at DraftKings looking to take advantage of this line can get $150 in bonus bets with any $5 wager!
Atlanta Falcons Betting Prediction: Under 7.5 Wins (-135 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
