NFL offseason wish list: Atlanta Falcons

Welcome to our fantasy football wish lists where we’re going through each NFL team and listing three things we’d love to see them do this offseason for fantasy reasons (but also real football reasons).

It’s safe to say the Falcons’ 2018 season did not go according to plan. However 2018 did officially destroy the “Julio Jones isn’t a good fantasy wide receiver” narrative, one that I’ll happily take the blame for continuously promoting. You can’t argue against a guy who put up 1,677 yards and eight touchdowns. That being said, no one outside of Julio did that much, save for that hot sec when Calvin Ridley was scoring touchdowns at will. But that’s what I’m here for: to get the Falcons more fantasy relevant guys.

Sign T.J. Yeldon

The Falcons are likely going to resign Tevin Coleman which means they’ll need to find themselves a new pass-catching back. Enter T.J. Yeldon who’s proven to be a very reliable second running back. He’s also become a pretty solid pass catcher, coming off a career year as a receiver, catching 55 balls for 487 yards and four touchdowns. Yeldon could easily spell Devonta Freeman when needed and would offer a receiving option out of the backfield. I could also see the Falcons addressing pass-catching back in the draft.

In an earlier edit of this I had Bilal Powell as the target, however his neck injury last year could be career ending. Figured I’d mention a player who’s set to play next year.

Part ways with Mohamed Sanu

I’ll be honest, this is more jokey than it is real. Sanu was a very productive receiver for the Falcons this year, catching 66 balls for 838 yards and four touchdowns. Why this is jokey is because I don’t want anyone in Calvin Ridley’s way as he ascends the fantasy rankings to become the greatest receiver ever in the history of football. (Too much hyperbole?) I think Ridley will automatically become the Falcons’ number two guy regardless if Sanu was still on the roster but it would just make the lives of all us fantasy owners just a bit easier if we didn’t have to fret about which Falcons receiver outside of Julio to play each week. Plus, parting with Sanu would allow for the Falcons to...

Sign John Brown

Yes I just spent the entire above paragraph talking about how it’d be great if the Falcons would get rid of Sanu to make Ridley the clear number two guy in Atlanta. Well, that doesn’t change by adding Brown. Brown isn’t going to challenge Ridley for wide receiver number two. No, Brown is going to be 2016 Taylor Gabriel and catch 40 balls for 500 yards and five touchdowns. Sign me up for that. Brown showed this year with the Ravens that he can be a legit downfield threat but he needs a quarterback who can get him the ball. Once Lamar Jackson took over in Baltimore, Brown’s production took a noticeable hit. But pairing him with Matt Ryan would be just what the doctor ordered.