RB Devonta Freeman - Atlanta Falcons

5-8, 206

Born: 3-15-1992

College: Florida State

Drafted: Round 4, pick 2014

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Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel, US Presswire

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News you need to know

From the upgrade/downgrade report (Mon Dec 2): Freeman looked healthy in Week 13 and will be well-rested against a crumbling Carolina run defense that will see Derrius Guice and Adrian Peterson in their nightmares.

General News (Wed Dec 4): returned from injury Thursday, Nov. 28, against the New Orleans Saints and led his team with 62 offensive snaps played while RB Brian Hill played 24 of his 41 snaps on offense and Kenjon Barner saw just seven offensive snaps.

Week 14: vs Carolina Panthers

All RB vs CAR

FBG says: Good matchup. The Falcons have welcomed Devonta Freeman back from injury, as he remains a foundational piece of their offense in general. But as a runner, he's yet to provide anything of note here in 2019. The 27-year-old Freeman has looked closer to 37, stuck in mud and floundering, and he's gotten no help from a battered, inconsistent line. He's producing just 3.4 yards per rush and 42 per game, and 42% of his yardage has come from his 2 best weeks. Apart from those, he's averaged just 2.8 and 31. There's very little talent behind him, with just Brian Hill and Qadree Ollison as mix-in options, so Freeman's three-down role is cemented well. But even with the Falcons offense so high-volume and productive, Freeman is one of those rare workhorse backs that doesn't boast much fantasy value. Despite a bevy of talent up front, the Carolina run defense has been one of football's worst throughout 2019. They're giving up the league's most yards per rush and fourth-most per game, with 8 opposing runners topping 80 yards and several others falling just short. Last week, Derrius Guice and Adrian Peterson combined for 228 and 3 touchdowns in Washington's stunning win. The Panthers front line has been generally solid, with Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe holding their own on early downs. But the linebacker play has been shaky at best, with Luke Kuechly and Shaq Thompson contributing drastically up-and-down play. Tackling has been a huge problem on the second and third levels, with even franchise icon Kuechly often struggling the make plays. Altogether, this is still one of fantasy's most beatable units. These Falcons couldn't find any room when they squared off three weeks ago, but Devonta Freeman is looking at his best get-right matchup in quite awhile.

Recent Stats and Projections

WEEK	OPP		oSNAP	RSH	YD	TD	TARG	REC	YD	TD	FumL	Pts
10	at NO		30	10	38	0	4	3.0	10	0	0	4.8
11	at CAR		0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
12	vs TB		0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
13	vs NO		62	17	51	0	5	4.0	13	0	0	6.4
14	vs CAR	PROJ-Dodds	*	14	*	*		3.2	*	*	*	*
14	vs CAR	PROJ-Tremblay	*	14	*	*		2.5	*	*	*	*
14	vs CAR	PROJ-Bloom	*	16	*	*		4.0	*	*	*	*

Weekly Performance vs RB 1, RB 12, RB 24, RB 36

Percentile ranks

Devonta Freeman's percentile rank in each category, among RB with more than 50 fantasy points.

Recent Game Summaries

2019 Week 13 vs NO (17 / 51 / 0 rush, 5 / 4 / 13 / 0 rec)

Atlanta ran a counter play on the second play of the game but the pullers could not open a crease and Freeman was forced to push into filled creases for no gain. Freeman earned three with a spin to the backside tackle on a split-zone run to begin the second series. He bounced his way to right tackle a few plays later for a gain of four, showing decent patience to set up the guard-tackle double team. Linebacker Kiko Alonso cut down Freeman in the backfield with penetration two plays later for a loss of one. Freeman earned a yard to begin Atlanta's third series when the right side of the line couldn't open a crease on another split-zone call. Freeman earned the edge on another I-formation run past penetration on the right end and earned Freeman a first down but offsetting penalties nullified the play because Christian Blake's ongoing fight with Marshon Lattimore from the play prior carried over into this one. Freeman took a shotgun draw and earned six yards two plays later. The Saints stuffed Freeman off right guard on a 1st-and-10 run in the red zone two plays after the draw play. Once again, the Saints stuffed Freeman off right guard on a split zone run for no more than three yards later in the second quarter. Freeman held up Marcus Davenport on a stunt on the next play that gave Ryan time to throw the ball but miss the receiver. He began the second half with a four-yard run off left tackle, pulling through a wrap near the line of scrimmage for the yardage. He was stuffed by Marcus Williams in the left flat on a check-down a play later. Two plays later, he earned six yards off left tackle. Freeman earned three yards up the middle early in the next series. He caught a check-down to set up a third-and-short. Backed up in their own end zone, Freeman cut back inside right tackle for eight yards on a 1st and 15 run. He earned another four to begin the fourth quarter with a patient run where he picked his way to a gap up the middle and then another five yards up the middle to set up a third and one. Freeman spun off the first hitter over the middle on a check-down during a drive late in the game.

2019 Week 10 vs NO (10 / 38 / 0 rush, 4 / 3 / 10 / 0 rec)

He caught a short pass over the middle for a minimal gain during the initial drive at midfield. On the next play, he earned nine yards up the middle on a trap play where he was untouched through the crease. Freeman then earned another 12 with a nice crease. Hea earned four more on a toss play. Freeman reached midfield during the second drive with a nice crease off right guard on a second and one, earning well 6-8 yards on the play. A.J. Klein stuffed Freeman on the next play for a loss of one. Freeman took a blitz check-down to the left sideline for seven yards, breaking a tackle at the boundary on the next play to set up a third and four. Freeman nearly came down with a high and wide out route on third down, tipping the ball to himself but the coverage knocked the ball loose. Freeman was questionable with a foot/ankle injury during the second half.

2019 Week 8 vs SEA (13 / 39 / 0 rush, 8 / 8 / 63 / 0 rec)

He began with a six-yard gain with a bounce to left end and a spin off an oncoming defender to reach the flat. Mychal Kendricks stuffed Freeman on the next play, setting up a third and five. A few plays later, he was dropped at the line of scrimmage by Marquise Blair while trying to bounce to the right side. Freeman caught a short pass to set up a third and six. Freeman earned positive yards off left tackle for a first down once past midfield. Freeman took a third and long screen pass up the right flat within a couple of yards of the marker to the Seattle 33, setting up a field goal attempt than Matt Bryant hooked off the left upright. Freeman earned a nice dip inside a fullback who couldn't block the oncoming linebacker as the lead blocker on a power play and earned a hard three yards to begin the third series. Freeman earned a nine yards on a short dump-off in the left flat late in the half and then a toss play for about 10 yards to reach the Seahawks' 35 and earned the first down. Freeman gashed Seattle up the middle for 14 yards but a holding penalty on center Alex Mack on Bobby Wagner nullified the play. Two plays later, he earned 5-6 yards up the left sideline on a short throw to the backside flat. He earned four yards on a toss play to the right later in the drive. Freeman earned seven yards on a throwback screen to begin the second drive of the third quarter, spinning off a defender halfway through the run. Mack earned another holding penalty in as many drives, on a stretch play to Freeman for a short gain after the screen pass. Freeman later broke a tackle up the left sideline on a short pass to reach the Seattle 36 and then hit a crease on the next play for eight yards. Marquise Blair foiled a great setup of a screen to the right flat that limited the gain to four yards to begin the fourth quarter. Freeman caught a short route inside the five and his second-effort resulted in a called fumble on the field and confirmed with replay.

2019 Week 7 vs LAR (7 / 19 / 0 rush, 3 / 2 / 6 / 0 rec)

The Rams stuffed Freeman on his first carry up the middle but Freeman pushed for two yards on the play. His second gain, a seven-yard run outside left end, was nullified due to an Austin Hooper holding penalty. He followed up with a nine-yard gain on the net play up the middle. Freeman tried a cutback from an I formation run and was forced back inside for no gain to begin Atlanta's second drive. Julio Jones caught a crossing route against a blitz that Devonta Freeman picked up for a first down on the initial play of Atlanta's drive during the middle of the second quarter. Freeman earned four yards from a Wild Cat run to right end at midfield later in the drive. Freeman earned four yards on a toss play to the left side but Jalen Ramsey jarred the ball loose and forced Freeman to work well behind the line of scrimmage to track down the fumble and cover the loose ball. Freeman earned eight on a toss to the right midway through the third quarter. Freeman and Aaron Donald got locked up during an interception and Freeman earned an ejection for throwing a punch at Donald.

2019 Week 6 vs ARI (19 / 88 / 0 rush, 3 / 3 / 30 / 2 rec)

He earned an open crease but was met at the end of it by Jordan Hicks and stuffed for a short gain of two on his first attempt. He earned 15 yards off right tackle from an I-formation run with a nice move inside the linebacker in the crease. To begin the second drive, Freeman earned another quick five off right tackle. Freeman cut back a gap play too soon and got stuffed in the red zone late in the second quarter. Freeman crossed midfield with a nice run up the middle on a gap play. He caught a short pass in the left flat later in the drive to reach the Arizona 13 late in the third quarter. Freeman scored on a short route isolated against Hassan Reddick when Freeman did a good job extending through the Reddick wrap at the one to cross the goal line. Freeman gained more than half of his rushing yards in the fourth quarter. He earned successive runs for first downs from the I-formation late in the game to get Atlanta inside the Cardinals' 30. Freeman scored again on a flat route off misdirection to tie the game late.

2019 Week 5 vs HOU (11 / 30 / 0 rush, 5 / 5 / 40 / 1 rec)

The Texans stuffed a shotgun gap play on the first play of the game--J.J. Watt disrupted the pulling tight end and Freeman had to dance just to lose a yard. Freeman tried to bounce an I-formation run to right tackle but only managed two yards due to the Texans filling the gaps ably. Atlanta tried a misdirection toss to left end but it only went for two after the left tackle failed to reach the cornerback in the flat. Freeman earned an off-tackle run to the weak side from an I-formation and he was met In the backfield once again for a loss of two. The Texans then foiled a screen play intended for Freeman and forced Ryan to throw the ball away. He earned the first down during the fifth series a late in the half with a short run up the middle that was also nearly stuffed by the Texans. Freeman earned two more yards just ahead of the two-minute warning another lackluster effort by the Falcons line. Freeman got a first down on a Wildcat run with Sanu in the backfield. Freeman ran through a wrap as he worked around right end and the first explosive run of the day for Atlanta--a gain of 21 yards. Freeman wove his way into the end zone at the end of the drive on a middle screen--extending across the goal line on the play. Julio Jones failed to pick up a run blitz off the backside that wrapped Freeman for a short gain to begin the third quarter. Freeman earned five yards on a screen in the middle of the third quarter. He earned three from a two-tight-end set after a muffed punt to begin the fourth quarter. He followed up with seven more on a shovel pass but an illegal shift penalty nullified the play. Freeman earned a look inside the one but was stuffed inches shy. Freeman earned nine yards on a check-down over the middle when down by 15 points with six left in the game--and shovel pass later in the drive for eight.

2019 Week 4 vs TEN (12 / 28 / 0 rush, 9 / 8 / 72 / 0 rec)

He began the game with a patient run when his pulling guard was late to work around the line to his assignment, earning four on the play. Freeman earned three two series later on a play he bounced outside right end to the boundary. A few plays later, he earned two yards up the middle on 1st and 10. Freeman lost six yards when the left guard missed his pulling assignment early in the second quarter. He earned five yards on a check-down to the opposite side of the field in the middle of the second quarter and on the next play, found a big crease off left guard for a 10-yard gain. Freeman caught a check-down for a gain of five yards before exiting to the boundary. Freeman opened the third quarter with a screen pass for 22 yards, thanks to a good block to seal the inside so Freeman could work up the flat. On the next play, he got snowed under by multiple defenders after bouncing off two hits at the line and trying to bounce outside to open space. He earned eight yards off left guard from deep inside Atlanta's territory in the middle of the third quarter and followed up with a short run for a first down. He earned nine yards on a check-down up the middle early in the fourth quarter. He earned a similar route for another nine on the next play. Freeman earned more opportunities in garbage time with a pair of check-downs.

2019 Week 3 vs IND (16 / 88 / 0 rush, 4 / 3 / 7 / 0 rec)

He earned a huge crease up the middle for a 28-yard gain to begin the game and followed up with another three yards on the next play. Freeman earned five to begin the next series with a patient run off left guard. He followed up with a 2nd and 4 conversion for a first down up the middle and the line has opened creases well. Freeman set up an I-formation trap play with excellent patience and footwork for a 24-yard gain near the end of the half. Colts' defensive lineman Denico Autry was injured on the play and was questionable return due to an eye issue. The Colts stuffed Freeman on consecutive runs in Colts' territory late in the half. Freeman dropped a dump-off over the middle, Ryan's first incompletion after going 18-for-18 in the second half.

2019 Week 2 vs PHI (11 / 22 / 0 rush, 4 / 3 / 42 / 0 rec)

He picked up nine yards on his first two plays, including six on outside zone where he veered away from penetration and cut downhill. He earned another nine on a reverse pivot pitch before leaving the game for a breather. He returned during the drive but tight end Luke Stocker missed his crack-back block and Brandon Graham dropped Freeman in the backfield for a loss of six. He another lost five on a run to the left tackle where Graham also penetrated deep into the backfield. He then earned a minimal gain on a check-down thrown with Ryan under pressure, forcing a punt. Freeman took a shovel pass on the opening play of the second half for 29 yards to get inside the five. Freeman earned a nice run on first down early in the fourth quarter, spinning off contact at the edge of the line and earning four. Freeman began a late-game drive with a slant from a wide spot for nine yards.

2019 Week 1 vs MIN (8 / 19 / 0 rush, 4 / 3 / 12 / 0 rec)

The runner took what he could get during the first quarter but Atlanta wound up in pass mode after the Vikings went up by 14 points early in the game. Freeman lost a fumble while trying to split a pair of defenders at the edge of the defense early in the second quarter. He continued to earn most of the touches, rotating time with Ito Smith late in the half. Late in the game Freeman caught a pair of passes as the check-down option--only one of them went for positive yards. Overall, Freeman ran hard and hit creases decisively, but there weren't many open creases during the game and the gaem script got away from Atlanta to sustain the run.

Latest News

Falcons | Devonta Freeman returns to big role (Tue Dec 3, 09:15 PM) - Atlanta Falcons RB Devonta Freeman returned from injury Thursday, Nov. 28, against the New Orleans Saints and led his team with 62 offensive snaps played while RB Brian Hill played 24 of his 41 snaps on offense and Kenjon Barner saw just seven offensive snaps.

link to story

Falcons | Devonta Freeman runs for 51 yards (Fri Nov 29, 01:47 AM) - Atlanta Falcons RB Devonta Freeman (foot) tallied 17 carries for 51 yards against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday, Nov. 28. Freeman added four catches for 13 yards.

Our View: Freeman didn't look affected by his foot injury, but he didn't find much room to run against the Saints tough front seven. He'll be a low-end volume-based flex against Carolina next week.
link to story

Falcons | Devonta Freeman removed from injury report (Wed Nov 27, 04:47 PM) - Updating a previous report, Atlanta Falcons RB Devonta Freeman (foot) fully participated in practice Wednesday, Nov. 27, and has been removed from the injury report for Week 13.

Our View: Freeman is going to play on Thanksgiving. The matchup against the Saints can be tough, so consider him more of a flex play upon his return.
link to story

Falcons | Devonta Freeman will play (Wed Nov 27, 01:43 PM) - Atlanta Falcons RB Devonta Freeman (foot) looks great and will play in Week 13 Thursday, Nov. 28, according to head coach Dan Quinn.

Our View: Things change quickly around here. Freeman has been out the last couple of weeks but with the team playing on Thanksgiving night there was a thought he would miss another contest. That's not going to be the case as Freeman will be out there on Thursday. Fantasy GMs should consider Freeman at least a flex play upon his return.
link to story

Falcons | Tuesday's practice report for Atlanta (Tue Nov 26, 04:33 PM) - Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones (shoulder), TE Luke Stocker (back) and TE Austin Hooper (knee) did not practice Tuesday, Nov. 26. S Sharrod Neasman (shoulder) and DE Takkarist McKinley (shoulder) were limited. CB Desmond Trufant (toe), RB Devonta Freeman (foot), CB Jordan Miller (illness) and DT Tyeler Davison (neck) practiced in full.

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Schedule

14	vs Carolina Panthers
15	@ San Francisco 49ers
16	vs Jacksonville Jaguars
17	@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers