RB Devonta Freeman - Atlanta Falcons
| 5-8, 206 | Born: 3-15-1992 | College: Florida State | Drafted: Round 4, pick 2014 |
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News you need to know
From the upgrade/downgrade report (Mon Oct 7): Freeman scored and stayed involved in the passing game, but he's not going to be the engine of the running game that he was in the past, and he could be overtaken by Ito Smith sooner than later. For now, he remains an RB2/Flex with the Cardinals up next.
Week 6: at Arizona Cardinals
FBG says: Great matchup. The Atlanta Falcons have spent much of their first five games in 2019 trailing, and subsequently, passing. The Falcons have been unable to establish a consistent rushing attack in any game this season, even with a talented duo of Devonta Freeman and Ito Smith in the backfield. Freeman dominates the carries for Atlanta, while Ito Smith spells him occasionally on passing downs. So far this season, Freeman's best rushing day was a 16-carry, 88-yard performance against the Indianapolis Colts in week three. Freeman has had his work cut out for him running behind one of the league's weakest offensive lines through five games. The Falcons' offensive line is struggling with the turnover that followed the 2018 season. Rookie Kaleb McGarry starts at right tackle, offseason acquisition James Carpenter starts at left guard, and while Wes Schweitzer is a returning starter at right guard, he was supposed to be a back up in 2019. All three players have underperformed massively so far this season. A favorable game-script in an expected victory will afford Atlanta the opportunity to increase their rushing volume, but without improvement in the trenches, consistently-efficient rushing is unlikely. Through five games, Arizona's rushing defense has proven to be one of the NFL's worst defensive units. The Cardinals have allowed the 694 yards, 27th in the NFL, on 4.8 yards-per-carry, 24th in the NFL. The issues for Arizona start with the defensive line. The Cardinals lack a run-stopping presence along the defensive line, either on the edge or the interior. Chandler Jones, best-known for his pass-rushing abilities, has been Arizona's best run-stopper along the defensive line. At linebacker, Jordan Hicks has shown improvement in recent weeks, but he still has been unable to return to his old run-stopping ways of yesteryear. Hassan Reddick, Arizona's other primary linebacker, has been horrendous in every facet of the game defensively. Reddick has already missed eight tackles through five games, the worst mark on the team. He is a major liability defending the run, and as long as he is continually relied upon in run-support, Arizona will likely struggle to stifle opposing rushing attacks. Over the last three weeks, the Cardinals have allowed all three starters to rush for at least 93 yards on nearly 5.0 yards-per-carry in each game. Even without a strong offensive line, this weekend is shaping up to be a stellar opportunity for the Atlanta Falcons to get their running game on track in 2019.
Recent Stats and Projections
| WEEK | OPP | oSNAP | RSH | YD | TD | TARG | REC | YD | TD | FumL | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | vs PHI | 41 | 11 | 22 | 0 | 4 | 3.0 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 6.4 | |
| 3 | at IND | 55 | 16 | 88 | 0 | 4 | 3.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 9.5 | |
| 4 | vs TEN | 50 | 12 | 28 | 0 | 9 | 8.0 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
| 5 | at HOU | 40 | 11 | 30 | 0 | 5 | 5.0 | 40 | 1 | 0 | 13 | |
| 6 | at ARI | 19 | 88 | 0 | 3 | 3.0 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 23.8 | ||
| 6 | at ARI | PROJ-Dodds | * | 14 | * | * | 3.9 | * | * | * | * | |
| 6 | at ARI | PROJ-Tremblay | * | 13 | * | * | 3.6 | * | * | * | * | |
| 6 | at ARI | PROJ-Bloom | * | 12 | * | * | 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 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 catches two TDs (Sun Oct 13, 10:43 PM) - Atlanta Falcons RB Devonta Freeman rushed 19 times for 88 yards and caught three passes for 30 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-33 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6. link to storyAtlanta Falcons Team Links
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The Gut Check No.478: The Devil's Advocate Top 50Matt Waldman - August 6
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Schedule
| 6 | @ Arizona Cardinals |
| 7 | vs Los Angeles Rams |
| 8 | vs Seattle Seahawks |
| 9 | --- BYE WEEK --- |
| 10 | @ New Orleans Saints |
| 11 | @ Carolina Panthers |
| 12 | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 13 | vs New Orleans Saints |
| 14 | vs Carolina Panthers |
| 15 | @ San Francisco 49ers |
| 16 | vs Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 17 | @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
