The Atlanta Falcons‘ top-10 running game was in action against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night, and fantasy football owners have gotten somewhat unlikely results from the team’s backfield.
While rookie Tevin Coleman was out for two games after suffering a rib injury, Devonta Freeman went off for fantasy owners, recording 25 or more points in three consecutive weeks.
Let’s take a look at how both fared Thursday night.
Devonta Freeman
Atlanta didn’t run the ball much. Playing from behind for most of the game will do that, which probably infuriated fantasy owners who were looking to Freeman for a big week.
There were no indications that he would have a slow week, though, as ESPN Stats & Info pointed out:
Yet he managed to put up some nice numbers on limited carries. He hit the 100-yard plateau on his 13th carry of the game. The touchdown machine again found his way into the end zone, as the NFL showed:
If the Falcons didn’t have to play from behind, Freeman would have had a bigger game. It’s unlikely that they’ll play from behind against the Tennessee Titans next week, which should allow Atlanta to play its normal game of smashmouth football—a style that suits Freeman perfectly.
Tevin Coleman
Coleman wasn’t playing much as it was, getting four carries on the night, but he didn’t see much of the ball at all after fumbling while the Falcons were driving to try to shrink their deficit.
That opened the door for Freeman, as NFL.com’s Michael Fabiano noted:
With the way Freeman has been playing over the past few weeks, carries will likely be sparse for the rookie.
Fantasy owners should stay away from Coleman until the Falcons start increasing his touches. There is no use in starting a running back who has to work his way back into his team’s favor.
Stats and fantasy points courtesy of ESPN.com.
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