FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — We're slowly inching closer to the start of training camp, which means the 2025 NFL season will be here before we know it.
Fortunately, that also means fantasy football will be back in our lives. It's an opportunity to rekindle long-standing rivalries, gather for draft nights you'll never forget and go through dozens of possible team names before landing on the perfect one. It's also an opportunity to win.
For those of you looking to run over the competition, you've come to the right place. Well, sort of. I can't guarantee you wins, but I can provide you with some useful information for draft night. Keep these notes in your back pocket when considering adding some of your favorite Falcons players to your roster.
The fantasy cornerstone
Bijan Robinson: Only a small number of players are ever in consideration for the No. 1 overall pick in a fantasy draft, and Robinson is undoubtedly in that mix this year. If you draft him first, nobody is going to bat an eye and there will likely be a few groans in the room — That's exactly what we're going for. Robinson had a huge breakout season in 2024, and the Falcons have their sights set on something a bit more explosive out of him this fall.
Michael Turner first broke onto the scene in Atlanta with nearly 1,700 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 2008. Naturally, he shot to the top of fantasy rankings the next season. Well, Robinson's 2024 season was actually four points better than Turner's memorable 2008 run from a fantasy perspective, and it took him about 70 fewer runs to he reach that total. So, Robinson should be fresher and ready to capitalize on that top draft slot.
The underrated WR1
Drake London: Here's a quick trivia question: How many wide receivers finished with more fantasy points than London last season? Four: Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Brian Thomas Jr. London finished with the fifth-most fantasy points among wide receivers in PPR leagues and there are plenty of reasons to believe he can replicate, if not improve, upon last year's success.
Furthermore, from Weeks 16-18, when Michael Penix Jr. took over as Atlanta's starting quarterback, London was tied for the most fantasy points per game among receivers. With Penix behind center full time in 2025, there could be a new ceiling for London in fantasy. He could return a lot of value for someone who drafts London in the late first or second round.
The new guy
Michael Penix Jr.: Quarterback has always been one of the most important fantasy positions, but the value of the position has shifted to favor running quarterbacks. That's what makes Penix such a fascinating player for fantasy purposes.
He is an athletic player (look no further than his touchdown run in Week 18 for evidence), but it's not fair to describe him as a scrambling quarterback. What is fair to say, though, is that Penix is a big-game hunter as a passer. He is going to air the ball out. That should lead to a big output through the air, especially given the cast of players around him. If Penix adds anything with his legs on a consistent basis, he may quickly have the floor of a starting fantasy quarterback. There could be a large degree of variance with Penix's draft slot, but he'd be a high-upside bench candidate from Day 1.
The player who will win your week
Darnell Mooney: While London should bring week-to-week consistency as Atlanta's top option, Mooney is the player who could win you any given matchup. Mooney was responsible for three of the five best single-game fantasy performances by a Falcons wide receiver last season, highlighting the high ceiling he offers as a WR2.
Mooney topped 14 PPR fantasy points seven times last season, his first in Atlanta. The 27-year-old receiver is firmly in his prime and should be among the top secondary receiver options taken off the board. In years past players like Chris Godwin or Jordan Addison have produced monster games as his team's No. 2 receiver, and Mooney is quite capable of the same.
The big-time bet
Kyle Pitts: What to do with Pitts has been a question that has confounded fantasy football players in particular the last few years. I'll understand if anyone has Pitts off their draft board, entirely, but the reasons to believe are still apparent. He put together one of the best four-game stretches of his career last season and had the third-most PPR points of any tight end from Weeks 5-8.
The biggest question is still the size of Pitts' role in this offense and how he will connect with Penix. Zac Robinson's offensive roots are in the Los Angeles Rams' system, which typically favors two wide receivers as the primary contributors in the pass game over a tight end. Each offense is different, however, and Pitts could emerge as an asset in his fifth season. But will fantasy players trust him enough to draft him?
The best options for your bench
Tyler Allgeier: Although Robinson is an unquestioned fantasy superstar, Allgeier remains one of the best handcuff options and someone you should have on your roster. If Robinson were to miss any time, Allgeier has the full confidence of the Falcons' coaching staff to step into an undiminished starting role. However, he also offers standalone value thanks to his reliability and fourth-quarter prowess. Should Atlanta have a lead in the fourth quarter, Allgeier is going to get a lot of looks. He's also a good candidate for red-zone work, which is important in fantasy.
Ray-Ray McCloud: McCloud will likely be there at the end of fantasy drafts, and he could be a good candidate for a final bench spot. He had seven games with more than 10 fantasy points in PPR leagues last season, and McCloud's role would potentially expand if anyone else on the offense were to miss time. His PPR floor is high enough to give him weekly value.
KhaDarel Hodge: The final player on this list is one who could see more work at wide receiver than he has at any other point in his career. Hodge is best defined as a super sleeper, but he is likely the top understudy for London and Mooney on the outside. Maybe click that flag button next to Hodge's name and keep him on your watch list.
