Could Falcons RB Bijan Robinson Become Top-50 NFL Player?

The expectations for Atlanta Falcons rookie running back Bijan Robinson continue to grow as he shines in training camp.

Tell us if you've heard this before: Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has a chance to immediately become one of the NFL's best players. 

It is a common prediction that is being thrown around when discussing the Falcons' rookie running back and one that was repeated in an article by Pro Football Focus recently, where they named Robinson as an early candidate to crack their 2024 PFF50 list. 

"By far the best rookie candidate to make this list, Robinson entered the draft hailed as one of the best running back prospects to come along in years — perhaps as far back as Adrian Peterson in 2007," PFF writes. "He went to the run-heaviest team in football in Atlanta, so expectations should be that he contends for the rushing crown right out of the gate."

What exactly is the PFF50? Well, as the article describes, the PFF50 is essentially their list of the top-50 players in the NFL ... but there is a catch. PFF not only takes into account what players have done most recently, but they also adhere to projections of what they can do in the future.

Taking all of this into account, it is no surprise that Robinson is the first name on the list for PFF, as he's already showing in camp what type of impact he can have on the Falcons' offense.

Not only is Atlanta getting a bell-cow back who can be a perennial 1,000-yard rusher, but they are also getting a playmaker out of the backfield. Look no further for evidence of what the Falcons' back can do out of the backfield than the recent clip of a one-on-one between Robinson and second-year linebacker Troy Anderson.

Robinson showed his route-running acumen combined with his ability to stick his foot in the ground and get upfield and make the catch. After initially selling an inside-breaking route, Robinson stuck his foot in the ground and got vertical before making a highlight reel one-handed catch, all the while leaving Anderson in the dust.

#Falcons Bijan Robinson vs Troy Andersen: Round 2. Bijan with the spectacular play. pic.twitter.com/0bwPCipWsZ

— Kevin Knight (@FalcoholicKevin) July 28, 2023

The high projections for Robinson are not only a reflection of the talent he brings to the Falcons' offense but also the skill he has in front of him along the offensive line. Even without a first-round running back, the Falcons managed to be one of the league's best rushing offenses, ranking second in yards per game and sixth in yards per rush. 

After an early season injury to then-top back Cordarrelle Patterson, the Falcons successfully pivoted to 2022 fifth-round pick Tyler Allgeier, who'd go on to become the Falcons leading rusher with over 1,000 yards. 

While the prediction from PFF isn't uncommon, it goes to show how much everyone is betting on Robinson to turn in a good rookie season.

---

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Falcons? Click Here.

Follow Falcon Report on Twitter.

Follow Harrison Reno on Twitter.

Want even more Atlanta Falcons news? Check out the SI.com team page here.