Tyler Allgeier's fantasy prospects fell off the proverbial cliff last May when the Atlanta Falcons selected Bijan Robinson out of the University of Texas with the eighth overall pick in the NFL Draft.
It is a shame, really, given how unexpectedly great Allgeier was for the team a season ago.
As a rookie, he proved more valuable in fantasy than the more celebrated Breece Hall of the New York Jets and Kenneth Walker III from Seattle as he rushed 210 times for 1035 yards, an average of 4.9 yards a carry, and 3 TDs.
He was particularly great for a bad Falcons team after the Week 14 bye, never scoring less than 11.7 fantasy points per game in the proceeding four. During that span, he was the seventh-ranked back in the league, averaging 15.6 points a game.
Having had that experience, there was reason to believe that he would be even better for Atlanta in 2023.
The arrival of Robinson essentially relegates Allgeier to the bench, both in fantasy and reality, but there are two very good reasons why he is a worthwhile addition to your roster.
One, there is no telling how quickly Robinson will adjust to the speed and intricacies of the pro game. Not everyone adapts quite as quickly as Allgeier, Hall, and Walker did a season ago. If the rookie struggles early, it could mean more opportunities for the second-year back.
Then there are the questions about quarterback Desmond Ridder, who showed flashes of being a dynamic quarterback in his rookie year but who is still the subject of some uncertainty.
Depending on how quickly Ridder finds his groove, it is not out of the question that he could see more playing time in a two-back backfield.
