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2010 Fantasy Football Rankings – Atlanta Falcons:
Updated 5/27
Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons. Bye: 8. Matt Ryan is the No. 12 quarterback in my 2010 Fantasy Football Rankings, but I definitely would be fine with him as my starter. Ryan missed four games last year with a turf toe, but totaled 2,916 yards, 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in the remaining 12 contests. Transpose those numbers over a 16-game slate, and you get 3,888 yards, 29 touchdowns and 19 picks – really good QB1 numbers.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 3,800 passing yards. 26 passing TDs. 14 INTs. 90 rushing yards. 1 rushing TD.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points (ESPN Scoring): 243.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points (QB Friendly): 333.
Michael Turner, RB, Falcons. Bye: 8. Atlanta had tons of injuries last year, but if most of the team stays healthy for a change, Michael Turner could have a big season.
I didn’t like Turner as a 2009 fantasy prospect because he led the league in carries. He started the year out great and I looked like a bigger fool than Emmitt Smith at a grammar competition, but Turner eventually did what I expected him to do – get hurt. Still though, in eight full games, Turner compiled 720 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Turner will always be limited because he’s not a three-down runner, but he makes up for that with all of his goal-line opportunities. If Atlanta’s offense is running at full efficiency for most of the year, Turner could exceed 15 touchdowns again, and perhaps break his personal single-season record of 17.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 1,350 rushing yards. 8 catches. 50 receiving yards. 16 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 236.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 244.
Jerious Norwood, RB, Falcons. Bye: 8. I liked Jerious Norwood as a late-round sleeper last year because I was confident that Michael Turner would get hurt and miss extensive time. Unfortunately, Norwood also suffered an injury and then Jason Snelling emerged, so my whole plan was debaclized. Norwood is a late-round option in really deep PPR leagues, but that’s about it.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 325 rushing yards. 30 catches. 290 receiving yards. 2 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 73.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 103.
Jason Snelling, RB, Falcons. Bye: 8. The handcuff you want for Michael Turner – if you’re into that sort of thing.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 280 rushing yards. 20 catches. 180 receiving yards. 4 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 70.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 90.
Roddy White, WR, Falcons. Bye: 8. Roddy White never had scored more than seven touchdowns in a season before 2009, when he reached the end zone 11 times to go along with his 1,153 yards. An aberration? I don’t think so – it was more of a product of Atlanta’s offense reaching its near-100 percent potential with Matt Ryan entering his second year. The Falcons could be even more efficient on the offensive side of the ball in 2010.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 89 catches. 1,260 yards. 10 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 186.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 275.
Michael Jenkins, WR, Falcons. Bye: 8. Michael Jenkins’ reception totals the past three seasons: 53, 50 and 50. At least he’s consistent. It’s rather disappointing that Jenkins has never been able to evolve into a solid No. 2 in Atlanta’s high-powered offense.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 43 catches. 550 yards. 2 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 67.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 110.
Harry Douglas, WR, Falcons. Bye: 8. A talented slot receiver, Harry Douglas tore his ACL in August 2009 and missed the entire season. Having 12 months of recovery time should allow Douglas to play near 100 percent this year. Still, he’s not much of a fantasy factor.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 34 catches. 460 yards. 2 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 58.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 92.
Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons. Bye: 8. Tony Gonzalez caught 83 balls for 867 yards and six touchdowns last year. But those are poor numbers by Gonzalez’s standards. In fact, that yardage total was his lowest since 2002. Gonzalez is now 34, and I’m concerned because he had just eight receptions for 79 yards and a score in the final three weeks of the 2009 season. His name and reputation will likely cause him to be overdrafted in most leagues. I’d proceed with caution.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 70 catches. 790 yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 122.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 196.
Atlanta Falcons. Bye: 8. The Falcons don’t produce many sacks and they failed to score a special teams touchdown last year. You might be able to get away with starting this defense against the Buccaneers, but don’t even expect much there.
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More 2010 Fantasy Football Articles:
2010 Fantasy Football: Home
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2010 Fantasy Football Playoff Rankings - 1/5 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Week 17 Fantasy Rankings - 1/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 8/31 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 6/6 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 7/3 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 7/14 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 8/31 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 7/20 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/10 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/11 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Auction Values - 9/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP Defensive Linemen - 8/3 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP Linebackers - 8/7 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP Defensive Backs - 8/14 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Team-by-Team - 6/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Dynasty Rookie Rankings - 4/30 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Rookie Rankings - 4/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 150 Traditional - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 150 PPR - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 150 Touchdown League - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Downloadable Spreadsheets - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: WF.com Free League - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real Traditional Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real PPR Draft - 8/26 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real PPR Draft - 8/18 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real Experts PPR Draft - 8/12 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Experts Mock Draft - 8/12 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Pros vs. Joes - 7/28 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR Draft with AKA - 7/20 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Mocking ESPN's Fantasy Mock Draft - 7/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: The Four-Man PPR Fantasy Draft - 7/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Articles:
2010 Fantasy Football Injury Reports: Week 17 - 1/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Start Em, Sit Em - 12/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Add/Drop - 12/20 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Stock Index - Week 8 - 10/29 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football Buffet: Week 8 - 10/28 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Stock - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock - 9/3 (Walt)
2010 NFL Preseason Recap, Fantasy Football Notes - 9/3 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: High-Upside Late-Round Sleepers - 8/25 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Top 12 Players to Avoid - 8/25 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Undervalued Players - 8/13 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Buy Low - 8/6 (Walt)
ESPN's 2010 Fantasy Football Magazine Errors - 8/3 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Defense Strategy - 8/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: My Round-by-Round Strategy - 7/27 (Walt)
Lack of 2010 Fantasy Depth: Blame the 2008 NFL Draft Class - 7/26 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Why You Should Pass on Chris Johnson - 7/14 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Draft Strategies - 7/13 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Wide Receiver Scarcity - 6/30 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Sleepers (Late-Round) - 6/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Sleepers (Mid-Round) - 6/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Busts - 5/31 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mailbag - 5/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Quarterbacks with New Receivers - 5/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: 2010 NFL Draft Stock Up - 4/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: 2010 NFL Draft Stock Down - 4/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Free Agency Stock Up - 4/15 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Free Agency Stock Down - 4/12 (Walt)
Running Backs with Most Carries - 4/10 (Walt)
NFL Picks - Nov. 20
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
