Cordarrelle Patterson has continued to defy Father Time.
Through four games, Patterson has ripped off 340 yards on the ground at nearly 5.9 yards per tote. He’s been the bedrock of the Falcons’ offense.
But par for the course of Patterson’s career, the injury bug has bitten him and he’s landed on IR. This opens up a big value hole in the Falcons’ backfield.
Patterson has averaged just under 15 attempts per game and now the likes of Tyler Allgeier, Caleb Huntley, and Avery Williams will find a way to divvy up those touches.
Heeding the advice of Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus, now is the time to tuck away Damien Williams, who should serve as the primary back when he returns from his injury next week.
For Week 5, Allgeier will get the early bites at the running game cheese, but Avery Williams offers an explosive, change of pace option.
Allgeier has averaged an efficient 5.3 yards per attempt on 26 carries and showcased his ability to hit the edge in an explosive run after Patterson went down on Sunday. He also added a 20-yard reception in the passing game.
As for Huntley, he will command snaps after taking his 10 touches and turning them into 56 yards and one touchdown. He profiles as a powerful, nimble runner that should see great success in the Falcons’ zone-blocking scheme.
The Falcons have a couple of tough matchups on the horizon, with the Buccaneers, 49ers, and Bengals before they get the Panthers. Either way, the Falcons are going to lean on their run game to keep their offense afloat.
“I don’t care who’s out there because I believe in everybody we put up on game day,” Arthur Smith said.
Truth be told, Jahnke’s analysis rings the truest and it’s best to wait a week until Damien Williams returns. But if in a pinch, Allgeier profiles as the safest streaming option of the bunch.