His latest numbers with the 49ers fully back him up: 92 carries, 400 total yards, 2 touchdowns, and a 4.3 average. The Falcons’ running back group is starting to become one to fear in the NFC.

Tua believes he still has a lot to give in the NFL, and he’s ready to face the 15 interceptions from his last season in Miami. Now on the ground, he has more than intriguing options to break down opposing defenses.

Backfield led by Bijan

The Falcons’ backfield is set to be one of the most dynamic in the league, led by their undisputed star Bijan Robinson. Coming off a dominant 2025 season, Robinson carried the ball 287 times for 1,478 yards, averaging an elite 5.2 yards per carry and scoring 7 touchdowns.

Veteran Brian Robinson Jr. arrived from the 49ers with a one-year 2.5M deal, to provide a powerful one-two punch following the departure of Tyler Allgeier. Behind them, the depth chart is rounded out by promising young talent, including Nathan Carter and Carlos Washington Jr., both of whom will compete for carries and special teams roles to ensure Atlanta maintains its relentless rushing attack.

The importance of the running game for Stefanski

Kevin Stefanski is known for an offensive system that prioritizes a heavy rushing attack, a philosophy he refined in Cleveland by centering his unit around elite backs. For example, he maximized Nick Chubb’s abilities during his time with the Dawg Pound.

His strategy centers on a wide-zone blocking scheme that demands RBs with elite vision and the ability to make decisive cut-backs. By establishing a dominant ground game, he forces defenses to play close to the line, which perfectly sets up his signature play-action passing attack.

Atlanta looks to improve on 2025

To break their latest 8-9 streak and return to the playoffs, the Falcons have moved on from Raheem Morris to embrace Kevin Stefanski’s elite offensive vision. By pairing Tua Tagovailoa with a loaded roster, Atlanta aim to dominate the NFC South.

With Kyle Pitts coming off a 928-yard season, Drake London adding 919 yards and 7 TDs, the Falcons finally have the firepower to demolish any defense. In this way, they aim to make a big impact in the upcoming NFL season.

As part of that plan, several names have already begun to surface as potential arrivals to the Big Apple. With Jaxson Dart confident in his status as the starting quarterback, surrounding him with offensive weapons could prove to be a major boost for his development and the Giants’ success.

Insider Wesley Steinberg, via his X account, revealed one of the names generating significant buzz within Harbaugh’s coaching staff: long regarded as a cornerstone of the Atlanta Falcons, veteran standout Bijan Robinson has emerged as a prime target for New York.

However, the two-time Pro Bowler isn’t the only running back on the Giants’ radar. The other names reportedly targeted by the franchise are recent Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III and Jeremiyah Love, widely regarded as a top-tier prospect.

Ground game alternatives for the Giants

Last season, the Giants‘ backfield featured a diverse rotation, though it was significantly hampered by late-season attrition. Rookie Cam Skattebo emerged as a physical force before a major injury sidelined him, while Tyrone Tracy Jr. proved to be a versatile asset, leading the team with 740 rushing yards despite a shoulder issue that caused him to miss time.

Devin Singletary provided a veteran presence, contributing 437 yards and five touchdowns, while Eric Gray remained primarily a depth option and special teams contributor.

As the team looks toward the 2026 season, the front office is reportedly seeking an elite upgrade to stabilize the unit, especially with Skattebo still working his way back from a season-ending injury. It appears that the Giants could stand in the Kansas City Chiefs’ way, as Andy Reid and company are also expected to target new running backs for their team this offseason.

Bijan Robinson is now one of the NFL‘s biggest surging stars. His play as the Atlanta Falcons running back has been incredible, and now he has revealed which players help him become the player he is now, including Christian McCaffrey.

Bijan Robinson spoke with Rodney Harrison and started going old school with Thurman Thomas. Robinson spoke about the smoothness of Thomas and how he liked his movements.

Robinson also stated LaDainian Tomlinson is his favorite running back of all time. He praised how LT managed to go through contact. Bijan also gets inspiration from Barry Sanders and how he modeled his cuts by watching Sanders’ highlights.

McCaffrey is the modern running back Bijan gets inspiration from

McCaffrey is one of the best dual-threat backs of all time. Robinson is becoming that as well. Bijan admires how McCaffrey runs crisp routes and how he is very reliable for his quarterbacks. That’s something Robinson wants to communicate with his play as well.

Robinson will try to emulate the double production CMC is used to provide. However, Robinson has managed to stay healthy this far into his career. If he can continue to deliver without missing time, Robinson could easily become the best back in the NFL.

How is Robinson playing?

Awesome. And if you look at the stats, ‘awesome‘ might be an understatement. Robinson leads the NFL in scrimmage yards with 822 and only five games played. This is an absolutely absurd stat. He averages 164.4 scrimmage yards per game.

He also has three touchdowns and has been the constant threat on the Falcons. Sometimes he will be a part of a great unit, but when that unit is dimming, he keeps shining. Robinson is one to watch for the future.

The game will feature a can’t-miss duel between two special running backs, Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey. While McCaffrey is trying to return to his best version, Robinson has emerged as one of the top players in his position.

Whoever dominates this duel will give their team an advantage. McCaffrey is aware that Robinson is a real threat, and the 49ers should be ready to attack him with everything.

Christian McCaffrey heaps high praise on Bijan Robinson

On Wednesday, McCaffrey shared his opinion on Robinson. The 49ers stars showered the Falcons leader with good words.

“It’s amazing, man. You know, I think when you see it in person, you realize why he is who he is,” McCaffrey said. “I hope so (Robinson has some of his game). That’s a huge compliment. You know, I watch him move, watch him make a lot of these plays and you know it’s inspiring. So he’s definitely somebody that when you watch him play, you know, any chance you get, you can try to emulate some of the stuff he does.”

McCaffrey and Robinson worked out together in the offseason. McCaffrey saw what Robinson brings to the table firsthand and knew the Niners would be in for a busy day trying to stop Robinson.

Michael Penix Jr. didn’t have the best game of his career, but that wasn’t necessary. Robinson stole the show by carrying the ball 19 times for 170 yards and one touchdown. He added six receptions for 68 yards, rounding up a huge night for the talented running back.

Additionally, Robinson scored an 81-yard touchdown, which was the longest rush of his NFL career and the longest rushing touchdown in the NFL this campaign.

LeBron James shares 3-word message on Bijan Robinson’s huge TD

The play caught a lot of attention in and outside the stadium. So much so that NBA superstar LeBron James gave a shout-out to the running back after he got loose and found the end zone with an impressive run.

“Bijan so COLD!!!!!!” James tweeted on X

The Falcons made a statement against the Bills, and Robinson also sent a message, confirming that he’s one of the premier running backs in the league this season. In five games, he’s carried the ball 83 times for 484 yards (third-best in the league) and two touchdowns.

He has also excelled as a pass catcher, posting 24 receptions for 338 yards and one touchdown. The Falcons’ offense struggled to get things going before the bye week. Raheem Morris exhorted them to do better, and Robinson definitely received the memo.

Michael Penix Jr. struggled to get things going, finishing 18 of 36 for 172 yards and two interceptions (including a pick-6), which prompted Raheem Morris to replace him with Kirk Cousins.

It was a poor performance from the Falcons, who had Bijan Robinson (13 carries for 72 yards) as the only “bright” spot in this game. The star running back wasn’t happy with the team’s performance after the matchup and sent a clear message to his teammates.

Bijan Robinson sends clear message to struggling Falcons

Atlanta is 1-2 after the Panthers’ loss. They rank third in the conference after Sunday’s loss. The season is off to a rocky start, and they need to get it together before it’s too late. Talking about the current state of the Falcons, Robinson made it clear that they need to decide what type of team they want to be moving forward.

“I didn’t want to lose by 30 today. Obviously, nobody did. But it happened,” Robinson said. “I believe this can either break a team or make a team. For us, this needs to make this team. We need to come in tomorrow, we need to watch this game, and we all need to feel the same hurt the same way.”

Week 4 will see the Falcons face off against the Washington Commanders. It remains to be seen if Kirk Cousins will take over from Penix or if the second-year quarterback will keep Morris’ trust ahead of a game that could put them 1-3.

After a terrific 2024 season in which he carried the ball 304 times and racked up 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns, Robinson entered this campaign as one of the best players in his position.

Coach Raheem Morris is really fond of the former Texas Longhorns, who started this season with 34 carries and 167 yards. Robinson is still drawing positive comments, and Morris gave him the ultimate praise.

Raheem Morris says Bijan Robinson is the best player in the NFL

Besides becoming one of the best players in his position, Robinson is considered the best player in the league, at least for his coach.

“He’s definitely the best player in football, without a doubt,” he said Wednesday. “He’s unbelievable. I love the kid. I love everything about him. I love watching him with the ball. I love his confidence. I love his demeanor. I love his mindset. I love the leadership. I love everything about him.”

The Atlanta Falcons rank second in the NFC South division after losing the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and beating the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2. Robinson doesn’t seem to be playing at his best level, but the season is still young. He still has a big room for improvement, which will benefit Michael Penix Jr. and Co.

Even after winning the Super Bowl, his answer was surprising. “I’m super confident in myself and I’m the best in the NFL. Do I think I’m the most talented one right now? I don’t. Bijan Robinson is the most talented. Puts it all together.”

Bijan Robinson has had a meteoric rise with the Atlanta Falcons since joining the league in 2023. In his rookie season, he totaled 976 yards, but he took a huge leap in 2024, recording 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Who is the best running back in the NFL?

Saquon Barkley was the best running back in the NFL during the 2024 season, finishing with 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns. In fact, if head coach Nick Sirianni hadn’t rested him in the final week of the regular season, the Eagles star would have had a real chance to break the all-time record of 2,105 yards, which still belongs to Eric Dickerson.

In this interesting debate about who is the best RB, Derrick Henry (1,921 yards) and Bijan Robinson (1,456 yards) remained in the second tier last season, although, according to Barkley, the Falcons’ running back has the greatest overall potential.

While the league currently boasts talents like Alvin Kamara and Derrick Henry, it’s clear that the new generation of running backs has arrived to define the next era. Barkley was once a part of that wave, and his talent was recently crowned with a Super Bowl ring.

In a recent media session, the former Giants star was decisive when choosing which running back will set the trend in the near future: “I think Bijan’s the next great one. Bijan’s definitely the next great one.”

“There’s nobody who’s able to cut like Bijan in the NFL. There’s not,” Barkley also added his thoughts on one of the top prospects currently on Raheem Morris’ roster with the Atlanta Falcons.

“Trust me, I love myself, and I think I have great cuts. But there’s nobody, the way he’s able to, his vision, his agility, and he can catch the ball too. It’s finna get scary for a lot of people as he continues to figure it out.”

Robinson’s impressive numbers

Bijan Robinson had a standout 2024-2025 season for the Atlanta Falcons, solidifying his status as one of the NFL‘s premier running backs. He finished the season with an impressive 304 carries for 1,456 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, more than tripling his rushing scores from his rookie year. Additionally, Robinson remained a significant threat in the passing game, hauling in 61 receptions for 431 yards and another touchdown, earning him his first Pro Bowl selection.

Barkley’s sentiment reflects the widespread recognition of Robinson’s rare skill set and immense potential. Beyond his cutting ability, Robinson’s capacity to break tackles and contribute significantly as a receiver makes him a complete back, drawing comparisons to top-tier talents in the league.

While one of the key weapons Morris will have at his disposal on the Falcons’ offense is still very young, many believe his immense talent could propel him to become one of the best in the league.

The Atlanta Falcons have reasons to be excited for the upcoming NFL season. Not only is Michael Penix Jr. now in charge as the starting quarterback, but the team has very good skill players ready to take the league by storm. Usually, you’ll hear talks about running back Bijan Robinson or wide receiver Drake London, but NFL Network’s Steve Wyche has said there’s a third guy with the potential to be a top star.

Wyche report states that the Falcons are very pleased with what they’ve seen from their top stars, but that offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is looking to use Darnell Mooney in different ways to make him stand out. This would mean a lot for Drake London, who would certainly welcome some support in the WR corp.

Wyche said “You know a lot of the conversation has been about his connection with wide receiver Drake London, but it is Darnell Mooney who is on the verge of a breakout. He’s someone they are using in a lot more different ways. He is a player that Penix has struck up something with.”

Now, breakout might actually seem unfair when talking about Mooney, who had a 992-yard season and 5 touchdowns in 2024. However, this means the expectations for Mooney are sky-high.

Darnell Mooney can take advantage of one key factor

While Drake London is and will be the primary option of the team’s aerial prowess, Mooney has characteristics that can blossom with Penix Jr. under center. The former Chicago Bear excels when used as a deep threat and the Falcons have a precise, signal-caller with a strong arm now.

London can be a threat outside the numbers and on contested throws, while Mooney can run vertical routes and let Penix Jr. rip the ball downfield. Also, this opens up endless opportunities for Bijan Robinson to have empty boxes and run with a wide open defense.

There’s another player the Falcons hope to exploit

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. While Atlanta is certainly happy to see Mooney evolve into a certified threat, they are still waiting on tight end Kyle Pitts to deliver on his potential.

Once labeled as a ‘unicorn’ due to his skillset, Pitts has failed to translate his dominant college career to the NFL. The former Florida Gator has had only one season over 1,000 yards and it was his rookie year. After that, he’s never surpassed the 700 mark and has 10 career TDs in four years in the league.

If Kyle Pitts manages to unleash his raw talent, the Falcons could actually dream with having a top 10 offense with lots of promise. This because Pitts will be 25 years old when entering this season, Penix is in his second year, Bijan will be 23, London 24, and Mooney 28. The Falcons are young and talented, if they find rhythm, it’s going to be a problem for years to come.

Bijan Robinson is arguably one of the best players at his position in the league. Unfortunately, the team’s overall performance didn’t match his individual talent, and the result was a disappointing season for the Falcons.

For this reason, the former Texas Longhorn made it clear to the media that he will do everything he can to match Barkley’s numbers from last season — a challenge that will undoubtedly be difficult to achieve.

“We all want it. We’re all waiting for that Saquon-type of season when it comes to explosives,” Robinson said, via the team’s website. “But I’ve been working on it a lot this offseason. And, obviously, when it gets to the season, it’s time to go show it and go do the work the right way.”

Fortunately for the talented running back, he was the first to point out that his team have “added so many things to this offense so we can create more explosives.”

What will happen at the QB position?

One of the most talked-about storylines in recent weeks across the NFL has been the situation involving veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons. With no official updates, all signs continue to point toward the departure of the former Vikings signal-caller.

If this scenario becomes a reality, it will be crucial to see how head coach Raheem Morris handles the situation and which quarterback he chooses to lead the team starting in Week 1.

Michael Penix Jr. appears to be the most likely candidate to take over the starting role, although that decision remains speculative for now. It will come down to how things unfold in the coming weeks to determine whether he will be named the starter or if the team will look for an alternative.