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Freeman's Role Should Increase With Smith Out Of The Picture

Written By Bob Harris | fantasy football | Posted 21-Nov-14 @ 10:16 PT

According to ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure, it may have been a preview of things to come for Devonta Freeman.

In the third quarter of last Sunday’s 19-17 win at Carolina, the rookie running back took a handoff, exploded a few steps up the middle, then made a quick cut left while following a block from pulling guard Jon Asamoah. Freeman made a safety miss, made another quick cut in front of a block by receiver Julio Jones, then stiff-armed veteran safety Roman Harper en route to a 15-yard gain.

"That’s what I do," Freeman said confidently. "That’s my game. Once I feel the game out and understand everything, I feel like if you just let me go out there and play, I’m going to dominate. I’m going to do my job. I’m going to go out there and contribute."

Freeman should get ample opportunity to prove his value for the remainder of the season. The Falcons lost a key part of their running back rotation when speedy Antone Smith suffered a season-ending broken leg last Sunday. The loss of Smith means the Falcons will transition from a four-man running back rotation to a trio of Steven Jackson, Jacquizz Rodgers, and Freeman.

Expect Freeman to be the primary beneficiary of the redistribution of carries following Smith’s injury.

Freeman had a career-high 11 carries (for 12 yards) during a 56-14 blowout of Tampa Bay in Week 3. He has 35 carries for 147 yards (4.2 yards per carry) through 10 games along with a 7-yard touchdown reception against Detroit.

Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter talked about what Freeman brings to the running game.

"Well Devonta has an explosive running style," Koetter said. "He hits the hole fast. You saw when he got out into the open field on the one the other night, he was able to make one guy miss and then kind of run through a second guy. He’s just got an explosive style.

"Now we’re splitting three guys instead of four, so both Devonta and Jacquizz should see their time go up."

This Sunday, the Falcons will face a Cleveland team banged up at linebacker and struggling to stop the run. The Browns rank 30th in the league in run defense and allow 142.1 rushing yards per game. They allowed 213 rushing yards -- 156 to rookie Alfred Blue -- in a 23-7 loss to Houston last week.

As McClure noted, the Falcons still count on Jackson to set a physical tone, although he missed some practice time Thursday with an illness. Maybe Freeman will inject a little more life into the running game Sunday and help the Falcons get to the second level more consistently.