Jahan

Dotson

The Falcons passing attack was a mess against the Bengals in Week 9. Michael Penix threw 31 times, but for just 162 yards. Dotson was a non-factor by product, totaling just 16 yards on two receptions. He’s Atlanta’s WR2, but is merely a WR5/6 heading into Week 10 against the Chiefs.

The bulk of Dotson’s production came on a single, 76-yard gain in the fourth quarter. Michael Penix lobbed him a ball on the boundary and two Bucs defensive backs collided, leaving Dotson uncovered with room to run. He bolted down the sideline but didn’t have the speed to take it to the house. That play alone accounted for over half of Penix’s passing output. Dotson has made the occasional splash play while running as Atlanta’s WR2, but his fantasy prospects are not that intriguing headed into Week 9. He will be in the WR5/6 range when the Falcons take on the Bengals next week.

Dotson was also targeted on three different deep passes that resulted in San Francisco penalties. That doesn’t help your fantasy team, but it is indicative of his role in this offense. Dotson did run the second-most routes of any receiver on the Falcons; however, he is really only targeted on deep shots down the field, which will make his production inconsistent.

Dotson, whose season-high yardage coming into the week was 54 — his total in both of the past two weeks — got loose a couple times in this one, mostly when the Falcons ditched their usual run-heavy offense in favor of a fast-pace pass-heavy approach while facing a multiple touchdown second half deficit. Running a route on 32 of the Falcons’ 38 drop backs, Dotson led the team in receiving yards thanks largely to a 41-yard grab. Dotson could be a deep league play in Week 7 against the Niners.

Dotson’s 54 yards finished second on the team behind alpha Drake London but his four targets finished behind London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson. His status as the starting wide receiver opposite London likely means little in the wake of modest volume games that continue to stack up. He can safely be left on, or returned to, the waiver wire.

Dotson continues to operate as the team’s WR2 opposite Drake London but remains unlikely to return consistent fantasy production in an offense heavily concentrated on its top two options in London and Bijan Robinson. Dotson’s touchdown came in the fourth quarter with the team cruising, pushing the lead to 21 points with under 10 minutes to play. Fantasy managers can safely keep Dotson on the bench ahead of a Week 5 meeting with the Ravens in Atlanta.

Dotson saw four targets for the second week in a row. He went for 19 yards on one catch last week and didn’t look any different this time around. Dotson is the team’s No. 2 receiver by routes, but there aren’t enough targets to go around after Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson all get theirs. Dotson is not on the fantasy radar for Week 3.

Dotson actually operated as the second receiver for the Falcons in this one, running a route on 20 of the team’s 29 dropbacks. He also played 38 snaps, while Olamide Zaccheaus played just 18. That didn’t amount to much, but it’s something for fantasy managers in deeper leagues to keep in mind when Michael Penix eventually gets back onto the field.

Branch was a screen game dominator in college, with speed to spare. Raimondi thinks the Falcons will attempt to replicate his Georgia game early on, but Branch has a chance to become “the No. 3 guy, maybe even the No. 2 guy at some point.” Falcons WRs Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus sit in those two spots. Branch is unlikely to contribute meaningfully in fantasy early in the year, but he is worth keeping an eye on in-season.

The Atlanta depth chart at wideout is sparse even after we account for third-round pick Zachariah Branch in the draft. The No. 2 receiver right now might be Jahan Dotson. Olamide Zaccheaus is also in the picture. The Falcons still have $27 million in cap space but we’ve rarely heard them mentioned by national reporters as interested in the Stefon Diggs/Deebo Samuel/Keenan Allen best veteran free agent wideout tier. Those guys aren’t mentioned in this report either, but they do make plenty of sense from a roster standpoint.