Jahan

Dotson

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.

The Falcons released Darnell Mooney and KhaDarel Hodge, leaving them with a depth chart behind Mooney of Olamide Zaccheaus, Casey Washington and Deven Thompkins. The Falcons, who lost their first-round pick in the ill-fated James Pearce trade, also don’t have many draft picks this year and could be less likely than most teams to draft a wideout that could challenge Dotson for a role. We’re not quite at “sleeper” status here, but we’re at least late-round Best Ball curious.

Dotson could see starter’s snaps in Atlanta after the Falcons parted ways with Darnell Mooney. Dotson was stuck behind DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown over the past couple seasons in Philadelphia with no real way to see consistent routes or targets in the Eagles’ ultra run-heavy offense. Dotson managed just 37 catches and one touchdown over 34 regular season games with the Eagles. In Atlanta he will be a distant WR2 at best in Kevin Stefanski’s offense.

Finishing up his second year as the Eagles’ sparingly-used No. 3 wideout, Dotston was sporadically productive in a dysfunctional passing attack. Headed to free agency after Philly declined his fifth-year team option, Dotson could end up back with the Eagles on a non-guaranteed contract. The 2022 draft bust’s two years in the Eagles’ system probably make him worth more to Philly than anybody else. That being said, we doubt Dotson would be a candidate to ascend to No. 2 status if A.J. Brown is traded.

Dotson saw increased opportunity with the Eagles resting most of their starters in Week 18. He was able to convert eight targets into only 40 yards, including a miscommunication with Tanner McKee that led to a goal line interception in the second quarter. Dotson will only see an increase in routes if A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are out. Heading into the playoffs, he is the No. 3 wide receiver in the Eagles offense.

Dotson saw a big bump in routes with A.J. Brown sidelined with a hamstring issue. He made the most of his two targets, catching a gorgeous bomb from Jalen Hurts in the third quarter for a 40-yard score — one of Hurts’ four touchdown throws on the day. Dotson likely won’t have any fantasy appeal when the Eagles return from their bye in Week 10 if Brown is back in action.

Dotson had 24 snaps of Philadelphia’s team total of 50, so he remains the most-used third receiver for the team. It doesn’t seem like that matters, but we figured we’d tell you in case you were curious. Dotson hasn’t cleared one catch since Week 1.