Bijan Robinson didn’t need long to remind everyone why he’s one of the most dangerous backs in football.
The Falcons running back opened 2026 with a monster Week 1 performance at Pittsburgh, piling up 31.3 PPR fantasy points while handling 29 total touches. And on Wednesday, Atlanta head coach Kevin Stefanski made it clear that kind of workload isn’t out of the question going forward.
“Do I think he’s going to touch it 29 times each game? I don’t know.
I think he wants to. That’s what he’s told me.”
Robinson’s rise has been steady ever since Atlanta took him eighth overall in the 2023 draft, a premium slot for a running back. He flashed immediately as a rookie, finishing with 1,463 yards on 272 total touches, then followed that up with two elite seasons in 2024 and 2025.
That production made him an obvious early target in fantasy drafts this year. Robinson went No. 2 in most leagues behind the Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs, and Week 1 did nothing to cool that hype.
The next test comes Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, when the Falcons return home to face the Panthers.
That Carolina defense was gashed on the ground in Week 1, giving up 291 rushing yards in a 59-37 loss to the Bears. With Stefanski openly acknowledging Robinson’s appetite for volume, fantasy managers have every reason to expect another heavy workload - likely at least 25 touches again.
There’s also reason to believe the matchup and schedule could keep Atlanta in favorable spots early. Based on 2025 records, the Falcons’ opponents own a .465 win percentage, one of the softer slates in football.
Still, the bigger issue in Atlanta remains the same: the roster has enough pieces to matter, but no quarterback has clearly stepped in to unlock it. The Falcons’ current options at the position are Cooper Rush, Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr.
Atlanta is 0-1 after a 20-13 loss to the Steelers, and the defense looked capable enough to keep the team in games. Whether the Falcons can turn that into actual wins will depend on whether one of those quarterbacks can string together quality play.
There’s at least a path in front of them. The NFC South was the weakest division in football last season, with no team finishing above .500, and every club in the division started 0-1 this year. That leaves Atlanta with a chance to make something of the start if the offense can finally catch up to the rest of the roster.
In Other News...
Falcons Already Face A Quarterback Problem That Could Define 2026
Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season already has a way of sharpening the questions around Atlanta, and quarterback is at the center of it. In a league where early games can quickly shape the bigger picture, the Falcons are being viewed through the lens of a problem that has lingered into the new year, even as the rest of the NFC begins sorting itself into tiers.
The broader conference picture only adds to the pressure. Atlanta is being measured against teams that opened with cleaner answers and better momentum, while the Falcons are left trying to settle the most important spot on the roster before the season's bigger decisions arrive. For a team trying to stay relevant in the NFC race, the quarterback issue is not just an early storyline, it could end up defining where this season goes next. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Week 1 QB Issue And A Bijan Dilemma
The Falcons are heading into Week 1 with more uncertainty than they probably wanted at quarterback, with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix both ruled out as the team sorts through ongoing evaluations. Kevin Stefanski said Penix and Cooper Rush have both been involved in practice, which at least gives Atlanta a live look at the options, but it also underscores how unsettled the position still is as the opener approaches.
Bijan Robinson brings a different kind of question, and one that could shape how the Falcons try to survive the early part of the season. He had significant involvement in the opener, and Stefanski has already hinted at possible changes in how the team uses him going forward. For a roster trying to find its footing at quarterback, what Atlanta decides to do with its best offensive weapon may end up being just as important as who gets the snaps under center. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons QB Trouble Puts New Pressure On Michael Penix Jr. Return
Michael Penix Jr. still has not made his return from the ACL injury he suffered last November, and the Falcons have already chosen to keep him out beyond their season opener. For a team looking to settle its quarterback situation early, the delay only adds another layer of uncertainty, especially with the season already underway and the attention now shifting to when Penix might finally be available.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Falcons originally eyed Week 2 or 3 for Penixs return, though that window may have come too soon. Atlanta has not put him on short-term injured reserve, a sign the team still expects him back relatively soon, but there is still no official timeline. Until that becomes clearer, the Falcons are left managing the position without knowing exactly when their young quarterback will be ready to join the mix. [Read more 🡒]