The Falcons may be sorting through a quarterback battle, but one thing looks much clearer heading into 2026: Bijan Robinson is the non-QB who could carry this team’s MVP case.
NFL.com’s Kevin Patra made Robinson Atlanta’s pick for the league’s non-quarterback MVP candidate, and it’s easy to see why. With Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa expected to compete for the starting job, the Falcons are staring at a major question under center. That uncertainty only sharpens the spotlight on Robinson, who figures to be the engine of the offense no matter who wins the job.
Patra pointed to the fit between Robinson and Kevin Stefanski’s system, writing: "The game's most electric runner should fit perfectly into Kevin Stefanski's wide-zone-centric offense. In his first five seasons as an offensive coordinator or head coach (2019-2023), Stefanski’s offenses ranked among the top 10 teams in rush attempts each year and were among the top six in rushing yards in four of those five campaigns.
At the foundation of his offense is the ground game, with play-action and boots as counters. Robinson has a chance to improve on his back-to-back seasons with 1,400-plus ground yards, potentially putting him in position to win his first rushing title. He also could threaten Chris Johnson's single-season scrimmage-yards record (2,509)." - Kevin Patra, NFL.com
That kind of workload makes Robinson the obvious answer in Atlanta. He’s not just a runner who can pile up carries. He’s one of the league’s best receiving backs, a strong blocker, and a player who can hurt defenses in just about every phase.
The former top-10 pick has also shown off the kind of vision that makes him dangerous whether he’s working between the tackles or bouncing plays outside. He runs with power, doesn’t avoid contact, and has already proven durable through his first three seasons.
Robinson is entering his fourth year and still looks like he’s getting better. If the Falcons can settle the quarterback situation, that would only open more space for him to do what he does best.
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