We are proud to be among the first, if not the first, to publish full projections for the upcoming season, going live just days after the Super Bowl. Publishing detailed projections in early February comes with trade-offs, not the least of which is a near-total lack of clarity on how free agency, cap transactions, and the NFL draft will reshape rosters.
We've been updating our projections in near real time, including during the recent onslaught of free-agent transactions. This version will remain largely stable until we can layer in the April NFL draft, but stable projections don't mean settled debates.
We have a staff of sharp analysts with sharp takes of their own, so I thought it would be worthwhile to solicit their views on the key coin-toss situations that will shape each team's outlook in the coming months. These are important questions where reasonable, informed people can credibly land in very different places. I asked my colleagues to weigh in with one assumption: they were answering strictly through the lens of a standard 0.5-PPR redraft league.
Atlanta Falcons Coin-Toss Questions
- Is Tommy Rees a Red Flag for the Falcons' Fantasy Outlook?
- Will Tagovailoa or Penix Start Week 1 for Atlanta?
- Can Robinson Replicate Allgeier's Production?
- Will Pitts Repeat as a Top-5 Fantasy Tight End?
- Is There a Draftable No. 2 Receiver Behind London?
Kevin Stefanski takes over in Atlanta, but intends to let Tommy Rees handle play-calling. Does that concern you? Where do you expect the offense to rank in 2026?
Andy Hicks: Kevin Stefanski's situation in Cleveland was far from ideal, with late-round quarterbacks and an inconsistent receiving corps limiting what the offense could realistically achieve. Atlanta represents a clear step up in overall talent. His connection with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, who worked under Stefanski for two seasons, should help ensure continuity in philosophy and structure. While Stefanski may not be calling plays directly, he is still expected to have significant influence over the offensive system. The Falcons finished around the middle of the pack offensively last season, which suggests there is real room for growth with this upgraded personnel. Stefanski's track record deserves context, particularly given the disruption caused by the Deshaun Watson situation in Cleveland. Given the talent and coaching stability in place, ranking this unit 10th feels justified.
Maurile Tremblay: Yes. Tommy Rees calling plays is a red flag — his 2025 Browns offense finished last in yards per play and EPA, and 31st in scoring, so that part absolutely makes me uneasy. The quarterback situation adds to it, too, since Tua is coming off a bad year and Penix is still working back from ACL surgery. I still wouldn't expect a bad offense, though. Bijan Robinson is a real foundation piece, Bill Callahan should help the run game, and Drake London, plus Kyle Pitts Sr., give Atlanta enough talent to be productive. I'd expect the Falcons to finish around the middle of the league, roughly 12th to 16th.
Jeff Haseley: I'm not overly concerned about Tommy Rees calling the plays. He and Stefanski worked together in Cleveland, and Rees has plenty of play-calling experience from his days at Notre Dame and Alabama. I expect this offense to be in the upper teens by default with such talent on the field in Bijan Robinson and Drake London.
