Final Dynasty Rookie Report Card: Running Backs

Each week throughout the 2023 NFL season, we have covered two or more rookies, looking at their performance to date and future potential. With the 2023 season now complete, the final report cards are due. I’ll only look at their time on the field, ignoring injuries that caused them to miss games. This week, we’ll look back at the 2023 rookie running backs.

Bijan Robinson, RB ATL

2023 stats: 214 carries for 976 yards and four touchdowns, 58 receptions on 86 targets for 487 yards and four touchdowns; 246 PPR points, RB9 overall

Robinson’s rookie season was a success; it just wasn’t the massive smash success we had expected. He was considered the RB1 in dynasty long before even being drafted eighth overall. That kind of hype was nearly impossible to live up to, especially considering everything we thought about his usage was utterly incorrect. Thanks, Arthur Smith. Don’t let the door hit you in the you know where on the way out.

Robinson was everything we thought he could be as a runner, but the most encouraging thing we saw was his passing game usage. His 58 receptions and four receiving touchdowns kept his fantasy production afloat. I don’t think many had him outproducing Jahmyr Gibbs in that phase of the game, but he did. The future is exceptionally bright now that we are out from under the previous coaching regime. Almost anyone Atlanta brings in should be an upgrade for the offense. If they can somehow address the quarterback situation in the same offseason, we could be looking at a juggernaut in 2024. All the other pieces are in place.

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB DET