Falcons make massive moves in early 2026 predictions

Welcome to the start of football season. Training camp is just getting underway, and the football landscape is littered with ambition and golden promises. Every question mark is answered with the best-case scenario; every breakout player will be the most actualized version of themselves come this time next season.

That’s why when bold predictors like SB Nation’s Jarrett Bailey go out on a limb to predict 61 different aspects of the 2026 season, I have no choice but to respect the game.

To put yourself out there and plant your flag this early on topics like “Who’s going to win the Super Bowl?” or even something as trivial as “Who’s throwing the most passing touchdowns this season?” is a level of courage that I haven’t acquired yet.

So, is it possible that none of these things will happen? Absolutely. Maybe it’s even likely.

But it is a cool way to dive into the minds of some of these guys who also wake up and think about this beautiful game 24/7/365.

So, let’s dive into these predictions, and more importantly, what Bailey said about the Atlanta Falcons.

1. Bijan Robinson ranks third in rushing yards, falls out of top five (again) in rushing TDs

After discussing 29 other topics that don’t necessarily affect the Falcons, Bailey lists out his top five league leaders in 10 different categories, including rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. In rushing yards, Robinson slots in at third with 1,427 yards, behind only James Cook (1,493) and Jahmyr Gibbs (1,648).

This could be a sore spot for Falcons fans, as the battle of “which running back is more valuable” continues to rage on even into this season, as both are up for extensions and neither is willing to blink first to get the lesser amount of the two backs.

That being said, neither of the two 2023 first-round picks shows up on the rushing touchdowns list as new Kansas City Chief Kenneth Walker takes the crown with 15 scores. The Broncos’ Javonte Williams and Ravens’ Derrick Henry tied for fourth with 12.

2. Drake London is not a top-five producer in receptions, receiving yards nor receiving touchdowns

I think this is more a statement on how poor the Falcons quarterback situation may get in 2026; more on that to come, but the newly minted number-one receiver for Atlanta didn’t breach the top five in receptions. Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase snatches the triple crown in this exercise, leading in receptions (128), yards (1,693) and touchdowns (20). A wild prediction since we’ve never had a receiver hit 125+ receptions, 1600 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns.

The closest we’ve gotten is our latest triple-crown recipients: Chase in 2024 (127, 1708, 17), Cooper Kupp in 2021 (145, 1947, 16) and the G.O.A.T. Jerry Rice in 1995 (122, 1848, 15).

All this could mean is that London is right there, sitting around 100 receptions and 1200 yards again, as he did in 2024, especially with the more run-heavy approach we expect...