Week 13 vs. New Orleans Saints
Freeman missed Weeks 11 and 12 with a foot injury but is expected to return this week against the Saints. Their defense is the number one ranked defense against running backs, as shown by our signature schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric. Freeman draws a very difficult matchup in his first week back. He hasn’t scored a rushing touchdown all season and hasn’t scored a receiving touchdown since Week 6. He is projected as a low-end half PPR RB2.
Week 11 at Carolina Panthers
Devonta Freeman left the game against New Orleans with a foot sprain and could be out for two weeks, according to Ian Rapoport.
Week 10 at New Orleans Saints
The Falcons had a bye in Week 9.
Freeman will be the lead back in Week 10 because Ito Smith will miss another game with a neck injury. Smith missed Week 8 with a concussion and Freeman out-snapped Brian Hill 64-11 and out-touched him 21 to 3. This matchup against New Orleans has the second-highest over/under (51) and could turn into a shootout. The high over/under is a positive for Freeman but the overall matchup against the Saints defensive line is a negative. The Saints defense is second-best against running backs, per our signature schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric. 4for4’s rankings expert, John Paulsen, has Freeman ranked as a low-end RB2.
Week 8 vs. Seattle Seahawks
Freeman finished Week 7 with seven rushing attempts for 19 yards and two receptions for six yards. Freeman had a poor performance going into the second half and then added salt to the wound by throwing a punch in the third quarter, which resulted in an ejection.
Freeman will be the lead back in Week 8 because Ito Smith has been ruled out with a concussion. The over/under dropped from 53 points to 50.5 points on Saturday, after Ryan was ruled out. The total is still over 50 but the game is less likely to turn into a shootout with Schaub starting over Ryan. Seattle is 12th-best against running backs, per our signature schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric. 4for4’s rankings expert John Paulsen has Freeman ranked as a mid-range RB2.
Week 7 at Los Angeles Rams
This matchup has the potential to turn into a shootout. This game has the highest over/under (54.5) of the week. 4for4’s rankings expert John Paulsen has Freeman ranked as a high-end RB2. The Rams are tenth-best against running backs, per our signature schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric.
Week 6 at Arizona Cardinals
Freeman ended his scoreless streak. He finished Week 5 with 11 rushing attempts for 30 yards and finished as the half PPR RB16 thanks to five receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown. Freeman out-touched Ito Smith 16 to 11 and out-snapped him 40 to 35. These numbers support Freeman as Atlanta’s lead back but Smith’s usage continues to frustrate fantasy owners.
This matchup has the potential to turn into a shootout. Offenses playing against Arizona average the sixth-most plays per game, per Evan Silva and this game has the second-highest over/under (51). Freeman has a decent chance of finding the endzone two weeks in a row. 4for4’s rankings expert John Paulsen has Freeman ranked as a low-end RB2.
Week 5 at Houston Texans
The Falcons could not afford to run the ball against the Titans because they were losing 24-7 at halftime. Freeman finished with 12 rushing attempts for 28 yards but was heavily involved in the passing game. He finished with eight receptions for 72 yards. Freeman out-touched Ito Smith 20 to 4 and out-snapped him 50 to 30. He could have had a decent fantasy outing but Smith vultured a touchdown in the first quarter from the one-yard line.
The Texans are good against running backs as shown by our signature schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric that has them ranked ninth-best in the NFL. Freeman has not scored a touchdown but will look to end his scoreless streak on Sunday. 4for4’s rankings expert, John Paulsen, has Freeman ranked as a low-end RB2.
Week 4 vs. Tennessee Titans
In Week 3, Freeman finished with 16 rushing attempts for 88 yards and three receptions for seven yards. Freeman's usage increased significantly but this was due to Ito Smith exiting the game with a concussion on his third snap. Smith was limited in practice on Thursday but appears to be on track to play. Smith’s presence lowers Freeman’s potential.
The Titans are average against running backs as shown by our signature schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric that has them ranked 14th best in the NFL. 4for4’s rankings expert, John Paulsen, has Freeman as a low-end RB2. Freeman has yet to score a touchdown but will return value for owners if he is able to break his scoreless streak against a TItans defense that can be exposed on the ground.
Week 3 at Indianapolis Colts
Freeman has turned in subpar performances against the Vikings and the Eagles. Through 2 Weeks, Freeman is the Half PPR RB47 with 10.5 total fantasy points. In Week 2, he finished with 11 rushing attempts for 22 yards and three receptions for 42 yards. Freeman out-snapped Ito Smith 62% to 38% and out-touched him 14 to 6.
Freeman draws a favorable matchup against a Colts defense that could be without Pierre Desir, Jabaal Sheard, Kemoko Turay, and Darius Leonard. Be sure to monitor these injuries closely on Sunday morning. Freeman has burned bridges with fantasy owners so far but could regain value if he bounces back against the Colts. Given his bust performances so far, it is hard to put him in your starting lineup but 4for4’s rankings expert, John Paulsen, has Freeman as the Half PPR RB28 in Week 3.
Week 2 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Freeman’s workload in Week 1 was more than a little surprising. Snaps were split 50/50 with Ito Smith. Some of this may have been caused by the Vikings taking a commanding 28-0 lead in the third quarter but it is worth monitoring going forward. Freeman had eight rushing attempts for 19 yards and three receptions for 12 yards. He finished as the RB62 with 2.6 Half PPR fantasy points.
Freeman will try to put Week 1 in the rearview mirror and bounce back in a potential shootout (Over/Under: 52.5) at home against Philadelphia. The Eagles are average against running backs as shown by our signature schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric that has them ranked 16th best in the NFL. 4for4 rankings expert John Paulsen has Freeman ranked as the Half PPR RB24.
