Week 6 at Los Angeles Rams
Tevin Coleman returned to action on Monday night against the Browns and had a nice game. He carried the ball 16 times in a blowout victory for 97 yards and a touchdown. He also saw 34% of the snaps, a number that will hopefully increase in more evenly-matched games. Coleman is definitely a key part of the 1-2-(3?) punch of the 49ers backfield and he complements Matt Breida well in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
This week, Coleman faces a Rams defense that ranks 16th in aFPA to opposing running backs. While it’s always a little hard to trust a time-share, Coleman and Breida should both find enough touches to be productive in the 49ers’ ball-control offense. He should be good for RB3/Flex numbers this week, particularly if he gets another 16 carries.
Week 1 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tevin Coleman is reunited with his former coordinator Kyle Shanahan after four seasons with the Falcons as the complementary back. He had a career-high 800 yards on the ground last season, with an additional 276 yards on 32 receptions, and he scored nine touchdowns. Coleman should get plenty of work for the 49ers this year but will continue to share touches – this time with Matt Breida, who was productive in spurts last season.
Coleman begins the season against the Buccaneers, who struggled against the run last year. Only the Browns and the Cardinals allowed more rushing touchdowns. We have him as a borderline RB2/RB3 option this week, but he should be in line for some production in the passing game, giving him a high floor for owners needing at least a few guaranteed points from the RB2 spot.
Fantasy Upside
For the second consecutive offseason, the 49ers added one of the top available free agent RBs. After Le'Veon Bell and Mark Ingram found new homes, Tevin Coleman was the best remaining player and the Niners weren't going to let him get away, signing the former Falcon to a two-year $8.5 million contract. Last year Jerick McKinnon signed a four-year, $30 million contract with the club. After he got hurt Matt Breida became the team's top back. Coleman joins that mix as the 49ers attempt to bring more playmakers into Kyle Shanahan's offense. Remember, Shanahan loved Coleman during the coach's stint as Falcons' OC, helping the running back score a single-season high of 11 touchdowns in 2016.
Fantasy Downside
As ESPN's Adam Schefter suggested, Coleman, Breida and McKinnon now give the 49ers the type of 1-2-3 punch many NFL teams seek but which don't generate the kind of touches fantasy owners prefer. The problem is obvious. Last year Breida, Alfred Morris, Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert (all but Morris remain on the roster) combined for 417 touches. As CBSSports.com suggested, Coleman may only get half that many -- and that's without factoring in what McKinnon might contribute.
2019 Bottom Line
Proceed with the requisite caution given the crowded field. But Coleman's past success under Shanahan makes him among the more appealing committee backs out there. In addition, with McKinnon, Breida and Mostert coming off injuries that limited them all offseason, Coleman appears to have the jump them as camp opens.
Week 17 at Tampa Bay Bucs
Tevin Coleman finished with just 10 rushes for 51 yards in the Falcons’ Week 16 win over the Panthers, but exited the game early due to a groin injury. Declared day-to-day by Dan Quinn on Monday, Coleman was held out of practice on Wednesday and could miss Sunday’s game versus the Bucs. Ranked as our RB21 for now, if Coleman doesn’t play then Brian Hill would be Atlanta’s top back.
Week 16 at Carolina Panthers
Tevin Coleman broke out for 145 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in the Falcons’ Week 15 win over the Panthers. The 145 yards were a career-high for Coleman, whose touchdown was a 43-yarder in the second half. Why the breakthrough following months of disappointment? The Falcons revamped offensive line finally put together a good game. Coleman consistently reached the second level of the defense as opposed to meeting defenders in holes and fighting for positive yards. With Ito Smith now on I.R., Coleman should see the bulk of the carries Sunday when the Falcons travel to Charlotte to play the Panthers. Carolina ranks 5th overall against fantasy running backs this season so the matchup is great. Still, Coleman is our RB19 for Week 16, making him a low-end RB2 for your fantasy playoffs. The volume should be there for the up-and-coming free agent.
Week 15 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Tevin Coleman rushed 10 times for 45 yards in the Falcons’ Week 14 loss to the Packers. Despite running well, Coleman continues to share snaps with rookie Ito Smith, who finished with 14 touches versus Green Bay. With Coleman set to become a free agent at the end of the season, perhaps the Falcons are trying to see what they have with Smith. Either way, there’s no guarantee that Coleman will see more than 10-15 touches per game over the next three weeks. Despite a great matchup versus an Arizona defense that ranks 25th versus fantasy running backs, view Coleman as a FLEX option only for Week 15. He ranks as our RB23.
Week 14 at Green Bay Packers
Tevin Coleman rushed six times for eight yards in the Falcons’ Week 13 loss to the Ravens while also adding a three-yard reception. It was a horrible day for Atlanta’s offense, which was kept off the field for virtually the entire second half as Baltimore continued to run the ball straight down the Falcons’ throats. Meanwhile, Atlanta has no running game because of horrendous play along the offensive line. Coleman also continues to share carries with Ito Smith despite the rookie being woefully ineffective. The Falcons have not scored more than 19 points in their last four games and things don’t get any easier Sunday when they travel to Lambeau Field, where it’s expected to be cold and nasty. Ranked as our RB29 for Week 14, we recommend avoiding Coleman. He’s basically a touchdown-dependent RB3 in this offense.
Week 13 vs. Baltimore Ravens
Tevin Coleman rushed eight times for six yards but saved his fantasy day with a last-second touchdown catch in the Falcons’ Week 12 loss to the Saints. Atlanta’s offensive line got pushed around all night by New Orleans’ front and both Coleman and Ito Smith were shut down in the running game. Even though Coleman remains the Falcons’ No. 1 back, he loses touches every week to Smith and OC Steve Sarkisian refuses to make him a big part of the passing game. On Sunday Atlanta hosts Baltimore, which owns the No. 1 defense against fantasy running backs this season. Ranked as our RB25 for Week 13, Coleman is merely a FLEX option for Sunday.
Week 12 at New Orleans Saints
Tevin Coleman rushed eight times for 58 yards and caught all three of his targets for 27 yards in the Falcons’ Week 11 loss to the Cowboys. He also conceded eight touches to backup Ito Smith, who did next to nothing with those opportunities. Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian has come a long way since his horrendous play-calling in Week 1 but why he refuses to get Coleman more involved in the offense is mind-boggling. Coleman’s best game came three weeks ago in Washington where he was targeted seven times in the passing game and wound up with two receiving touchdowns. In Atlanta’s run to the Super Bowl three years ago, former OC Kyle Shanahan used Coleman as a slot receiver in a regular-season game in Denver and the running back responded with the best game of his career. That aside, Coleman is nothing more than a low-end RB2 option. He had 47 yards against the Saints in Week 3 and he’ll face them again Thursday night in New Orleans. He’s our RB15 for Week 12.
Week 11 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Tevin Coleman rushed 11 times for 44 yards in the Falcons’ Week 10 loss to the Browns. He also added three catches for an additional 19 yards but his production was a far cry from what he gave owners the week prior when he totaled 156 yards versus the Redskins. While Coleman has yet to post a 100-yard rushing day and has not carried the ball more than 13 times in a game since September, he also went into Cleveland last Sunday scoring at least 10 PPR points in three straight games. He hasn’t been the RB1 that some projected when Devonta Freeman was placed on injured reserve, but he’s been far from a fantasy bust. Ranked as our RB15 for Week 11, view Coleman as an RB2 when the Falcons host a Cowboys defense that ranks No. 11 versus fantasy running backs this season.
