Bijan Robinson not among PFF’s highest graded Week 1 rookies

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NFL: SEP 10 Panthers at Falcons

PFF grades are out across the board following the conclusion of Week 1. The Falcons were a mix of some really good and some really bad, led by Jessie Bates III, who was one of the best defensive players in the league in Week 1 according to PFF.

Bates was unbelievable in his Falcons debut. I don’t know what it takes to earn a perfect 100, or if that’s even possible, but he deserved it for his performance. Bates led the team in tackles with 10, picked off Bryce Young twice and even forced a fumble. The three turnovers led to 17 of the Falcons’ 24 points. Not to mention, he also didn’t allow a reception on 42 coverage snaps. I’m not sure how he could have been better in his first appearance for the Falcons.

Another bright spot for the team was rookie first-round pick Bijan Robinson. He came as advertised in his first NFL game, scoring the team’s first touchdown on the season, and it couldn’t have been prettier.

Robinson was electric nearly every time he touched the ball, finishing the game with seven receptions for 26 yards and 10 carries for 56 more. However, he finished just outside PFF’s top 15 most outstanding rookies in Week 1, receiving a grade of 71.2.

PFF is a fun tool to utilize and sometimes very accurate, but it’s far from the end all be all. Robinson was electric, showcasing the kind of talent that warranted the #8 overall pick. As the season goes on, I do expect his usage rate to rise, but with the way Tyler Allegier was running the rock on Sunday, it made sense to feed the hot hand and keep both guys fresh. I don’t have any bad things to say about Robinson’s NFL debut, and he will only look better as the season continues.

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Photographer: John Adams/Icon Sportswire

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