Why Bijan Robinson Should Be the First Running Back Taken in Every Draft
By Joe Cozzo
Fantasy drafts are all about planting your flag. And if you’re looking for the running back who checks every single box — college legend, pro superstar, fantasy cheat code — the conversation begins and ends with Bijan Robinson. He’s the type of player who makes your league-mates groan when you grab him, because they know you just stole the crown jewel.
From Texas Titan to NFL Terror
At Texas, Bijan wasn’t just good — he was generational. The Longhorn piled up 3,410 rushing yards and 41 total touchdowns, while adding 805 receiving yards, cementing himself as one of the best all-purpose backs in program history. In 2022, he won the Doak Walker Award, became a unanimous All-American, and even finished ninth in the Heisman race (TexasLonghorns.com).
Fast forward to Sundays, and the production is just as wild. By Year 2, he was a Pro Bowler with 1,456 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, and 431 receiving yards, ranking third in the league in rushing yards and fifth in total TDs(Wikipedia, “Bijan Robinson”). He’s doing in the NFL what he did in Austin — cooking defenses on the ground and through the air.
Coaches and Analysts Preach the Gospel
The Falcons don’t even hide their plans. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson flat-out said they want to use Bijan “like the Niners do with Christian McCaffrey” (Reuters; Reddit r/fantasyfootball). That’s not just hype — that’s the gold standard comp in today’s NFL.
FantasyLife analyst Ian Hartitz backed it up: “No RB offers a better combination of talent, three-down ability, and expected workhorse volume” (FantasyLife.com). And the Washington Post fantasy tiers? Bijan sits alone in Tier 1, separated from the pack (WashingtonPost.com).
ADP: He’s Already Being Drafted Like a King
The draft data speaks for itself — you’re not reaching, you’re keeping pace with the sharpest drafters in the game.
- FantasyFootballCalculator: 1.02 overall — second pick, right after Ja’Marr Chase (FantasyFootballCalculator.com).
- CBS Sports: RB ADP of 2.6 (CBSSports.com, “RB ADP Review 3.0”).
- FantasyPros: Locked in at #2 overall (FantasyPros.com).
- FreeDraftGuide: The only RB consistently in that elite, top-two tier with Chase (FreeDraftGuide.com).
He’s the first running back off every serious board — and for good reason.
Why He’s RB1 Over Everyone Else
It’s simple: no one else blends college dominance, pro explosion, and a coaching staff ready to feed him like Robinson. Jonathan Taylor can’t touch his pass-catching chops. Christian McCaffrey has age and workload risk. Saquon Barkley is electric but inconsistent. Bijan is the one with both the floor of a steady workhorse and the ceiling of a fantasy league-winner.
The Final Word
Fantasy drafts are about swinging for the fences in Round 1 without striking out. Bijan Robinson gives you both — the safest floor in the game and the kind of nuclear ceiling that wins you trophies. As the Washington Post preview put it: “There’s no safer Tier 1 RB this year.”
So don’t overthink it. Don’t get cute. When it’s your turn in Round 1, grab No. 7 and lock in the cheat code. Bijan isn’t just the RB1 — he’s the move that makes your entire league chase you all season long.
