Atlanta Falcons Schedule: 2023 NFL Games, Strength Of Schedule, Fantasy Outlooks

The NFL schedule release extravaganza has concluded, and now we know who will be playing when and where. There are so many exciting games, it is hard to wait until September.

The fact that the Atlanta Falcons did not get any prime-time games makes a lot of sense because the Falcons were a bad team last season and probably won't be great this year, either. But I was a little bit disappointed about it, if only because I wanted to see Bijan Robinson playing in an offense with Kyle Pitts and Drake London. We will at least get to see London playing in London in the international game in Week 4.

What about the rest of the Falcons' schedule? Who are the Falcons facing, and what impact will it have on the fantasy impact of Falcons players?

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What Is the Falcons' 2023 Regular Season Schedule?

The Atlanta Falcons host the division-rival Carolina Panthers in Week 1. Getting to face the Panthers in Bryce Young's first NFL game might be an advantage for Atlanta. If Young has the rookie jitters, it could help the dirty birds pick off a divisional win.

The Falcons get another inexperienced quarterback in Week 2: Packers' 2020 first-round selection Jordan Love. Their NFC East opponent, the Washington Commanders (Week 6), will be starting 2022 fifth-rounder Sam Howell, who only played one game last season. Next, comes the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are going with Baker Mayfield, and then the Tennessee Titans, whose quarterback situation might be up in the air by Week 8. The Falcons face a lot of teams with questionable quarterbacks.

The Falcons and their peers in the NFC South all have very easy schedules. Their own division is one of the worst in the NFL, and their out-of-division games are also against weak divisions: the NFC North and the AFC South. Their 17th game is against the AFC East, however. For the Falcons, that game will have them flying to New York to face Aaron Rodgers and the Jets.

Overall, the Falcons have the easiest schedule in the league in 2023. Their opponents had a combined .417 winning percentage in 2022. Looking at projected 2023 win totals, it's the second-easiest schedule. Their bye is Week 11.

2023 Falcons Schedule Analysis for Fantasy Football

Falcons running backs and their quarterback have easy schedules, but the going won't be quite as smooth for Kyle Pitts or the wide receivers.

Early on, projected starting QB Desmond Ridder begins the season against the No. 11-easiest QB matchup, the Carolina Panthers, then in Week 3, he faces the easiest matchup of all, the Detroit Lions. The Lions did add a cornerback and a safety in free agency, but then they traded their former starter Jeff Okudah and did not draft a corner high. They could still be a below-average passing defense. In Week 17, the fantasy championship, the Falcons face the No. 6-easiest QB matchup, the Chicago Bears.

While Desmond Ridder will probably not be a viable fantasy quarterback, you can take advantage of Bijan Robinson's favorable schedule. That includes the easiest RB matchup, the Houston Texans, in Week 5, the second-easiest RB matchup, the Bears, in the championship week, and the third-easiest RB matchup, the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10.

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