Bijan Robinson — Week 2: Nineteen Touches, None in the Fourth
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 21
Robinson carried 16 times for 72 yards and caught three of four targets for 9; the fourth target was intercepted on third and five in the first quarter. Twelve of the 16 carries came before halftime, and he did not touch the ball in the fourth quarter, when Brian Robinson took all five running-back carries, in a 34–3 loss to the Panthers.
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Seven to nothing, Panthers, nine oh seven left in the first quarter, third and five at the Atlanta 48. Cooper Rush threw short middle for Bijan Robinson, 11 yards in the air, and Bobby Okereke intercepted it at the Carolina 41. −3.9 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and 8.7 points of win probability, the chance of winning the game after the play against before it. No Falcons throw cost more win probability all day, and for the second week running that throw was one meant for Robinson.
The line: 16 carries, 72 yards, no touchdown, two first downs, six of the 16 successful, −1.9 expected points on the carries; four targets, three catches, nine yards, −4.5 on the targets with the interception counted. The carries went four, one, three, two, five, one, two, two, six, eight, two, 11, six, 11, four, four. 12 before halftime for 47 yards, four after for 25. His one third-down carry was third and two at the Carolina 32 with a minute 20 left in the first, down 10: right guard for one yard, −5.6 points of win probability, and Drake London lost two on fourth and one. The two elevens were second and eight to the Carolina 29 just inside the two-minute warning, on the field-goal drive, and first and 10 to the Carolina 42 in the third. The catches were three, two and four, all in the second quarter.
Atlanta's running backs carried 27 times: Bijan 16, Brian Robinson 11. In Week 1 it was 21 to nine. After halftime it was four to eight, and the fourth quarter was all Brian. Jack Strand's first throw came with three oh eight left in the third; Bijan had one carry after that and no targets. Four targets tied him for second on the team, with Jahan Dotson and Austin Hooper, behind London's five. Atlanta did not snap the ball inside the Carolina 20 — the closest was the 23 — and has not snapped inside an opponent's 20 in either game.
Back in June the preview put Robinson third among running backs last season on volume and receiving work rather than touchdowns, under the title "the touchdowns owe him money," with the quarterback room as the caveat. Week 1 was 29 touches — 21 carries, eight catches on 10 targets for 90 yards and Atlanta's only touchdown — with Rush starting. Sunday, with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix inactive again per the Falcons' inactives list, the touches fell to 19 and the targets from 10 to four, in a game that was 20 to three at halftime. That is the first dent in the volume read, and the score explains a good share of it. The touchdown half cannot be tested by an offense that has not reached the 20. Atlanta is at the Packers on Thursday the 20-fourth, a short week.
_Data via nflverse._
When Bijan Robinson's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
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