Harry Douglas has officially given the Atlanta Falcons some hope. The wide receiver stepped up big in the team's Week 7 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, giving Matt Ryan a reliable down-field threat to work with. Can the Falcons offense repeat the success against the Arizona Cardinals as injuries once again leave the team shorthanded?
Roddy White will officially miss his second-consecutive game with ankle and hamstring issues. Pairing the loss of him with Julio Jones being out for the season and Falcons fans were beginning to feel tears form in their eyes. However, Douglas to the rescue and the Atlanta offense has life once again.
One person not shocked by the 149-yard performance by Douglas last week is Tony Gonzalez. The tight end has always had confidence in the backup receiver and knew he just needed an opportunity to shine.
"I hope you're not surprised by what Harry did today," Gonzalez said. "He is definitely a capable person."
Going forward, Douglas is the No. 1 option for Ryan. Gonzalez will take care of the middle and Douglas is the playmaker. This is not Douglas' first time stepping up. The veteran receiver has spent plenty of time playing second fiddle to White and Jones. He understands the offense and has great chemistry with the quarterback. Can he repeat the success a second-consecutive week?
The Cardinals have a great secondary and Douglas will no longer take anyone by surprise. Arizona will likely place cornerback Patrick Peterson on him to limit the receiver's opportunities on Sunday. He will certainly get the bulk of the targets, but can Douglas step up against one of the best cornerbacks in the league? Gonzalez sure thinks so. If fantasy owners have yet to invest in the Falcons receiver, now would be good time.
As White has been ruled, running back Steven Jackson looks poised to make his long-awaited return to the field after getting injured in the Falcons' Week 2 win over the St. Louis Rams. His appearance comes at a perfect time with the Falcons are getting desperate for offensive playmakers. The veteran has been working with the first-team offense making his "probable" status feel more like "likely".
From a fantasy perspective, it is assumed Jacquizz Rodgers will get more carries than Jackson. The veteran has only been back for a week with the team and will likely be limited in his return. Rodgers will see time as kick returner and will catch plenty of passes out of the backfield like he did the past two weeks. The Falcons offense might not have the look once planned, but several players appear poised to step up.