Bijan Robinson Talks Best NFL RB Debate, Falcons, Texas, Arch Manning and More in B/R Interview

Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson is well aware of the ongoing debate over the best running back in the NFL.

However, even after Baltimore Ravens veteran Derrick Henry declared him "the best in the game right now" earlier this season, Robinson is focused on letting his game speak for itself.

"For me, I just gotta stay consistent in my play. Just keep being better every single game, keep being better than the last week that I played, and just gaining that confidence weekly, because, like you said, there's a lot of great running backs in this league, man, and they're doing a lot of great things for their team," Robinson told Bleacher Report. "So I gotta make sure that I'm doing everything that I can do to enhance this team, enhance the offense, and just continue to stay dangerous week to week, like those guys are on their teams."

"Those guys" include the likes of Detroit Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs, Kansas City Chiefs star Kenneth Walker III and Henry, who told reporters before a Week 5 matchup between the Ravens and Falcons that Robinson is "doing it all. I ain't going to shy away from it. He's doing a great job."

Entering Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers, Robinson is ranked second in the NFL with 641 rushing yards while adding four touchdowns on 111 carries. He's also produced 20 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. He's tied with Walker for the league lead with seven explosive runs of 20 yards or more. The 24-year-old rose to the top of the "best running back" debate with 194-yard and 145-yard performances in back-to-back wins over the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints.

"I think God gave me a gift to do a lot of things on the field. My ability to make people miss, read the hole, hit the right angles, set up blocks and then just attack upfield and then be dangerous in the pass game as well. You can line me up anywhere on the field and be effective," Robinson said of what separates him from other ball-carriers. "So I think those are the things, even my pass protection, keeping the quarterback clean, and just the all-around game of what I bring to the table. I think that's what keeps elevating my game, and that's what I'm trying to continue to keep doing every single year that I play the game, is just to be effective in all aspects of the game."

Robinson, who was rewarded with a three-year contract extension worth up to $75 million with $51 million guaranteed this past offseason, said he also made a point to focus on taking on more of a leadership role entering his fourth year in the NFL. His effort paid off, as he was named a team captain for the first time in his career.

"Making sure I'm my best self on the field, and that the guys can hear my voice and trust that I'm saying the right things in the locker room, trust that I'm saying the right things when the game gets tough, when the game gets hard. Make sure that they can rely on me, not just on the field, but if I have something to say to them, or to the team, that it can bring everybody together," Robinson said of his mindset entering this year. "But I think that confidence in my leadership is the biggest thing that I've been working on this offseason, and I really appreciate the guys listening and hearing me if I do have something to say, because it's always positive and it's always just trying to help everybody in the locker room."

Robinson said he helped improve his self-confidence through his new partnership with Invisalign for its "SHIFT Happens" campaign, fulfilling the mantra "look good, play good."

"Obviously, confidence is a big thing for me. I take a lot of care of myself, so my smile and my oral health are very important to me. And I really wanted to take care of my teeth in a way of doing it without the wires or the brackets, just so I can have a confident smile on and off the field," Robinson said. "So that's why I chose the Invisalign Clear Aligners, because I can take care of myself and take care of my teeth and my smile, because I smile a lot. I'm a very positive guy.

"... As I be making people miss on the field, and smiling at my teammates or smiling at them, I don't want them to be like, 'You got some bad teeth,'" he added with a laugh. "So that's something I try to avoid. So for me, making sure that my confidence in my oral health is ready to go, so when I do go out there and play for God and just have a great game for Him and my teammates, and then when the interviews come after, I could be confident in that smile and making somebody else smile as well. That's why it's so important to me."

Despite entering Week 7 with a 2-4 record, the Falcons still have the NFC South crown in sight, as the Carolina Panthers lead the division at 3-2. Robinson admitted that Atlanta needs to increase its sense of urgency during this stretch against tough opponents.

"It's been a little bit of a roller coaster for us. You know, lost two, won two, and then lost these past two. So for us, I think it's really important to make sure we're doing all the little things right in the week to prepare for these games on Sundays," he said. "We gotta be able to start fast every single game, and I think that it starts at practice, like start fast at practice and make sure that we're all on the same accord when it comes to everything. But I think we've learned a lot in these past games. But now, for this portion of the season, we really have to understand what we have in front of us and take every game as a playoff game, man, because that's really what it is."

Robinson's alma mater, Texas, is also going through a rough patch, falling to No. 19 in the AP Top 25 after holding the No. 1 spot for four straight weeks earlier in the year. The former Longhorn suggested that head coach Steve Sarkisian will focus on the run game to open up the passing attack for struggling quarterback Arch Manning.

"I think we just need to come together on the offensive side of the ball and just get back to that bread and butter that Sark does, because we run the football at a high level and when he gets the running back going, then it opens up everything else for the pass game," Robinson said. "And I know that's what Sark's bread and butter is. And I know he's already talking to the guys like this is what we have to do in order to continue to win games throughout the season. And I think we have a tough four games coming up, but they're all winnable. I think the defense has been playing great, but the offense needs to help the defense. If they do that, then I think we'll be good for the remainder of the season."

Robinson also offered some wise words for Manning, who is facing questions as a top NFL draft prospect amid his recent downturn. The nephew of former NFL stars Peyton and Eli Manning has a lot of pressure to live up to expectations, but Robinson is confident that he'll be able to silence his doubters.

"I think the advice I do have for him is just to eliminate the external distractions, man. That's the biggest thing," Robinson said. "Keep everything in-house. Don't worry about social media. Don't worry about what people have to say, because his journey is his journey. And if he eliminates that, then I think he'll be his best self on the field and off the field, and everything else will take care of itself."