Tevin Coleman Named Falcons Starting RB over Devonta Freeman

The Atlanta Falcons won't waste any time throwing rookie Tevin Coleman right into the NFL deep end. The team released its first unofficial depth chart Tuesday, with Coleman listed as the starting running back ahead of Devonta Freeman, per Kelsey Conway of AtlantaFalcons.com.  

According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the decision isn't causing any sort of rift between the two players:

Although Freeman is the more experienced NFL back—rushing for 248 yards and a touchdown last year—Coleman looked good during his preseason cameo. The former Indiana Hoosier rushed for 58 yards on 12 carries in Atlanta's final two games.

The Falcons will hope Coleman can turn around a running game that finished 22nd in rush offense DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) last year, per Football Outsiders. He averaged just a little under 7.5 yards per carry in his final two years at Indiana, so there's no question he has the dynamism necessary to succeed in the NFL.

From a fantasy football perspective, Coleman looks like an even more attractive option for those who have yet to draft their teams. The 22-year-old already had the better average draft position, per FantasyPros.com, and the gulf between he and Freeman will only grow now that he should get the majority of the touches in the backfield.