Atlanta Falcons: Ranking Julio Jones and the Rest of Matt Ryan's Weapons

Matt Ryan is leading the Atlanta Falcons into 2011 after his best season so far in the NFL. He helped the Falcons reach a 13-3 record after passing for 28 touchdowns and finishing with a passer rating of 91 last season.

Roddy White, the Falcons top receiver, was a big factor in Ryan's success last year. White led the NFL in receptions and really stepped into his role as the No. 1 receiver for Atlanta.

Tony Gonzalez did not have his greatest season, but when you're playing in your 14th year, who really expects you to catch 90 passes again?

Harry Douglas will be back to show what he can do with a repaired knee. After having ACL surgery in 2009, Douglas reportedly believes that he is finally back to 100 percent.

The biggest addition for the Falcons in the offseason is well known by anyone who follows football. They gave away several draft picks and may have thrown in Turner Field as well to get Julio Jones. Jones knows he is important to this team's success and he will be looking to make a name for himself in Atlanta. 

So, how does Jones rank with the other weapons on Matt Ryan's team? 

1) Roddy White

Roddy White is the clear number one target for Matt Ryan.

White led the NFL in several categories last season, including most receptions for first downs. That goes to show you whenever a play needed to be made, Roddy was on the job and Ryan was looking for him.

Julio Jones was brought in to relieve some defensive pressure for White and to create a more dynamic offense. Michael Jenkins was a decent receiver, but he didn't really bring an extra spark to the passing game. If the plan goes accordingly, White will be able to get some easier plays here and there.

Look for White to put up big numbers again in 2011 as Ryan's go-to guy.

Prediction: 102 receptions, nine touchdowns

2) Tony Gonzalez

Even though he's 35 years old, Tony Gonzalez is still a primary target for Matt Ryan. He doesn't put up the numbers like he used to, but he gets a lot of looks from his quarterback.

Don't believe me? Take a look at the stats. Gonzalez led all tight ends in red zone targets last season. He's big and he still has great hands. Why would Ryan avoid this guy?

The Falcons will certainly have more help for Ryan to throw to, but Gonzalez is going to continue being a productive tight end. He has only missed two games in his career, so fans in Atlanta don't have to worry about him not making it through the whole season.

Prediction: 62 receptions, seven touchdowns. He may be slowing down, but you should still expect to see him in the end zone.

3) Julio Jones

Some people may want to put Julio Jones as the second best option for Matt Ryan, but I think we should wait for him to at least play one regular season game.

Jones has major hype surrounding him during the preseason. The rookie wide receiver from the University of Alabama has a ton of talent, but also a ton of pressure to perform in the NFL. The Falcons gave up five picks to the Cleveland Browns for the sixth pick in this year's draft. That's right, five picks.

Jones certainly has the athleticism and talent to fill the void of a great No. 2 receiver. He has already received the second most targets in preseason and Falcons fans are ready to watch him in regular season action. 

Hopefully he will be an instant success, but if not, there's no need to panic right away. He and Ryan will continue to develop their chemistry as the season goes on.

Prediction: 52 receptions, five touchdowns. Anquan Boldin holds the rookie record for most receptions at 101. Jones might not reach that number, but he'll still be a big contributor. 

4) Harry Douglas

In just two preseason games, Harry Douglas already has Atlanta buzzing. He has five catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns so far.

Douglas missed 2009 due to an ACL injury that required surgery. He played in 2010, but if you watched the Falcons play, you probably didn't notice him much. Douglas caught 22 passes after coming off surgery and said that he didn't quite feel back to normal last season.

All that has seemed to change. He exploded for a 76-yard touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Falcons second preseason game, leading fans to already believe he can bring something special to the team.

Douglas is a speedy slot receiver who will be fun to watch—as long as he stays healthy. Julio Jones might be the rookie phenom, but Douglas is playing like he has something to prove.

Prediction: 39 catches, three touchdowns. Douglas is not going to be the main guy on a lot of plays, but he will get a fair share of targets from Matt Ryan. 

5) Jason Snelling and Jacquizz Rodgers

Jacquizz Rodgers was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Michael Turner is still the No. 1 running back, but who is going to be backing him up more?

Jason Snelling has been with the Falcons since 2007. The former seventh round pick has turned out to be a nice surprise. He saw a lot more playing time when Turner went down in 2009 and last season he was featured mainly as a third-down back.

Snelling ended last season with 44 receptions and three touchdowns. Those aren't bad numbers for a third-down back.

Rodgers is a tiny speed demon. While playing at Oregon State he saw plenty of action in the passing game, catching a career high 78 balls in 2009. 

Fans are excited to see Rodgers in the passing game in Atlanta, but Snelling will not be pushed aside that easily. Expect them both to do whatever they can to help Matt Ryan.

Prediction: 50 receptions, four touchdowns between the two.