Devonta Freeman hit a wall at the worst time for the Atlanta Falcons. He had 11 carries for 36 yards and two catches for 20 yards in the loss to the New Orleans Saints. Freeman also lost a fumble on the goal line and had two good runs called back by penalties in the contest. The fourth-year workhorse was on a roll heading into Week 16. He scored in the two previous games and had a season-high 194 total yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15.
Fantasy football start/sit Week 17: What to do with Devonta Freeman
Freeman faces a tough matchup in a must-win game for the Falcons. We look at the fantasy implications.
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The Falcons need Freeman to bounce back in a must-win game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday. It will not be an easy task against the Panthers stout run defense. Carolina has allowed the sixth-fewest yards and third-fewest rushing touchdowns in the league this season. The Panthers held Freeman to 15 touches for 64 total yards in their first meeting in Week 9.
Fantasy impact: The last two games of the season could not be any more difficult for Freeman. He struggled against a division rival Sunday, and now he gets another tough division matchup in Week 17. The Panthers are excellent against the run. They have already shut Freeman down this season. The Falcons are going to try everything they can with the run, but Freeman is looking at another slow week Sunday.
