Cordarrelle Patterson

Cordarrelle Patterson

33-Year-Old Running BackRB
 Free Agent  
Free Agent
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Patterson is overqualified as the projected RB3 for Atlanta behind rookie Bijan Robinson and second-year pro Tyler Allgeier. He was effective as a runner the past two years with the Falcons, turning 297 carries into 1,313 yards and 14 touchdowns (4.4 YPC) in 29 games. The 32-year-old began his career at receiver for a reason, though -- he's a big target with with an upright running style. Patterson is an all-time menace in the open field, which his incredible career kick returner production (29.5 YPR, nine touchdowns) also attests, but springing him from between the tackles is sometimes easier said than done. He'll likely end up in a backup role or timeshare even if the Falcons trade or release him, which is possible given the team's stout backfield depth and the $4.25 million in cap space it would free up. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
$Signed a two-year, $10.5 million contract with the Falcons in March of 2022.
Falls flat in 2023
RBAtlanta Falcons
January 17, 2024
Patterson finished the 2023 campaign with 50 rushing attempts for 181 yards and caught nine of 12 targets for 38 receiving yards and a touchdown in 14 appearances. He also totaled 153 kick-return yards.
ANALYSIS
A thigh injury cost Patterson the first three games of 2023, and he struggled to carve out a role after that, resulting in his worst statistical campaign since 2015. After a breakout in 2021, the veteran scored a career-high eight rushing touchdowns in 2022, but he was firmly planted behind Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier on the depth chart this season. Patterson is entering back-to-back void years on his contract, and it remains to be seen if he'll stick in Atlanta for his age-33 season. Arthur Smith has been fired, and the Falcons have yet to replace him, so Patterson's standing with the franchise is just one of numerous questions surrounding the team heading into the offseason.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Cordarrelle Patterson's 2023 advanced stats compare to other running backs?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Broken Tackle %
    The number of broken tackles divided by rush attempts.
  • Positive Run %
    The percentage of run plays where he was able to gain positive yardage.
  • % Yds After Contact
    The percentage of his rushing yards that came after contact.
  • Avg Yds After Contact
    The average rushing yards he gains after contact.
  • Rushing TD %
    Rushing touchdowns divided by rushing attempts. In other words, how often is he scoring when running the ball.
  • Touches Per Game
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) he is averaging per game
  • % Snaps w/Touch
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) divided by offensive snaps played.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Broken Tackle %
18.0%
 
Positive Run %
76.0%
 
% Yds After Contact
87.8%
 
Avg Yds After Contact
3.2
 
Rushing TD %
0.0%
 
Touches Per Game
4.2
 
% Snaps w/Touch
34.5%
 
Air Yards Per Game
0.6
 
Air Yards Per Snap
0.05
 
% Team Air Yards
0.2%
 
% Team Targets
2.4%
 
Avg Depth of Target
0.7 Yds
 
Catch Rate
75.0%
 
Drop Rate
8.3%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
4.3
 
% Targeted On Route
13.8%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
0.44
 
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Cordarrelle Patterson lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2023 Cordarrelle Patterson Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Cordarrelle Patterson's measurables compare to other running backs?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
* The Shuttle Time, and Cone Drill metrics are from his Pro Day. All others are from the NFL Combine.
Height
6' 2"
 
Weight
220 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.42 sec
 
Shuttle Time*
4.40 sec
 
Cone Drill*
7.28 sec
 
Vertical Jump
37.0 in
 
Broad Jump
128 in
 
Hand Length
9.00 in
 
Arm Length
31.75 in
 
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
There was no bigger surprise in the NFL in 2021 than Patterson, who at age 30 finally found a system he could thrive in and a coaching staff willing to use him as something more than a return man and occasional wide receiver or gadget player. The veteran's speed was never in question, but in turn the Vikings, Raiders, Patriots and Bears all had trouble figuring out what to do with it. The Falcons, lacking viable alternatives in the backfield, decided to turn Patterson loose as a running back and see what happened. The result? Nearly 1,200 scrimmage yards and 11 total touchdowns. Patterson's production through the air nearly matched what he gained on the ground, but with Atlanta usually playing from behind that didn't hamper his usage too much. He did fade late in the season, failing to reach 60 scrimmage yards in any of his final five games, but considering he's never even reached triple digits in touches in a season before, some fatigue was understandable. The Falcons offense could be even worse in 2022 with Matt Ryan gone and a threadbare receiving corps for the new starting QB to throw to, whether that's retread Marcus Mariota or rookie Desmond Ridder, plus the team did bring in Damien Williams to share some of the load. Patterson's still the favorite to lead the backfield in snaps and touches, however.
Though he's classified as a wide receiver at each of his five NFL stops, Patterson brings most of his value as a running back and kick returner at this stage of his career. His total carries have either matched or exceeded his targets in each of the past three seasons, and the disparity (64-25) was greater than ever while suiting up for the Bears in 2020. Expect the trend to continue in Atlanta. Patterson won't be asked to run many routes on a receiver-rich team, but the RB room is among the shallowest in the league. After moving on from Todd Gurley, Brian Hill and Ito Smith this offseason, the Falcons didn't draft a running back, leaving free-agent pickup Mike Davis as the No. 1. Patterson and Qadree Ollison will head into training camp as the next men up on the depth chart behind Davis.
Going into his eighth NFL season, Patterson hasn't posted 500 yards from scrimmage since 2014 and has never had more than 627 such yards in any season. In his first year with the Bears in 2019, he only received 28 touches, and it's difficult to see him having an increased role in 2020, especially after the team added Ted Ginn and rookie Darnell Mooney this offseason. As always, Patterson has much more value in leagues that award fantasy points for return yardage, as his 825 kick return yards last year was the fifth time in his career that he's posted at least 792 yards in that category.
Very few players in the NFL can touch the ball just a few times and have the type of impact on a game that Patterson does. His elite athleticism and game-breaking speed make him a player that terrifies defenses, but his lack of refined route running usually forces offensive coordinators to use him as a decoy that allows other teammates to see lighter coverage. Aside from his rookie season, he's yet to exceed 501 yards from scrimmage in any of the last five years. Of course, he also will be expected to serve as Chicago's kick returner, a role he's used to take six TDs to the house in his career.
At 6-2 and 228 pounds, Patterson adds size to the Patriots' wideout corps, but how much of a role the 2013 first-rounder ends up carving out in the offense has yet to be determined. His value as a kickoff returner and gunner should land him a roster spot and there's added opportunity with Brandin Cooks no longer in the mix and Julian Edelman facing a four-game suspension to start the season. Chris Hogan will be a Week 1 starter, but after that not much is set on New England's wide receiver depth chart. In addition to Patterson, the Patriots have Eric Decker, Phillip Dorsett and Braxton Berrios on hand. At least one member of that group has a chance to emerge as an early-season fantasy sleeper, which makes Patterson's rapport with QB Tom Brady worth monitoring as the summer rolls along.
Considered a first-round bust in Minnesota, Patterson caught just two passes for 10 yards in 16 games during the 2015 season -- his third year in the league -- before bouncing back last season with a career-high 52 receptions. Much of Patterson's value has come in the kick return game, which doesn't help potential fantasy owners in most league formats. The top of the wideout depth chart is secure in Oakland with Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree leading the way, but Patterson will have an opportunity to compete against Seth Roberts for slotting behind the top duo. Roberts is a likely candidate to retain his position after posting 10 touchdowns through his first two years in the league, leaving Patterson strictly as a deep threat, bubble-screen weapon, and return specialist.
Patterson's disappointing performance as a receiver worsened throughout the 2015 season, as he caught just two balls on two targets for 10 yards in 16 games. Nearly all of his value came in the kick-return game, where he racked up 1,019 yards and found the end zone twice. The Vikings elected not to pick up the fifth-year option on Patterson's contract, so he's set to become a free agent following his 2016 campaign. With the addition of first-round pick Laquon Treadwell, Patterson's role as a receiver figures to once again be heavily limited, but his athletic ability could occasionally be used as a weapon for the team's offense -- not just special teams -- if he improves in training camp.
After Patterson caught 45 passes for 469 yards and four TDs during his 2013 rookie campaign, expectations with regard to his production were rosy in advance of last season, but instead he experienced a regression on that front. Still, the 24-year-old wideout – who recorded 33 catches for 384 yards and a TD in 16 games for the Vikings last year -- has plenty of ability, and with improved route running – a stated goal of his – this coming season, Patterson is a candidate to turn things around. That said, in the wake of the free agent departure of Greg Jennings, trade acquisition Mike Wallace and returnee Charles Johnson are currently penciled in as the Vikings' starting wideouts, so nothing will be handed to Patterson as he approaches his third NFL season.
Despite not being involved in the offense until late in the year, Patterson scored nine touchdowns as a rookie (four receiving, three rushing, two returns). And from Weeks 14-17, Patterson had five touchdowns from scrimmage, 15 catches, 215 receiving yards and 129 rushing yards. At 6-2, 220, Patterson is tall for a player with game-breaking speed and elusiveness, and he seems to run even faster than his 4.42 NFL Combine time. In short, there’s little doubt about his physical skills, and we have to think the opportunities will be there from Week 1, even with Greg Jennings still around. Of course, it’s unclear who will be throwing him the ball. Matt Cassel was the best quarterback on the team last year, but the Vikings traded up to draft Teddy Bridgewater with the 32nd pick, and it’s only a matter of time before he takes over. While Bridgewater certainly has the higher long-term ceiling, Patterson is likely to have to adjust to a rookie quarterback either in training camp or during the year. But the addition of offensive coordinator Norv Turner (the architect behind Josh Gordon’s breakout in Cleveland last year while playing with three sub-standard quarterbacks) should help. Expect Turner to target Patterson down the field more and scheme to take advantage of his big-play ability. Throw in Patterson’s added contributions on the ground and in the return game, and there’s a good deal of upside here.
After dealing Percy Harvin to the Seahawks, the Vikings signed Greg Jennings – and spent the 29th overall pick on Patterson. While Jennings will be the team's No. 1 wideout, Patterson has an excellent chance to break camp as a starter. At 6-2, 216 and with rare open-field running skills, Patterson is a threat to make plays even on shorter throws. He's tough to bring down, and he makes for a nice red-zone target. Like most rookie receivers, his game lacks polish, and it's unclear whether Christian Ponder will get him the ball farther down the field. Moreover, as long as Adrian Peterson stays healthy, the Vikings are always going to be a run-first team.
More Fantasy News
Nine touches in double-digit win
RBAtlanta Falcons
December 25, 2023
Patterson rushed seven times for 26 yards and caught both of his targets for seven yards during Sunday's 29-10 win over the Colts.
ANALYSIS
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Score salvages poor production
RBAtlanta Falcons
December 18, 2023
Patterson rushed five times for minus-2 yards and caught one of three targets for two yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 9-7 loss to Carolina.
ANALYSIS
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Three carries in loss
RBAtlanta Falcons
December 13, 2023
Patterson rushed three times for seven yards in Sunday's 29-25 loss to the Buccaneers.
ANALYSIS
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Small part of offense
RBAtlanta Falcons
December 5, 2023
Patterson rushed five times for 11 yards and caught one of two targets for six yards during Sunday's 13-8 win over the Jets.
ANALYSIS
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Makes impact with limited work
RBAtlanta Falcons
November 28, 2023
Patterson rushed eight times for 43 yards during Sunday's 24-15 win over the Saints. He also returned two kickoffs for 43 yards.
ANALYSIS
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