Falcons 2015 roster review: Breaking down fullback

The Falcons haven't prioritized fullback since the days of Ovie Mughelli, so it was nice to see them bring in legitimate competition for Patrick Dimarco. The question is who will win the competition, and what kind of production we can expect from that player in 2015.

Because this is fullback, I won't drop a 1,000 word bomb of a post on your heads. Instead, we'll simply note that this one's likely to come down to  best f it for the offense, and that's where things get interesting.

The Competitors

Patrick DiMarco: 9 receptions, 62 yards, one touchdown
Collin Mooney: No 2014 stats

It's a good thing you're not paying your fullback to put up eye-popping stats, because you're not getting them here. DiMarco isn't much of a runner but does bring legitimate pass catching ability to the table, infamous and ugly 2013 drop aside. He's also a valued special teamer, which matters a great deal because Keith Armstrong is still in Atlanta, ready to stump for the guys who do good work on his coverage teams.

Mooney didn't play for an NFL team last year, but he was a successful, bruising runner in college and is a bigger, more physical specimen than DiMarco. If the team wants a more traditional blocking fullback and short yardage runner, they'll go with Mooney.

It's possible, though unlikely, that the Falcons could keep both around. In that case, DiMarco would be a passing down option at fullback and core special teamer, while Mooney would presumably handle short yardage and two-down work. That would be muddled, to say the least, so I wouldn't expect it to happen.

Ultimately, this one's likely to come down not only to who has a better showing (duh), but to who fits the team's planned offense better.

The Roster Prediction

Patrick DiMarco wins. Expect a handful of  carries (maybe 10 for 32 yards and a touchdown or two) plus a handful of catches. He'll make his primary mark blocking for Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman, where he's a good enough athlete to work well in the team's zone blocking scheme. If he shows up healthy, in good shape and improved from a year ago, DiMarco will be your fullback for the third year in a row.

What's your take on the fullback position?