Falcons training camp: 3 Fantasy football storylines to watch

2. How big of an impact with Hayden Hurst have?

During the 2019 season, Atlanta got a nice added production out of the tight end position and specifically with Austin Hooper in the passing game led by quarterback Matt Ryan and company.

Early and often throughout the year last season, Hooper emerged as a dominant option through the air to counter the likes of wide receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley on the outside of the field.

This offseason, with Hooper leaving the Falcons organization to join the Cleveland Browns as a free agent, there is a spot available for grabs in the middle of the field for Atlanta.

To try and replace Hooper, Atlanta traded for tight end Hayden Hurst from the Baltimore Ravens and inserting him into the already-potent offense. And in his first season with a new team and a new offense, Hurst could step up and produce right out of the gate and could be a solid tight end to take a chance on in fantasy football.

Last year, Hurst finished up his second season in the NFL and with Baltimore after he was selected by the Ravens out of South Carolina with the 25th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

During the regular season, Hurst put together his best season to date while appearing in all 16 contests for Baltimore. He ended the year with 30 receptions on 39 overall targets, recording a career-high 349 yards receiving and two touchdowns within an offense led by Lamar Jackson and company.

With the emergence of Mark Andrews in Baltimore, Hurst kind of got lost in the mix of things offensively in Baltimore, which makes sense why the Ravens would be willing to part ways with the tight end approaching the 2020 campaign.

The soon-to-be 27-year-old will provide the Falcons with a large target in the middle of the field much like what Hooper presented the Atlanta offense for the past few years. And if he is able to produce even remotely like Hooper did in this offensive unit, watch out for Hurst in 2020.