Falcons WR Drake London hauled 5 of his team-high 7 targets for 55 receiving yards in Week 8’s loss vs. the Titans. TEs Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith struggled on Sunday, however, with a combined 4 catches and 48 yards between them. It’s fair to estimate that perhaps some of these struggles can be attributed to the Falcons going from QB Desmond Ridder to backup Taylor Heinicke midway through the game. Still, this was not a particularly strong performance from Atlanta’s aerial attack. Projecting these pass-catchers for their upcoming matchup against the Vikings will be tough to do until we know who will be under center in Week 9.
Falcons WR Drake London suffered a groin injury in the third quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Titans. He's officially questionable to return. We'll update London's status when we know more.
Congratulations if you started Falcons WR Drake London in your lineup. The second-year wideout exploded with 9 catches on 12 targets with a career-high 125 receiving yards in Week 6 vs. the Commanders. TE Kyle Pitts also had a strong outing, hauling 4 catches for 46 yards and a TD in the loss. Sunday marks the first time Pitts has recorded a TD since Week 8 of last season. TE Jonnu Smith again returned some solid fantasy production with a 4-36-1 receiving line. The Falcons’ offense has been frustrating for managers this season, though recent efforts from the past couple of weeks have helped to assuage some concerns. We’ll see if they can keep this up in Week 7 vs. the Buccaneers.
Falcons WR Drake London found the end zone in London vs. the Jaguars. Of course, his 3 catches on 7 targets for 28 receiving yards isn’t ideal, but the amusing nature of the TD and the fact that it helps fantasy managers counts all the same. In the most frustrating turn of events possible, TE Jonnu Smith led the team in receiving with 95 yards on all 6 of his targets. Fellow TE Kyle Pitts (2 catches, 41 yards) disappeared again in Week 4. It’s getting tough to hold out hope for him at this point. It’ll be tough to trust any of these pass-catchers, though a Week 5 matchup vs. the Texans makes their collective appeal a little nicer.
Falcons WR Drake London mustered just two catches for 31 yards in Sunday's loss to the Lions. It was a dud from the entire offense, which posted just six points and 183 total net yards. That, of course, is the downside with London. He's now sandwiched a nice Week 2 with a couple of turds. London will continue to be an inconsistent fantasy option who figures to produce better when Atlanta plays from behind (although that wasn't the case today). Week 4 brings a game in Jacksonville that could find the Falcons playing catch-up.
Falcons WR Drake London led the team in receiving in Week 2, tallying 6 catches on 7 targets for 67 yards and a TD vs. the Packers. Fantasy managers who stuck with the second-year wideout in lineups were rewarded handsomely. But those who started TE Kyle Pitts? Well, they’re not so happy. Pitts only hauled in 2 of his 5 targets for 15 receiving yards in the victory. Fellow TE Jonnu Smith saw 6 targets and turned his opportunities into 4 catches for 47 yards. It’s starting to feel like both London and Pitts being viable fantasy assets in the same week might be a pipedream. Fortunately, we’re only a pair of games into the 2023 season, but early results aren’t encouraging. Pitts will have a chance to get right in Week 3 vs. the Lions.
Falcons WR Drake London was barely noticeable in Sunday’s win over Carolina. Despite running 20 routes — tied for a team-high — the second-year WR failed to record a catch. He drew just a single target. Desmond Ridder fed his RBs 9 total targets — a 50% share. We’re not ready to panic on London’s season-long outlook, but expect volatility ahead given Atlanta’s run-heavy approach. Next up is a tough matchup with CB Jaire Alexander.
The Falcons begin training camp Wednesday, and it doesn't sound like TE Kyle Pitts will be taking the field right away. "He's still getting back. He's still working," WR Drake London said Tuesday, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. "Once he heals up, he's going to be the same Kyle Pitts we all know." We certainly hope that will be the case, but it's worrisome that Pitts isn't yet healed up from a MCL injury that knocked him out in November. Don't be surprised if Pitts slides down our fantasy football rankings a bit in the coming days. Any delay to Pitts' usefulness would likely be good news for London's target share. The WR trailed Pitts in that category before the TE went down last season.
Falcons WR Drake London finished his rookie season just 45th among WRs in PPR points per game. Yet he's going 22nd among WRs right now in Underdog Fantasy ADP. Why? Well, London did rank sixth among all wideouts in target share in 2022. He enjoyed a strong finish after QB Desmond Ridder took over for Marcus Mariota, averaging 9.0 targets, 6.3 receptions, and 83.3 yards over the final four games. And Atlanta increased its passing volume over that span. But the team still ranked just 24th in neutral-situation pass rate over that time. London also trailed TE Kyle Pitts in target share before Pitts went down with a knee injury. Atlanta sports a weak receiving depth chart behind those two for 2023, so there's room for both exciting young pass catchers to continue drawing large shares. But London will need more team passing volume to help him pay off at ADP. And drafting RB Bijan Robinson eighth overall would be a funny way for the Falcons to announce that they're going to pass a lot more in 2023. London sits only a little lower in our 2023 WR rankings than he does in ADP.
Falcons WR Drake London is questionable to return to Sunday's game vs. the Bucs with a foot injury. We'll update the rookie's status when we know more.
Update: London was cleared to return.
Falcons WR Drake London tied for the team target lead (8) in Sunday's win over the Cardinals, continuing his run of strong target shares with 30.8% in the game. He caught 5 for a mere 47 yards, a modest fantasy outing. With Atlanta throwing for just 169 yards and no TDs overall, the ceiling was low for the rookie wideout. He'll close out next week against a Buccaneers squad that might be resting starters after clinching the division title with a Week 17 win.
Falcons rookie WR Drake London has garnered 35% of Falcons targets over the past 3 games, including rookie QB Desmond Ridder's 2 starts. That ranks him 3rd among all WRs over that span, trailing only Tyreek Hill and Michael Pittman Jr. London faces an Arizona defense this week that looks like a negative matchup for WRs by adjusted fantasy points allowed. But Arizona ranks just 19th in Football Outsiders' pass-defense DVOA, has 2 starting corners on the injury report and just lost S Budda Baker to a shoulder fracture. The Cardinals look like a neutral matchup for London at worst. You'll find some caution to our optimism for London in our Week 17 WR rankings, but the rookie lands inside the top 30.
Falcons WR Drake London led the way in targets (9), receptions (7) and receiving yards (96) in Saturday's loss at Baltimore. It marked his 3rd straight game with at least 9 looks and 6 catches. It was also London's 2nd time reaching 95 yards in that span. That marks 3 strong outings in the 4 games the team has played since losing TE Kyle Pitts for the season. London looks like at least a solid WR3 for PPR lineups against the Cardinals in Week 17. It helps his outlook that rookie QB Desmond Ridder fared better at Baltimore: 218 yards on 22-of-33 passing.
Falcons rookie WR Drake London drew a team-high 11 targets in Sunday's loss to the Saints, catching 7 for 70 yards. It marked the 2nd straight game of double-digit targets for London, who garnered 42.3% of Atlanta's total attempts in the debut for rookie QB Desmond Ridder. London also accounted for 53.8% of the team's total completions and 72.2% of the receiving yards. That makes London a worthwhile option against Baltimore and Arizona the next 2 weeks, despite the limited QB and offense.
Falcons WR Drake London delivered 6 catches for 95 yards on 12 targets in Sunday's loss to the Steelers. His 12 targets constituted half of QB Marcus Mariota's pass attempts. London also collected 46.2% of the team's receptions and 56.9% of the receiving yards. Those shares will be tough to replicate. There's certainly room for London to continue dominating the receiving categories the rest of the way, with TE Kyle Pitts done for the year. This was the 1st time since Week 3, however, that he exceeded 40 receiving yards. London entered the day averaging just 3.4 receptions per game. So there will be risk in trusting this performance to carry over after the Week 14 bye.
Falcons rookie WR Drake London checked in just 3rd on the team in targets and caught 2 passes for 29 yards in the 1st game since TE Kyle Pitts landed on IR. London did lead Atlanta in routes, running on all but 1 of QB Marcus Mariota's 26 dropbacks. But his 4 targets trailed WR Olamide Zaccheaus (8) and RB Cordarrelle Patterson (5). London scored in consecutive games before Sunday's dud but hasn't exceeded 40 receiving yards in a game since Week 3. He's tough to make a starting case for in most fantasy football formats.
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