London put together a rookie season that looked much better on game film than in the Fantasy box scores in large part due to inconsistent and inaccurate ball placement from Marcus Mariota. The final outcome was a finish at WR43 overall, but that hasn't stopped expectations from moving him up draft boards in 2023. The 117 targets last year coupled with the fifth-highest target share in the NFL are reasons to get very excited about London in 2023 because volume is king. Of course, the return of Kyle Pitts and addition of Bijan Robinson will eat into London's volume. London is a gamble on upside rather than production (his best stretch as a rookie still put him closer to the back-end WR2 range). If you want to make that gamble, you'll likely have to do it as early as Round 5.
Falcons' Drake London: Impressive working with Ridder
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London brought in five of seven targets for 91 yards in the Falcons' 24-15 win over the Saints on Sunday.
London comfortably led the Falcons in receptions, receiving yards and targets on the afternoon while working with Desmond Ridder as his quarterback for a full game for the first time since Week 7. London's yardage total was his highest since Week 6 and second best of the season, but the entire Atlanta air attack faces a tough matchup against the Jets' stingy secondary on the road in Week 13.
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Falcons' Drake London: Modest numbers Sunday
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London caught three of four targets for 36 yards in Sunday's 25-23 loss to the Cardinals.
The second-year wideout actually led Atlanta in receiving yards Sunday in his return from a one-game absence due to a minor groin issue while tying Kyle Pitts for the team lead in catches, as quarterbacks Taylor Heinicke (hamstring) and Desmond Ridder combined for a paltry 94 passing yards. London hasn't scored a TD since Week 4 and has topped 70 receiving yards only twice in nine games this season, but the eighth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft is still the team's biggest downfield threat. If the coaching staff uses next week's bye to fix some of the issues with the offense, London could benefit beginning with a Week 12 contest against the Saints.
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Falcons' Drake London: Sleeper WRs
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London is expected to play in Week 10 at Arizona after missing Week 9 with a groin injury, and I'm excited to see what he does with Taylor Heinicke under center. London has scored at least 10.5 PPR points in five games in a row, but only twice has he scored more than 11.8 PPR points over that span. He's capable of more, and I hope Heinicke brings out the best in him. It helps that the Cardinals have allowed nine receivers to score at least 14 PPR points this season, and London should be considered a borderline top-20 receiver in all formats this week.
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Falcons' Drake London: In clear for Week 10
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London (groin) was a full practice participant Thursday, Amna Subhan of the Falcons' official site reports.
London's ability to take every rep at Thursday's practice clears the way for him to return to action Sunday against the Cardinals after he sat out the Falcons' 31-28 loss to the Vikings in Week 9. Since drawing just one target in a Week 1 win over Carolina, London has drawn no fewer than six looks in the passing game in any of his last seven outings, stringing together a 37-438-2 receiving line over that span. He'll now get his first chance to work in a full game with quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who will make his second straight start Sunday since replacing the struggling Desmond Ridder in the second half of a Week 8 loss to the Titans
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Falcons' Drake London: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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London is expected to play in Week 10 at Arizona after missing Week 9 with a groin injury, and I'm excited to see what he does with Taylor Heinicke under center. London has scored at least 10.5 PPR points in five games in a row, but only twice has he scored more than 11.8 PPR points over that span. He's capable of more, and I hope Heinicke brings out the best in him. It helps that the Cardinals have allowed nine receivers to score at least 14 PPR points this season, and London should be considered a borderline top-20 receiver in all formats this week.
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Falcons' Drake London: Limited in practice return
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London (groin) was a limited participant Wednesday in his return to practice, Amna Subhan of the Falcons' official site reports.
London didn't practice at all last week and missed Sunday's 31-28 loss to the Vikings. His return Wednesday -- even in a limited capacity -- gives him some chance to suit up Sunday at Arizona, though D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that London didn't look to be running full speed. Progression to full practice Thursday or Friday would indicate readiness for a return and give London his first shot to play with Taylor Heinicke as the starting quarterback instead of Desmond Ridder.
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Falcons' Drake London: Will practice Wednesday
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Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said that London (knee) will be back on the practice field Wednesday, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
London wasn't able to practice in any capacity last week en route to being listed as inactive ahead of the Falcons' loss to the Vikings, but Smith says the wideout is now "trending in the right direction." If London is indeed able to practice in even a limited capacity Wednesday, it will represent a notable step toward him being available to play this Sunday in Arizona.
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Falcons' Drake London: Hopeful for Week 10 return
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Head coach Arthur Smith said Monday that the Falcons hope London (groin) will be available for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
London sat out this past Sunday's 31-28 loss to the Vikings after he was unable to practice all week, but he looks like he's trending toward a return to the lineup Week 10. The wideout's practice activity will still warrant monitoring in the coming days to ensure he's on a path to play in Arizona.
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Falcons' Drake London: Won't play against Vikings
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London (groin) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Vikings, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
London was unable to practice throughout the week after hurting his groin in the 28-23 Week 8 loss to Tennessee. With London out, new starting quarterback Taylor Heinicke will have Van Jefferson and Mack Hollins as his top two wide receivers, with tight end Kyle Pitts possibly set for a larger role in the passing game as well. London's next chance to play will come in Week 10 against the Cardinals.
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Falcons' Drake London: Not seen at Friday's practice
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London (groin) wasn't spotted during the media-access portion of Friday's practice, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
London also missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, so the wideout's apparent absence from Friday's session clouds his status for Sunday's game against the Vikings. The Falcons' upcoming injury report will clarify whether or not London has a chance to be available for Week 9 action.
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Falcons' Drake London: Another missed practice
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London (groin) officially didn't practice Thursday, Amna Subhan of the Falcons' official site reports.
London's lack of activity comes as no surprise after he wasn't present for the media-access portion of Thursday's session, marking his second straight DNP. He thus has just one more chance to log some on-field work before the Falcons potentially make a ruling on his availability ahead of Sunday's contest against the Vikings. If London is limited or sidelined this weekend, it could mean more targets for Atlanta's tight ends and running backs considering the underwhelming options behind him on the WR depth chart (Van Jefferson, Mack Hollins, KhaDarel Hodge and Scotty Miller).
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Falcons' Drake London: Absent for another practice
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London (groin) wasn't present for Thursday's practice and is expected to be listed as a non-participant on the Falcons' official injury report, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
London previously failed to practice Wednesday, so he'll likely need to get back on the field in some fashion Friday to put himself in position to play Sunday against the Vikings. If London ends up sitting out this weekend, wideouts Van Jefferson, Mack Hollins and KhaDarel Hodge as well as tight ends Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith could all be in store for more looks in the Falcons' Taylor Heinicke-led passing game.
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Falcons' Drake London: WRs to Sit
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London is dealing with a groin injury, so keep an eye on his status. He's expected to play, but he missed practice Wednesday after leaving the Week 8 loss at Tennessee. London has now gone four games in a row without a touchdown, and he's been held to under 60 receiving yards in his past two outings against the Buccaneers and Titans. We'll see how he does with Taylor Heinicke as the new starter for the Falcons, but the Vikings defense has improved of late against No. 1 receivers. In the past three games, D.J. Moore (10.1 PPR points), Brandon Aiyuk (10.7 PPR points) and Christian Watson (6.3 PPR points) have posted unimpressive stat lines, and London could follow suit in Week 9.
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Falcons' Drake London: Sitting out Wednesday's practice
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London (groin) won't participate in Wednesday's practice, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
London exited Sunday's loss to the Titans with a groin injury, and despite being labeled as questionable to return to the game, he stayed on the sideline for the rest of the day. Head coach Arthur Smith was non-committal about London's chances of playing Week 9 versus the Vikings, and Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com relays that the second-year wideout is considered day-to-day. If London manages to gain clearance for Sunday's game against the Vikings, he will have to link up with Taylor Heinicke under center, as usual starter Desmond Ridder is expected to operate as the No. 2 quarterback.
London sustained a groin injury during Sunday's game in Tennessee, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
London had a 21-yard connection with backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke in the third quarter, but the wide receiver took a hard hit from two Titans defenders and immediately made his way to the sideline, where he was tended to by trainers. At the time he exited the contest, London had five catches (on seven targets) for 55 yards.
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Falcons' Drake London: Start Him (Lineup Decisions)
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This is a good matchup for London given how receivers have done. He's regularly been toward the top of the target count for the Falcons every week, and the bonus of a tough run defense matchup for Atlanta's ground game could help Ridder throw as many as 30 passes. I don't mind London as a low-end WR2 ahead of Calvin Ridley, Chris Godwin and Garrett Wilson.
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Falcons' Drake London: WRs to Start
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London had a somewhat down game in Week 7 at Tampa Bay with six catches for 54 yards on seven targets, and I like that we're now considering 11.4 PPR points a bad performance for London. Prior to that, he scored at least 14.7 PPR points in each of his past two games against Houston and Washington, and he should get back on track in Week 8 at Tennessee. The Titans are No. 7 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and nine receivers have scored at least 13.8 PPR points against Tennessee this season. London is worth starting as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
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Falcons' Drake London: Six catches in Week 7
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London caught six of seven targets for 54 yards in Sunday's 16-13 win over the Buccaneers.
London led the Falcons in targets, catches and receiving yards. Three of his four highest yardage totals have come in the last three games, a span in which London has racked up 21 catches on 28 targets for 257 yards. London had a third-quarter catch that was the subject of a fascinating review, as he had the ball come out while flipping through the air near the sideline and reaching for the goal line. It was ultimately determined that London's hand grazed the grass out of bounds, marking him down at the 1-yard line and narrowly avoiding a potential fumble for a touchback. Atlanta's 2022 first-round draft pick is the clear No. 1 option in the passing game heading into a Week 8 matchup with a Tennessee defense that's been more vulnerable through the air than on the ground.
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Falcons' Drake London: Tops 100 yards in Week 6
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London caught nine of 12 targets for 125 yards during Sunday's 24-16 loss to the Commanders.
London set season highs in targets, receptions and yards. Over the last two weeks, the second-year wideout has secured 15 passes for 203 yards and appears to be picking up speed after a slow start to the campaign. However, his overall production has still been inconsistent, and he faces a decent pass defense in Tampa Bay next week. As a rookie, London caught six of eight targets for 120 yards during the Falcons' Week 18 win over a Buccaneers squad that was resting most of its regulars.
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Falcons' Drake London: Strong production in Week 5 win
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London brought in six of nine targets for 78 yards and completed his only pass attempt for 22 yards in the Falcons' 21-19 win over the Texans on Sunday.
The talented second-year wideout finished second in receptions, receiving yards and targets for the Falcons on the afternoon. London's catch total also tied for his best through his first five games, while his receiving yardage and targets were both season highs. For good measure, the wideout was involved in a trick play in the first quarter that resulted in a 22-yard pass completion to Jonnu Smith. London will aim to build on the encouraging performance in a Week 6 home matchup versus the Commanders.
