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Atlanta Falcons WR Drake London heads into his 2nd NFL season looking to build upon a decent rookie campaign. As the 2022 season went on, London became a huge part of Atlanta’s plans, and he was targeted at least 8 times in each of his final 5 games. Fantasy managers are excited to see more.
Despite some erratic statistics and target totals in his 1st 3 months as a rookie, London still ended up with 72 grabs for 856 yards and 4 TD, and that was with some very inconsistent quarterback play, too. Remember, Atlanta started with QB Marcus Mariota, and ended up with rookie QB Desmond Ridder, not exactly Brady, Elway, Marino or Montana.
London and TE Kyle Pitts are the top 2 targets in Atlanta, and the sky is the limit for the former USC product. If he is able to stay healthy, a 1,000-yard season should certainly be attainable, especially if the QB play is a little more consistent and productive.
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Drake London’s ADP: 60.63
(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)
London has been going off the board around the end of Round 5, or early Round 6, in most redraft leagues. He has the potential to be a WR1 someday, but for now, fantasy managers will want to target London as a low-end WR2, or better yet, as a flex fantasy option with upside.
The thing that holds London back isn’t necessarily London himself. The big question is can Ridder get the ball to him, will Pitts be fully healthy to take some of the load off, and will RB Bijan Robinson now make Atlanta more of a run-heavy offense?
Among wide receivers, London’s ADP in redraft leagues is 25th, just behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Chris Godwin (56.99) and ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Mike Evans (60.93), Seattle Seahawks’ Tyler Lockett (64.25), the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Christian Kirk (64.63), the Los Angeles Chargers’ Mike Williams (65.21) and San Francisco 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk (65.63).
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Drake London’s 2022 stats
Games: 17
Receptions | targets: 72 | 117
Receiving yards: 866
Receiving touchdowns: 4
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Where should you draft London?
No one can fault fantasy managers for taking London in Round 5, and he isn’t a bad low-end WR2. He plays in the NFC South, which offers plenty of favorable matchups against some mediocre or lower-echelon teams.
However, the biggest concern is how much Robinson catches the ball out of the backfield, if the Falcons become more run-centric, and if Ridder can improve. Also, if Pitts is back to 100 percent, will he and Robinson carve into London’s target totals?
London is the bona fide WR1 in Hotlanta, and there is no disputing that. But there is still only so much football to go around, and I am not sold on Ridder being “the guy” under center. He was fine at Cincinnati in college, but as a pro the jury is still very much out.
I like London in Round 6 or beyond, and I’d much rather have him as a top-end WR3 or flex fantasy option after having 2 other capable receivers with NFL-caliber quarterbacks throwing to them. London has a ton of upside, but other factors outside of his control could hold him back slightly.
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