Drake London fantasy outlook: should you drop him?

Drake London's debut season has been, to put it mildly, dismal, and there is almost nothing he can do to improve it for fantasy owners. Since Week 4, the productivity has decreased from the previous three weeks' average of 71 receiving yards, which was a respectable start.

If you can hold out, do so; if not, it might be time to sign a more effective wide receiver to push your team closer to the playoffs. We appreciate that fantasy managers might wish to wait, expecting a switch in the Atlanta Falcons' starting quarterback or an adjustment in the playcalling.

London averaged 14.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in the first three games of the season. Nevertheless, since then, the rookie receiver has only recorded an average of 3.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, tallying 5.5 or fewer points each week.

Moreover, the former USC star's targets have decreased over the previous few games. London had four targets in Week 6 and a career-low one in his last game against the Cincinnati Bengals after receiving at least six targets in each of the first five weeks.

It isn't easy to trust Marcus Mariota to start a game with only 17.8 throw efforts on average over the previous four games. Fantasy players should bench London until the Falcons adjust their play-calling.

Fantasy managers might decide not to trade him. For now, he is just another roster clogger, but the promise remains the same. Perhaps things will improve.

No matter how the game is structured, there isn't enough volume for Drake London. His average number of targets per game has been 5.4, with the exception of an eight-catch effort against the Los Angeles Rams.

Suppose Matt Ryan is replaced at quarterback by Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder. In that case, the Atlanta offense is unlikely to improve much until Kyle Pitts and Drake London both prove to be genuine, already-proven superstars.

London, the eighth overall choice in the 2022 draft, is the Falcons' leading receiver with 26 catches for 315 yards. Still, his first two games were better than the previous five combined in yardage.

Drake London timeline

Wide receiver Drake London plays for the Atlanta Falcons. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Falcons picked him as the eighth overall pick after playing collegiate football for USC.

In 2021, London won the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year. Unfortunately, London injured his right ankle in Southern Cal's eighth game of the 2021 campaign, requiring him to miss the remainder of the year. After that season, London announced he'd declare for the 2022 NFL Draft.

The first wide receiver selected was Drake London. He made his NFL debut in Week 1's matchup with the New Orleans Saints. Then, in Week 2's game against the Los Angeles Rams, he caught a pass from Marcus Mariota for four yards for his first career touchdown.