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Player: Drake London

Team: Atlanta Falcons

Pick: 8th (1st Round)

On the latest episode of the Razzball Fantasy Football Podcast, Bobby LaMarco welcomes in Sky Guasco to discuss former USC wide receiver Drake London and what his potential fantasy value is as a rookie in Atlanta. To hear our full analysis, check out the YouTube video included with this article.

Drake London was selected as the first wide receiver in the 2022 NFL Draft. Many had London and now Titan Treylon Burks as the top two wide receiver prospects in this year’s draft class. At USC, London dominated the Pac-12 competition when healthy. Unfortunately, he missed eight games in his three seasons. In 2019, as a Freshman, London was fourth in line behind Michael Pittman, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Velus Jones. All of which are now also in the NFL. In 2020, the Pac-12 only played six games due to the pandemic shortened season. With Pittman now on the Colts, London took a step to No. 2 behind St. Brown. Last season with St. Brown being drafted by the Lions, London got his time to shine for the Trojans. He earned 124 targets in only eight games. He put up 88 receptions and 1,084 receiving yards. London averaged an insane 11 receptions per game. Elite wide receivers rarely see 11 targets per game. His breakout age of 18 years old is in the 99th percentile and his ability to garner a 25% target share is fantasy gold. He’s been compared to Mike Evans who has been a target machine in Tampa Bay with a variety of quarterbacks. Evans and London are also similar sizes. Evans is 6’ 5” / 230 lbs and London is 6’ 4” / 215 lbs. They were also drafted one pick apart in their respective drafts. Evans went 1.07 in 2014 and London went 1.08 this year to the Falcons. Other than Burks landing with the Titans, I can’t imagine a better landing spot this year than London in Atlanta.

The Falcons lost some key components over the last two seasons. Future Hall of Famer Julio Jones left Atlanta to join the Titans. Calvin Ridley missed 12 games in 2021 due to personal reasons. Then, earlier this off-season, he was suspended for the 2022 season for his part in betting/gambling on his own games. Even Russell Gage left town to join Tom Brady in Tampa. Additionally, franchise quarterback Matt Ryan left to join the Colts. Out with the old and in with the new for the Dirty Birds. Former No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft Marcus Mariota gets a fresh start as the perceived Week 1 starter at quarterback, but the Falcons also drafted Desmond Ridder out of Cincinnati. The Falcons were 19th in pass attempts per game in 2021. Cordarrelle Patterson was the Falcons leading rusher… as a receiver. However, he’s been a career Special Teams player until he was forced into duty in 2021. Kyle Pitts may be the future of the tight end position, but other than him and Patterson the Falcons are thin at pass catchers. London should see a healthy target share from the first snap. Let’s just hope he can capitalize on it. I think he will. He’s my WR1 in this draft class.