Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London injured his knee in his first preseason action in the NFL, leaving fantasy gamers curious about his immediate regular season status. The majority of fantasy drafts have been completed, so those searching for London news likely already drafted him or are considering him in DFS. That said, his Week 1 availability will be a situation to monitor as we inch toward Sunday's season opener.
London is regarded as a top dynasty asset from the 2022 NFL draft, and since Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson erupted in their rookie seasons, a lot of fantasy managers are expecting London to provide them with something in year one. We'll dive into what can be expected early on, his latest injury update, and if he should be in your starting lineup in Week 1.
As always, stay tuned for further London updates.
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Will Drake London Play In Week 1 of Fantasy Football?
London practiced in a limited capacity Tuesday and Wednesday and looks to be carrying a "questionable" tag into Week 1 against the Saints. Atlanta brass is being vague when asked about his availability so this might be a close call.
It's always smart to monitor a player's situation all the way down to the wire until he's ruled active or inactive. However, he looks to be moving around well, and he's reportedly trending in the right direction to make his debut as a pro.
Ultimately, we can speculate that he'll play, but stay on your toes, and frantically search "Drake London injury updates" until we get official word from Falcons' head coach Arthur Smith.
Falcons rookie WR Drake London (knee) moving around like a guy who will be playing Sunday against the Saints. Atlanta still officially on the fence about his availability. pic.twitter.com/u2TNWarZ0Q
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) September 7, 2022
Should I Start Drake London In Week 1 of Fantasy Football if Active?
If London does play, it's likely going to be a tough road to fantasy success. The New Orleans defense was just a middle-of-the-pack team against fantasy wide receivers a season ago, but there's a good chance London gets his "welcome to the NFL" moment by being shadowed by Marshon Lattimore. Even if he does find success, the Atlanta offense as a whole is unlikely to score a ton of points or have chunk plays against a star-studded New Orleans defense.
On top of that, he's still likely going to be somewhat affected by his knee ailment and isn't even expected to be the No. 1 target in the Marcus Mariota offense. For now, it's safe to sit him on the bench and see what happens in leagues that aren't particularly deep.
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