Many league analysts expect a rookie season encore from Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London in 2023. Atlanta fans can consider NFL insider Peter Schrager one of them.
Schrager released a list of top five breakout wide receivers for the 2023 season on June 5. The NFL insider ranked London at No. 3 on the list.
Not that Schrager’s list is a bad one, but fantasy football media personality Jordan Rains may have put it best when he described Schrager’s breakout receivers ranking as “low hanging fruit.”
The top three receivers on Schrager’s list, including London, have arguably already “broken out” in the NFL.
Among receivers who played half of his team’s offensive snaps in 2022, the Pro Football Focus player grades ranked London the 11th-best receiver in the league last year. The PFF grades rated London higher than star receivers D.K. Metcalf, Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel.
London posted 72 catches for 866 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns as a rookie in 2022. Not only did he lead the Falcons in all three categories, his 72 receptions were 32 more than any other Falcons pass-catcher.
Furthermore, London’s 117 targets were nearly twice as many as the team’s next closest receiver. Olamide Zaccheaus was second for the Falcons with 61 targets.
Hopefully for the Falcons, the lopsided volume of passes going toward London changes with the return of a healthy Kyle Pitts. General manager Terry Fontenot also added veteran receivers Mack Hollins and Scotty Miller to the roster. Hollins had 57 receptions and 690 receiving yards for the Las Vegas Raiders last season.
But playing with a better receiving core, London could be more efficient with his opportunities. He certainly has the talent for even bigger things in 2023.
Like London, Wilson and Olave had terrific rookie seasons. Wilson posted 83 receptions for 1,103 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns on his way to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors with the New York Jets.
Olave also reached the 1,000-yard mark with 72 catches for 1,042 yards and 4 scores with the New Orleans Saints.
