The first year of Michael Penix Jr. as the starting quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons hasn’t gone as well as the team may have hoped. Their record is subpar, while the individual performances have left a lot to be desired. With a stifling defense, the offense has been the unit holding the team back.
But thanks to the weapons on the roster, it is hard to pinpoint anyone but the quarterback as the weak link. With the season quickly slipping away, Week 11 against the Carolina Panthers is among their last chances to remain in the hunt. But will they have to go at it without superstar wide receiver Drake London?
Will Drake London Play Against the Panthers?
A former eighth overall pick, London has been among the most underrated wide receivers in the league over the last few years. A solid rookie season paved the way for improvement in his second year, before he emerged as a true star in 2024.
Tallying 1,271 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, he was a one-man wrecking crew as the Falcons flipped between Kirk Cousins and Penix. This year, he’s continued that strong play despite the woes of the offense as a whole.
Through eight games, he’s totaled 691 receiving yards and six touchdowns, including four separate 100-yard games, ranking 12th on PFSN’s WR Impact. Simply put, he has been critical to their operation as the designated WR1.
However, this week, Atlanta has had to face some worries regarding London’s availability for Week 11. After missing Wednesday’s practice entirely with an illness, he was a limited participant in the following two days.
But what made matters worse for the organization was the addition of a back injury to his report. As a result, senior reporter for the franchise, Tori McElhaney, wrote on X, “Drake London, Chris Lindstrom, and Brandon Dorlus all questionable for Sunday. Leonard Floyd, Matthew Bergeron ruled OUT.”
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After losing 30-0 earlier in the year in one of the most inexplicable results of the year, Atlanta will be hoping for a better showing this time around. With the division quickly getting out of reach, being swept in the season series against the Panthers could knock them out for good.
But, on the other end of the spectrum, the Falcons have shown the ability to remain competitive against all comers, registering wins over the Minnesota Vikings and the Buffalo Bills, while going to overtime against the Indianapolis Colts.
#UPDATE: On Saturday, NFL insider Adam Schefter confirmed that London is expected to play in Week 11.
Atlanta Falcons’ Insights for Week 11
Team: The Falcons have lost four straight games, including a one-point loss to the Patriots in Week 9 and an overtime loss to the Colts in Berlin in Week 10.
QB: Michael Penix Jr. scored his lowest QBi grade of the season, a 65.5 (D), against the Colts in Week 10.
Offense: Atlanta has graded in the Top 10 OFFi in two out of nine games.
Defense: The Falcons’ defense has 29 sacks, tied for 5th in the NFL.
Fantasy: Drake London has seen at least eight targets in six straight games and has cleared 100 receiving yards in four of his past five. His status as a WR1 is secure, and he is pushing toward first-round consideration in 2026. This run of involvement has come in the six games following the last meeting with these Panthers: you can operate with zero concerns this week when it comes to Atlanta’s WR1.