Drake London Injury Update: Should Fantasy Managers Expect the Falcons WR to Play This Week?

The Atlanta Falcons prepare for their Week 13 road matchup against the New York Jets while dealing with significant injury concerns across their roster. Drake London has been sidelined since leaving the team’s overtime defeat to Carolina two weeks ago with a knee injury. Will fantasy football managers have their star receiver back this week?

Drake London Injury Update

London went down during the overtime period after recording seven receptions for 119 yards against the Panthers. The swift decision to remove him from action raised immediate concerns about the severity of the knee issue. However, initial reporting after the game provided some optimism.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday night that London’s knee injury was “not thought to be overly serious” and that the receiver was set for an MRI on Monday to determine the full extent of the damage. Most notably, Schefter indicated the possibility that London “might not miss time,” which would represent the best-case scenario for Atlanta’s offense. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport echoed that sentiment, stating London was believed to have avoided serious knee damage.

The presence of multiple credible insiders offering cautiously optimistic assessments suggested the Falcons may have escaped a major setback.

Unfortunately, London was ruled out for Week 12. Ian Rapoport confirmed that London would be sidelined for “at least” Week 12 with a sprained PCL. This update proved troubling because PCL sprains carry unpredictable recovery timelines.

London was held out of practice throughout last week. Head coach Raheem Morris did offer an encouraging assessment, stating he was hopeful London could suit up in Week 13. Morris revealed that if the decision were London’s alone, he would have taken the field in Week 12. Morris clarified the team must “protect Drake from Drake.”

Unfortunately, London did not practice on Wednesday and is now considered doubtful for Week 13. This development is no surprise. Despite the optimism that London might only miss one game, the fact remains he has a sprained PCL. This is a multi-week injury by nature. Fantasy managers should not expect to see London at practice at all this week, and the expectation going into next week should be that he doesn’t play again.

London is not going to play this week. But it is unlikely the Falcons would shut London down for the remainder of the season. Atlanta remains in playoff contention despite their poor record. They may be 4-7, but they sit just two games behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are currently struggling as well.

NFL franchises do not give up on playoff aspirations until elimination becomes mathematically certain. The Falcons cannot be eliminated from playoff contention for at least another two weeks. If London is healthy enough to play, he will. Just don’t expect that to be the case anytime soon.

London’s Fantasy Outlook

London has delivered exceptional production throughout the 2025 season. He entered Week 11 having posted three straight 100-yard receiving games and registered 18.9 fantasy points or better in each of his last three contests before suffering the injury. His consistency has established him as a premier WR1 option, making his potential absence a devastating blow for fantasy managers navigating the playoff push.

The fourth-year receiver has been particularly dominant over the past month and a half. In his last six full games, London accumulated 651 receiving yards along with six touchdowns. His chemistry with Kirk Cousins has been undeniable, and he’s operated as Atlanta’s clear-cut top option in the passing attack.

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Without London available, the Falcons receiving corps loses its most dangerous weapon. Darnell Mooney becomes the primary target, though he lacks London’s ability to dominate opposing defenses. Kyle Pitts and KhaDarel Hodge will see increased opportunities, but neither possesses the talent level to replicate London’s production.

The timeline for London’s return remains murky. PCL sprains are notoriously difficult to predict, and rushing back too quickly could result in further damage that extends the absence even longer. The Falcons medical staff will need to balance London’s desire to play against the risk of exacerbating the injury.

Fantasy managers who drafted London as a cornerstone piece must now scramble for alternatives during the most critical stretch of the season. The combination of the injury’s nature and the team’s cautious approach suggests London will miss multiple weeks rather than returning quickly.

For those holding London on rosters, patience will be required. Monitor practice reports closely over the coming weeks, but prepare contingency plans at the wide receiver position. The Falcons need London healthy for any realistic playoff push, which means they won’t risk his long-term availability for short-term gains.