The Atlanta Falcons are preparing for a crucial Week 9 matchup as they look to get back on track. Drake London missed last week’s game with a hip injury that emerged late in practice. Will fantasy football managers get their star receiver back for this week’s game against the New England Patriots?
Drake London Injury Update
London participated fully in practice during Wednesday and Thursday of last week, showing no signs of physical limitations or discomfort. The hip injury surfaced unexpectedly on Friday when he was downgraded to limited participation, though he initially received no injury designation on the team’s report.
The situation deteriorated Saturday when the Atlanta Falcons reclassified London as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. This late-week progression suggested the hip issue had worsened overnight or failed to respond to treatment as expected.
Atlanta conducted pregame testing to evaluate London’s mobility and readiness, ultimately determining he was not healthy enough to compete. The team ruled him inactive approximately 90 minutes before kickoff, leaving fantasy managers scrambling for last-minute replacements.
Head coach Raheem Morris labeled London as “day-to-day” during Monday’s press conference, indicating the injury is not considered long-term or structurally significant. Morris provided encouraging updates Wednesday, confirming that London is “in the building” and “feeling better than he did last week”.​
The receiver participated in Wednesday’s walkthrough and indoor practice session as the team evaluates his progress throughout the week. London was listed as limited. Morris expressed cautious optimism about London’s availability, though he maintained the day-to-day designation pending further assessment.
London’s presence at the facility and improved condition represent positive developments compared to last week’s late-emerging complications. The team will monitor his response to increased activity levels before making final determinations about his Week 9 status against the New England Patriots
London Fantasy Outlook
London’s absence was painfully obvious during Sunday’s loss, as the Atlanta Falcons offense managed just 173 passing yards with veteran backup Kirk Cousins under center. Darnell Mooney stepped into the WR1 role but caught just one pass on the day, highlighting London’s irreplaceable value to this passing attack.
Even if London is absent from Wednesday’s practice, that won’t be a death sentence for his Week 9 availability. The key will be Thursday’s session. As long as London is able to get in a limited practice on Thursday, he should be good to go for Sunday’s game against the Patriots.
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If he can practice on Wednesday, that will be an even better sign for his chances of suiting up. The Falcons desperately need their top receiving threat back on the field, especially given how anemic the passing game looked without him against Miami.
London remains a must-start fantasy option when healthy, particularly given his consistent target volume and red-zone involvement. His absence last week served as a reminder of just how dependent Atlanta’s aerial attack is on his production.
Fantasy managers should monitor the practice reports closely this week, but early indicators point toward London making his return against New England. The Falcons simply cannot afford to be without their top offensive weapons any longer as they fight to salvage their season.
