The Falcons don’t have an issue at wide receiver like many thought they would this past offseason. Kyle Pitts finally broke out in Week 3 after putting up four catches for 38 yards in the previous two games combined, totaling five receptions for 87 yards in Atlanta’s 27-23 victory over Seattle on Sunday. Olamide Zacchaeus has been a reliable target, too, putting up eight catches for 119 yards and one touchdown through three weeks. But the reason to be excited about this Falcons offense is Drake London, who has a chance to be the team’s first Offensive Rookie of the Year since Matt Ryan did it in 2008.
London recorded the first touchdown of his NFL career last week in Los Angeles against the Rams to go along with eight receptions for 86 yards, which made the USC product the first rookie to record at least five receptions and 70 yards in his first two games since 2015, when Stefon Diggs did it, which includes consensus top five wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.
Moreover, London joined an impressive list of 21-year-old rookies with more than 150 receiving yards in his first two NFL games — Chase, Diggs, DeSean Jackson, Randy Moss, DeAndre Hopkins, Rondale Moore, CeeDee Lamb, Keke Countee, Amari Cooper, and DK Metcalf. And that success continued in Week 3 against the Seahawks, hauling in three passes for 54 yards and another touchdown in the team’s first victory of 2022.
As the first receiver taken in the 2022 draft cycle, Drake London was met with heavy criticism. Many believed the top prospect was Garrett Wilson, who also had an incredible start to his NFL career, but the former two sport athlete has shown everyone he’s arguably the best rookie wideout. Arguments could be had for Wilson being the top rookie at the position, but the OROY odds suggest London has a solid chance of being the first Falcons player to win the award in over a decade.
| Drake London | WR | Falcons | +600 |
| Jahan Dotson | WR | Commanders | +800 |
| Garrett Wilson | WR | Jets | +800 |
| Brian Robinson Jr | RB | Commanders | +1000 |
| Chris Olave | WR | Saints | +1200 |
| Breece Hall | RB | Jets | +1200 |
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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