Who Should I Start? Christian Kirk or Drake London

Wednesday, July 9, 3:34 PM

Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk was dealt from the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars for a late-round NFL Draft pick this offseason. The 28-year-old had a fantastic first season with Jacksonville in 2022, but injuries and offensive woes limited his production in 2023 and 2024. Last year, he tallied just 27 receptions for 379 yards and one score in eight games while Brian Thomas Jr. took over the WR1 role. Now in Houston, he is seemingly competing with rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel for the WR2 job behind Nico Collins. ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime believes Kirk might be the favorite to win that job. "The best way to step into the No. 2 or No. 3 role is building chemistry with CJ.. Stroud," Bien-Aime wrote. "And Kirk looked like a potential safety blanket for the third-year signal-caller." While this is promising for Kirk's fantasy prospects, the veteran has eclipsed 800 yards in just two of his seven NFL campaigns, and Houston's acquisitions of Higgins and Noel could suggest they were not comfortable with Kirk in the clear WR2 role. That said, his cost in drafts outside the top 50 WRs makes him an interesting dart throw in all formats.

Wednesday, August 13, 10:58 AM

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London has been turning heads during team practices and could be poised to take an even larger step forward in his fourth NFL season. Last fall, London was able to post his first 1,000-yard campaign. In 2024, London caught 100 passes (career-high) for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns, which were also a career-high. Despite playing with two quarterbacks during the season, London continued to provide high fantasy value. Once Michael Penix Jr. took over the starting job, London flashed even higher upside. During his last two games, London averaged 146.5 yards per game with two scores, which is a positive sign for his upside in 2025. In addition, No. 2 wide receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) is currently week-to-week with a shoulder injury and could open up even more targets for London if he were to miss time. Fantasy managers should view London as a WR1 in all formats with the upside to finish as one of the most productive players at the position.