Who Should I Start? Drake London or George Pickens

Tuesday, September 16, 1:39 PM

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London caught three of his four targets in Sunday's 22-6 win over the Vikings, totaling 49 yards receiving in the contest. With only four targets, it would seem he was not heavily involved, but no other pass catcher was targeted more than five times in a game where the team relied heavily on the run. While London's position as the No. 1 option in the passing attack is not in question, his average depth of target thus far in 2025 is something to keep an eye on. The former first-round draft pick held a 10.8 aDOT (average depth of target) in 2024 and an even higher 12.67 aDOT in the final three games where Michael Penix Jr. was under center. However, through two games in 2025, he owns just a 6.94 aDOT and 9.5 yards per reception. If that trend holds, it could be a challenge for the 24-year-old to get back to the 1000-yards receiving threshold this year. With a matchup against Carolina in Week 3, the Falcons may lean on the ground game again, which would again limit the upside of the receiving corps and, if shorter targets persist, put London further behind the eight ball.

Thursday, September 11, 12:11 PM

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens participated in 92% (56) of the team's snaps during their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, the exact figure as star teammate CeeDee Lamb. The fourth-year pro didn't garner the same lofty target total Lamb drew (13), placing third on the team behind tight end Jake Ferguson, who had six (four). However, Pickens was out there for darn-near every snap and drew a long pass interference penalty. While quarterback Dak Prescott couldn't connect with his new wideout on any deep targets, there will be plenty more opportunities for the duo to do so. Furthermore, Lamb should draw extra coverage frequently, giving Pickens plenty of one-on-one opportunities on the outside. He's a WR3 with high-end WR2 upside.