Drake London Needs Michael Penix Jr. to Win Atlanta's QB Job

Drake London is going around the early second round in PPR drafts.

At that price, simply being good isn't enough.

I need elite upside.

We've already seen exactly where that upside comes from.

Michael Penix Jr.

During a five-game stretch with Penix in 2025, London produced:

36 receptions

541 receiving yards

5 touchdowns

That's approximately 24 PPR fantasy points per game.

That's not WR2 production.

That's league-winning WR1 production.

Which is why I'm rooting for Penix to win Atlanta's quarterback competition.

The Penix-London Connection Was Real

Look at the individual performances.

London produced 158 yards and a touchdown against Buffalo.

He had 118 yards and three touchdowns against New England.

He topped 100 yards against Indianapolis and Carolina as well.

Penix was willing to throw London the football aggressively.

London saw double-digit targets repeatedly.

When the matchup presented an opportunity, Atlanta wasn't afraid to make its best receiver the entire passing offense.

That's what I'm paying for near the second-round turn.

London Has Already Proven He's an Alpha

This isn't a projection based solely on quarterback chemistry.

London has already established himself as one of the better target earners in football.

He's big enough to win contested catches.

He's developed into a much more complete route runner than he was when Atlanta drafted him.

And he's become the type of receiver who can win both through volume and explosive plays.

The quarterback doesn't have to manufacture London's fantasy value.

The quarterback just needs to feed it.

Penix already showed us he's willing to do that.

What About Tua?

This isn't me saying Tua Tagovailoa would destroy Drake London's fantasy value.

Tua has supported elite fantasy receivers before.

He is accurate in the short and intermediate areas of the field and can operate an efficient passing offense.

But we're comparing a hypothetical to something we've already seen.

We've already watched London dominate with Penix.

That's Important at London's ADP

London is expensive.

We're not drafting him hoping for a nice season.

We're drafting him ahead of dozens of excellent players because we think he can finish among the very best receivers in fantasy.

Penix gives me more confidence in that outcome.

The five-game sample isn't large enough to guarantee anything.

It is large enough to matter.

A receiver averaging around 24 PPR points per game with one quarterback should make us pay attention when that quarterback is fighting for the starting job.

Pitts Doesn't Ruin the London Case

Kyle Pitts is going to get targets.

He should.

Bijan Robinson will command receiving work too.

But true alpha receivers don't need every target.

They need enough high-value opportunities to separate themselves.

London has already shown the ability to dominate volume with Penix.

My Fantasy Read

I'm drafting Drake London as an elite fantasy receiver either way.

But I want Michael Penix Jr. starting.

The reason is simple:

We've already seen the ceiling.

Across five games together in 2025, London produced 36 catches, 541 yards and five touchdowns.

About 24 PPR points per game.

That's the type of production that justifies an early second-round pick.

Tua could absolutely run an efficient Atlanta offense.

But when I'm spending that type of draft capital, I'm looking for the path to finishing WR1 overall — not simply the path to being good.

Penix has already shown us that path with London.