4 Atlanta Falcons who must step up against the Saints in week one
By Nick Halden
3. Drake London
The Atlanta Falcons (Marcus Mariota in particular) badly need Drake London to have success right away. London is heading into the season as the primary receiver with nothing but question marks behind him on the depth chart. There is a reason a former lacrosse player who hadn’t been a receiver before May of this year was able to crack the roster. Atlanta is desperate to find playmakers at the position and to have a chance in this game they must give the secondary more to fear than Kyle Pitts.
With London’s talent and Mariota’s willingness to throw the ball down the field, it isn’t out of the question that Drake comes out of the gate with a 100-yard high-impact game. For the Falcons to beat the Saints they are going to have to get just that from London or from a surprise contributor. It seems Bryan Edwards would be the next most likely Falcons receiver to have a big day behind London.
Olamide is a solid player but not a starting receiver who is going to make consistent game-changing catches in this game. If Atlanta wants a chance it has to get a huge game from Drake London or Bryan Edwards.