Fantasy football ****** yst Hayden Winks reveals his WR2 rankings and ****** ysis for Week 1. He'll continue to update his rankings for every position throughout the week.
London was the WR5 on WR5 usage from 2024 through Week 11 of 2025 when he went down with a PCL injury. Only Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase had a higher target share (29.6%) over that span, and the Falcons only added depth in the skill group this offseason in third-round slot Zachariah Branch, Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus.
Unfortunately, the QB play hasn't really improved with Tua Tagovailoa playing so poorly this offseason that he was only awarded the starting nod mere days before the season after Michael Penix Jr. (ACL) wasn't going to make it in time. There is also a new coaching staff, and last year's OC Zac Robinson just about did everything right for London's box scores. We can only hope London gets as much slot work as he did last year.
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The good news is the Steelers have turned into a bit of a pass funnel. Last year's unit was third-worst in pass yards allowed and 18th in rush yards allowed. CB1 Joey Porter is an above-average top option and slot CB Jalen Ramsey is still a tough out, even if he's a step slower. Atlanta only projects for 19.5 points this week.

#slot #fantasy #london

The Atlanta Falcons have a supremely talented top option at wide receiver in Drake London, who's considered one of the top-10 performers in the game at his position. Unfortunately, the Falcons also have exactly zero proven options beneath him on the depth chart.
For now, it looks like Jahan Dotson will serve as WR2, even though he's only scored one touchdown over the last two years. Olamide Zaccheaus projects as Atlanta's WR3, but he really should never be more than a No. 4 option.
Rookie Zachariah Branch definitely has potential. However, he'll have to earn his way up the ladder to see real targets - and that will likely take some time. Collectively, this group has been ranked the 20th-best wide receiver room in the NFL, according to CBS Sports.
"If the Falcons had anybody we could remotely rely on behind the fantastic Drake London, they'd rank higher than this. Perhaps rookie Zachariah Branch blossoms early and becomes that guy. But Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson aren't our idea of reliable options."
Matt Ryan deserves credit for some late-breaking moves to improve the Falcons roster, including adding Za'Darius Smith to help plug their holes on the edge with Jalon Walker out and James Pearce suspended. The trade for Gervon Dexter is also a huge deal for their interior defensive line rotation.

#london #jahan #olamide #zaccheaus

Tennessee football legend Peyton Manning awarded four UT freshmen with the latest installment of his namesake scholarship and he was on campus to honor the recipients on Aug. 31.
Hector Centeno-Lopez, Breanna Gonzalez, Olamide Olakunle and Mikayla Schumpert, the 2026 Peyton Manning Scholars, earned their four-year award and a spot in the selective Haslam Leadership Scholarship program through a rigorous selection process that sought "academically successful incoming Vols who exemplify service, leadership and integrity," UT said in a school release.
"The growth of this program remains a point of pride for me," Manning said. "This is just the beginning of the positive mark these students will leave on their community and this university. I hope they will leave UT with the same passion for this special place that I have."
Manning is still the most prolific passer in UT football history, having thrown for 11,201 yards over four seasons from 1994-97. The first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, Manning won a Super Bowl with both the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
He endowed the scholarship when he graduated from UT in 1998 and it has been awarded to 69 students in the 29 years since. This year's four Manning Scholars all have diverse academic and career interests but are bonded by a "desire to lead and leave UT better than they found it," according to UT.

#manning #scholars

The young core of the Atlanta Falcons offense is the same this year as the last. WR1 Drake London, RB1 Bijan Robinson and TE1 Kyle Pitts have all re-signed, so they'll be around for at least the next few seasons.
The depth behind those skill positions has been radically changed this offseason, though. Matt Ryan brought back former Falcons receiver Olamide Zaccheaus and also signed Jahan Dotson and drafted Zachariah Branch at wide receiver.
At tight end Ryan re-signed ex-Falcons star Austin Hooper and at running back Brian Robinson Jr. has replaced Tyler Allgeier as the No. 2 behind Bijan Robinson. Free agent addition Tyler Goodson project as the RB3.
With all those new pieces it's difficult to predict how the rest of the pecking order will go in the passing game beyond the top three Musketeers. Pro Football Focus ****** yst Gordon McGuinness believes the fourth option may fall to rookie receiver Zachariah Branch.
"The concern is that Atlanta doesn't have much else to get excited about at the position. Free-agent additions Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus both earned PFF receiving grades below 60.0 and averaged fewer than 1.00 yards per route run in 2025. They do have Kyle Pitts at tight end and Bijan Robinson at running back, who combined for 213 targets last year, but don't be shocked to see rookie third-round draft pick Zachariah Brand finish fourth on this team in targets."

#falcons #bijan #zachariah #back