Saquon Barkley vs Drake London

“If anything were to happen to Saquon Barkley , Bigsby would be a huge beneficiary for fantasy.”

“31 10 21 James Cook 13 5 8 Josh Jacobs 7 15 -8 Saquon Barkley 2 13 -11 Bucky Irving 10 33 -23 In past years, so many top RBs have gotten hurt that the Zero (or hero) RB draft strategies have become popular.”

“Likely everyone’s biggest question around the Eagles is, can Saquon Barkley bounce back in 2026? The simple answer is yes; it is in the range of outcomes. However, the reality is that Saquon is 29 and getting older.”

“For 2025, Saquon had an 8% greater success rate running Outside vs Inside Zone .”

“While a minor post-Super Bowl efficiency dip was baked into 2025 projections, Saquon Barkley ’s drop from RB4 draft capital to an RB14 positional finish exposed severe infrastructure cracks.”

“After finishing last year as the RB14, fantasy players should avoid drafting Barkley as a mid-range RB1.”

“Saquon Barkley (RB – PHI) After running laps around the position in 2024, Saquon Barkley’s finish of RB14 was a shock. Despite only missing one game, he scored 214 fantasy points compared to the 339 points he scored in 2024.”

“Given the season he had in 2024 and the expectations created for gamers, Barkley may have produced the most disappointing 1,413-yard, 9-touchdown season in history. Regression was certainly expected coming off his historic run the year before, and a lot went wrong for this offense.”

“Add this all up — plus another 300+ projected touches — and Barkley could be looking at another top-five season at running back at a significant discount on Fantrax. He has a realistic path to another 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 10+ touchdowns.”

“With a new offensive coordinator and a healthy offensive line, it's not hard to start seeing the positives for Barkley. The Eagles running back is the undoubted No. 1 RB on an offense that will score points.”

“Barkley had an absurd number of touches in 2024 and ran hot on explosive runs. Once he and the Eagles were hit with regression, it was no wonder things crashed back to Earth.”

“Over the last two seasons, Barkley has averaged just 35 receptions for 275 receiving yards and two touchdowns. A decline in per-touch efficiency, as he nears 30, is also working against him, as he has steadily transitioned away from being a big-play threat and into more of a volume-based option at running back.”

“London was on a tear before a PCL injury blunted his momentum and his statistical finish to the season. He topped 100 yards receiving in five out of nine games to start the season before the injury, then had 109 yards and a touchdown combined over the final three after he returned.”

“London was on his way to another stellar season in 2025 before a PCL injury in Week 11 derailed him, limiting him to 12 games. On a per-game basis, London averaged 5.7 receptions (WR8) for 76.6 yards (WR7) with 7 touchdowns.”

“London was cooking last year before a PCL injury derailed his season in Week 11. In Weeks 1-10 last year, London was the WR6 in fantasy points per game. During that stretch, he was fourth in target share (30.3%), fourth in receiving yards per game (86.4), sixth in yards per route run (2.74), fifth in first-read share (37.6%), and seventh in first downs per route run (0.135, per Fantasy Points Data).”

“If London had a legitimate quarterback, we could draft him higher, but instead, he'll once again have to deal with mediocrity in the form of Tua Tagovailoa or Penix. London is a fine selection in round two, but look elsewhere here.”

“Over the first 10 weeks of 2025, London was the fantasy WR6, but with the Falcons stuttering and Michael Penix Jr. injured, he dropped to WR25 for the rest of the season. London has topped a 28% target share in three of his four NFL seasons. We know he'll draw targets, but it's their value that matters here.”

“London will now be under contract through the 2030 season. He's topped 100 catches and 1000 yards once (2024) in his four-year career. He finished as the WR7 and WR14 the last two seasons in fantasy points per game (half-ppr).”

“Branch's ability with the ball in his hands should guarantee him at least some role right away in an Atlanta offense without much talent at wideout outside of Drake London.”

“Top cap hit: Drake London, $7,996,200 (2.65 percent)”

“Atlanta now employs the NFL's third-highest-paid players at tight end and wide receiver, with London scoring a four-year, $141.1MM extension earlier this month.”

“Drake London is set to anchor the Falcons' receiver room once again in 2026 and well into the future.”

“The Falcons signed WR Drake London to a long-term extension with a new-money average of $35.26 million per year and a total five-year base value of $157.88 million, including a $33.656 million signing bonus and fully guaranteed compensation through the first two years of the deal.”