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ESPN Omits Deablo as Falcons Defense Slides, London Mentioned

7/18/2026

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Summary

Story summary

ESPN’s 2026 NFL top-10 rankings listed Falcons wide receiver Drake London only as a mention and omitted Divine Deablo.
Pro Football Network ranked Bijan Robinson No. 38, Jessie Bates III No. 51, Chris Lindstrom No. 74 and Drake London No. 82 with 76.6 yards per game and 919 yards.
Divine Deablo posted 24 tackles, half a sack and a fumble recovery, and Atlanta’s defense fell from No. 2 in yards allowed after his absence.

History

Historical Context

ESPN’s first official player ranking debuted in 2008, putting rookie Calvin Johnson at the top and sparking debate over metric transparency. The controversy echoes earlier NFL metric disputes, such as Tom Brady’s 2009 season when his league-leading 28 touchdowns coincided with a career-low passer rating of 85.7. The 2026 Top-10 omission of Drake London and Divine Deablo revives these concerns.

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Story summary

ESPN’s 2026 NFL top-10 rankings listed Falcons wide receiver Drake London only as a mention and omitted Divine Deablo.
Pro Football Network ranked Bijan Robinson No. 38, Jessie Bates III No. 51, Chris Lindstrom No. 74 and Drake London No. 82 with 76.6 yards per game and 919 yards.
Divine Deablo posted 24 tackles, half a sack and a fumble recovery, and Atlanta’s defense fell from No. 2 in yards allowed after his absence.

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