Falcons' Darnell Mooney: Week 3 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
Mooney should have a prominent role for the Falcons all season as the No. 2 receiver behind Drake London, and his upside was on full display in Week 2 at the Eagles with three catches for 88 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. As Kirk Cousins gets more comfortable in his comeback from last year's Achilles injury, everyone in Atlanta should benefit, including Mooney. He's a potential No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues, and he's worth adding for at least 10 percent of your remaining FAB.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Darnell Mooney: Week 3 Adds (WR Preview)
Rotowire
Through two weeks Mooney has a 19% target share and leads the Falcons with 153 targeted air yards. If Kirk Cousins can build on Week 2, Mooney could be a weekly upside WR3. He should at least be rostered in all leagues that are PPR and start three wide receivers. He also has contingent upside if something happens to Drake London.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Darnell Mooney: Shows off big-play flair Monday
Rotowire
Mooney brought in three of seven targets for 88 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons' 22-21 win over the Eagles on Monday night.
Mooney shared the team lead in targets with Drake London while setting the pace in receiving yards. The speedster got there with three chunk plays through the air, beginning with a 41-yard touchdown grab late in the third quarter. Mooney tacked on catches of 21 and 26 yards on back-to-back plays in Atlanta's game-winning fourth-quarter drive, helping set up an eventual decisive touchdown reception by Drake London. Mooney appears to have plenty of room to grow within Zac Robinson's scheme and clearly is developing some chemistry with Kirk Cousins, affording the fifth-year pro plenty of momentum heading into a Week 3 home showdown against the Chiefs on Sunday night.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Darnell Mooney: Quiet in Falcons debut
Rotowire
Mooney caught one of three targets for 15 yards during Sunday's 18-10 loss to the Steelers.
Mooney operated as the No. 2 wideout, playing 53 of 56 offensive snaps. However, Mooney and Drake London (two receptions for 15 yards) were kept quiet, as Ray-Ray McCloud led Atlanta's wideouts in receiving. Mooney's snap share is promising, but the Falcons' offense will need to find their rhythm for Mooney to generate fantasy-relevant numbers. This was Kirk Cousins' first game since his Achilles injury, as the veteran surprisingly didn't see any action during the preseason. Cousins' comfort level in OC Zac Robinson's scheme will likely be the key factor in Mooney's fantasy value this season.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Darnell Mooney: Week 1 Adds (WR Preview)
Rotowire
These are the best circumstances of Mooney's career. He has Kirk Cousins at QB and he has Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts to draw attention. He won't be a consistent option, be he'll have spike week potential every week, which is exactly what you should want from a WR4 or second flex.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Darnell Mooney: Week 1 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
The Falcons added Mooney from Chicago this offseason to be their No. 2 receiver opposite Drake London. Mooney will likely be third on the team in targets behind London and Kyle Pitts, but Kirk Cousins should still make Mooney viable several weeks throughout the season. He's a great receiver to stash on your bench, and he could develop into a starter in three-receiver leagues.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Darnell Mooney: Locked in for key role
Rotowire
The Falcons figure to be heavily reliant on Mooney and Drake London at wide receiver this coming season, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
The Falcons have sent multiple signals that they expect Mooney to bounce back from a quiet 2023 in Chicago, first giving him $26 million guaranteed on a three-year, $39 million contract and now waiting until the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft before taking a wide receiver (Casey Washington). There's no serious competition for the No. 2 WR job, though it is possible Mooney ends up a distant fourth behind London, RB Bijan Robinson and TE Kyle Pitts in terms of prioritization in Atlanta' offense. Still, it's not a bad spot to be in, especially for a thin, fast receiver who projects better as a deep threat than as a high-volume guy.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Darnell Mooney: Joining Kirk Cousins in Atlanta
Rotowire
Mooney and the Falcons have reached agreement on a three-year contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The deal reportedly is for $39 million, including $26 million in guarantees. It's a good landing spot for Mooney's fantasy value, with the Falcons also set to sign QB Kirk Cousins (Achilles) and lacking depth at WR behind No. 1 option Drake London. The former Bear came into the NFL as a fifth-round pick and had 1,686 receiving yards over his first two seasons, but a severe ankle injury cut his third year short, and he then dropped off to only 414 yards in 15 regular-season games in 2023. If nothing else, Mooney's 4.38 speed should help keep defensive backs honest and leave more space underneath for London, TE Kyle Pitts and RB Bijan Robinson.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Darnell Mooney: Not playing in finale
Rotowire
Mooney (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Packers.
Mooney will sit out the season finale after he has been unable to resume practicing in any capacity since experiencing concussion symptoms following the Bears' Week 16 win over the Cardinals. Before missing the team's final two games of the 2023 campaign, Mooney was active for each of the first 15 contests and recorded a 31-414-1 receiving line on 61 targets. The 26-year-old is scheduled to become a free agent this offseason, and while the Bears could look to retain him, Mooney could be pushed down a spot or two on the depth chart after he was one of the NFL's least-productive No. 2 receivers when healthy in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Darnell Mooney: Remains in concussion protocol
Rotowire
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday that Mooney remains in the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.
Mooney sat out Chicago's Week 17 win over the Falcons and remains in the protocol as the Bears prepare to face the Packers in their season finale this Sunday. With Chicago eliminated from playoff contention and Mooney set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, the team has little incentive to rush the wide receiver back into action unless he's able to clear the five-step protocol in advance of the weekend.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Darnell Mooney: Won't play Week 17
Rotowire
Mooney (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Mooney entered concussion protocol earlier in the week and failed to gain clearance before Sunday's game. If he clears concussion protocol next week, Mooney could be available for Chicago's season finale against the Packers. Otherwise, he'll finish his fourth NFL season with 31 catches for 414 yards and one touchdown on 61 targets.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Darnell Mooney: Sits out another practice
Rotowire
Mooney (concussion) didn't participate in Thursday's practice.
In the wake of Mooney self-reporting concussion symptoms Monday, he has yet to mix into any drills during Week 17 prep. He has Friday's practice available to him to show any sign of progress through the protocol for head injuries, but another absence likely would imply upcoming inactive status Sunday against the Falcons. If Mooney is out this weekend, Tyler Scott, Equanimeous St. Brown (pectoral), Velus Jones and Trent Taylor would be the candidates for WR reps alongside the Bears' top option DJ Moore.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Darnell Mooney: No practice reps Wednesday
Rotowire
Mooney (concussion) didn't practice Wednesday.
Earlier Wednesday, head coach Matt Eberflus revealed that Mooney self-reported concussion symptoms Monday, and the wide receiver has since been placed in the five-step protocol for head injuries, per Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. If Mooney doesn't resume practicing as at least a limited participant by Friday, he would likely be in danger of missing his first game of the season Sunday versus Atlanta. In such a scenario, Equanimeous St. Brown (pectoral), Tyler Scott and Velus Jones could get more run behind the Bears' top wide receiver, DJ Moore.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Darnell Mooney: In concussion protocol
Rotowire
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday that Mooney is in concussion protocol, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.
Mooney self-reported concussion symptoms Monday and has been in the five-step protocol ever since. The receiver appears set to miss Wednesday's practice as a result, and he could be in danger of sitting out Sunday's game against the Falcons, too. With tight end Cole Kmet (knee) also not practicing Wednesday, Chicago's pass-catching corps is suddenly looking dangerously thin behind top target DJ Moore.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Darnell Mooney: Another poor perfromance
Rotowire
Mooney caught two passes for five yards in the Bears' 27-16 win over the Cardinals on Sunday.
Mooney was third on the team with four targets, but for the third time in the last four contests, he was held to fewer than 15 yards. On the season, he hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 1, and Mooney has surpassed 53 yards once in a game all season. His recent struggles make the veteran receiver tough to trust in fantasy lineups.
Mooney caught two passes for 14 yards in the Bears' 20-17 loss to the Browns on Sunday.
Mooney tied DJ Moore for the team lead with eight targets. However, on the last play of the game, a Hail Mary pass was deflected into Mooney's arms, but he was unable to secure the ball, costing the Bears a victory. Although Mooney has 15 targets over his last two games, he has only caught four of those passes. The increased opportunity gives him potential to surprise with a productive game, but the veteran has surpassed 53 yards only once all season while not finding the end zone since Week 1. His lack of reliability makes him difficult to trust in fantasy lineups.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Darnell Mooney: Targeted seven times in win
Rotowire
Mooney caught two passes for 44 yards in the Bears' 28-13 win over the Lions on Sunday.
Mooney posted over 24 yards for the first time in four games. He also has failed to find the end zone since Week 1. Fantasy managers who use Mooney in lineups need to hope he hauls in a long pass, or his upside is limited.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Darnell Mooney: Another modest performance
Rotowire
Mooney caught two passes for six yards in the Bears' 12-10 win over the Vikings on Monday.
Mooney was reasonably productive when Tyson Bagent was the starting quarterback. In the last two games with Justin Fields under center, Mooney has three catches for 30 yards on four targets. His low floor and limited upside makes him difficult to count on each week.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Darnell Mooney: Targeted once in defeat
Rotowire
Mooney caught a 24-yard pass on his only target in the Bears' 31-26 loss to the Lions on Sunday.
Mooney wasn't a major part of the Chicago game plan in Justin Fields' return to the lineup. Mooney has two or fewer receptions in four of his last six games, making him a low-upside fantasy option.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Darnell Mooney: Held to two catches Thursday
Rotowire
Mooney brought in two of four targets for 14 yards in the Bears' 16-13 win over the Panthers on Thursday night.
Mooney was coming off a season-best 5-82 line on six targets in Week 9 against the Saints, but his production took a notable dive in the low-scoring win. The speedster was a clear complementary option behind top targets DJ Moore and Cole Kmet, and even rookie back Roschon Johnson saw more targets (six) than Mooney. The fourth-year pro could potentially see a boost in his outlook if Justin Fields (thumb) is able to return for a Week 11 road battle against the Lions on Nov. 19.
