As we inch toward the new season, the ever-changing NFL landscape has player fantasy values constantly on the move. Whether you’re used to the dynasty platform or are still learning the rules, let’s dive into the latest dynasty fantasy football value of Darnell Mooney.
Darnell Mooney’s Dynasty Outlook and Value
When Darnell Mooney managed to post 631 yards as a fifth-round rookie, everyone should’ve taken notice. It was a very positive sign for his future outlook, and sure enough, Mooney has emerged into a legitimate starting wide receiver.
From a fantasy perspective, Mooney took a huge step forward in his second season. He commanded a massive 26.7% target share and topped 1,000 yards receiving. As a result, many fantasy managers expected a true third-year breakout that would see Mooney further improve upon his 12.9 fantasy points per game.
Instead, Mooney’s production regressed considerably. He had the worst season of his career, averaging just 8.5 ppg.
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Mooney was miscast as the Chicago Bears’ WR1. While undoubtedly a talented player, he’s not a No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL and should be a WR2. But nothing really changed about Mooney’s usage anyway. He still saw a 25.2% target share, and his targets-per-route-run rate remained roughly the same. Mooney only scored two touchdowns, but he also only played in 12 games.
The real problem? Volume. A 26.7% target share got Mooney 140 targets in 2021. Yet, in 2022, a 25.2% target share got him 61 targets in 12 games. The Bears went from attempting 542 passes to 377. Justin Fields’ running certainly contributed to the drop, but 377 pass attempts are shockingly low.
Natural regression should lead to Fields attempting more passes in 2023 and beyond. But will Fields even be Mooney’s quarterback?
The uncertainty surrounding whether Chicago will trade Fields or the No. 1 overall pick impacts Mooney’s value as well. It’s just not something we can really predict. As a result, the focus should be on Mooney’s talent and what he’s capable of.
Darnell Mooney’s Fantasy Ranking
Mooney is 25 years old and entering the final year of his rookie contract. Unfortunately, we know very little about what Mooney’s situation will look like for the rest of his career.
What we do know is Mooney is best utilized as a WR2 opposite an alpha WR1. If he does leave Chicago in 2024, I suspect that is the role a new team would sign him to play. Where Mooney ends up will dictate how much fantasy value he has.
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I would consider Mooney — like many players in fantasy — is someone worth acquiring if the price is cheap or worth trading away if someone is willing to overpay. His ceiling is likely a mid-WR2 in fantasy. More likely, he’s a WR3/4 going forward.
Mooney is currently our WR42 (No. 106 overall) in our dynasty Superflex rankings. If he returns to the guy we saw in 2021, anyone selecting Mooney in dynasty startup drafts will be getting quite the value. If he has a repeat of 2022, however, Mooney will end up being a wasted pick.