Could better times be ahead for the burner who underwhelmed after an encouraging 2021 season that saw him clear 1,000 receiving yards?
Darnell Mooney’s dynasty fantasy football value is at a crossroads as he joins the now Kirk Cousins-led Atlanta Falcons to remind us of the value we once assumed he’d regularly have.
Darnell Mooney’s Dynasty Outlook
Mooney came into the NFL with his size being a knock (5’11”, 173 pounds), but his sub-4.4-speed was enough of an asset for the Chicago Bears to invest a fifth-round pick on him in the 2020 NFL Draft.
He never earned targets at a high level during his time at Tulane, but he averaged 16.7 yards per catch and scored once every 8.1 receptions, an upside that drew interest from a handful of teams as the draft progressed.
THE BODY CONTROL AND CONCENTRATION BY DARNELL MOONEY 🤯pic.twitter.com/xsvisyOKgp
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 9, 2022
The big plays, however, haven’t translated in a meaningful way (12.2 yards per catch for his career).
He cleared 1,000 yards in his second season, but with just 11 scores in 60 games, there’s no debating that he has yet to deliver on the fantasy football potential that we thought he might have.
I would write off some of his struggles due to inconsistent quarterback play if it weren’t for his inability to earn looks. It’s one thing to be targeted with inaccurate passes, but it’s another not to see opportunities consistently.
KEEP READING: WR Dynasty Rankings
In 2022, before DJ Moore joined the Bears as the unquestioned WR1, Mooney was targeted on 19.6% of his routes, a fine number for a player that you’re hoping can make one splash play to pay off starting him. That rate, however, crashed to 13.1% last season, a number that makes producing viable fantasy numbers nearly impossible.
If I were going to invest in a player failing to get open — akin to Mooney’s profile — the average depth of target (aDOT) would have to be off the charts.
Coming out of college, we thought that might be the case, but his aDOT dipped 13.3% last season with the presence of an alpha receiver, putting him in a tough spot to offer a ceiling with a floor that is already concerningly low.
Mooney’s Dynasty Ranking
Where does Mooney land in the dynasty WR landscape going into the 2024 offseason? Here are Soppe’s latest dynasty rankings, featuring where Mooney lands in comparison to other top names at the position.
1) Ja’Marr Chase | CIN
2) Tyreek Hill | MIA
3) CeeDee Lamb | DAL
4) Justin Jefferson | MIN
5) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET
6) A.J. Brown | PHI
7) Garrett Wilson | NYJ
8) Jaylen Waddle | MIA
9) Chris Olave | NO
10) Brandon Aiyuk | SF
11) Puka Nacua | LAR
12) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND
13) Nico Collins | HOU
14) Rashee Rice | KC
15) Marvin Harrison Jr. | FA
16) DJ Moore | CHI
17) Amari Cooper | CLE
18) Drake London | ATL
19) Malik Nabers | FA
20) Tee Higgins | CIN
21) DK Metcalf | SEA
22) Stefon Diggs | HOU
23) Cooper Kupp | LAR
24) DeVonta Smith | PHI
25) Zay Flowers | BAL
26) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA
27) Davante Adams | LV
28) Mike Evans | TB
29) Tank Dell | HOU
30) Jayden Reed | GB
31) Rome Odunze | FA
32) Terry McLaurin | WAS
33) Deebo Samuel | SF
34) Calvin Ridley | TEN
35) Jordan Addison | MIN
36) Keenan Allen | CHI
37) Mike Williams | NYJ
38) George Pickens | PIT
39) Chris Godwin | TB
40) Josh Downs | IND
41) Courtland Sutton | DEN
42) Jerry Jeudy | CLE
43) Gabe Davis | JAX
44) Michael Wilson | ARI
45) Jameson Williams | DET
46) Christian Kirk | JAX
47) Troy Franklin | FA
48) Elijah Moore | CLE
49) Romeo Doubs | GB
50) DeAndre Hopkins | TEN
51) Diontae Johnson | CAR
52) Jahan Dotson | WAS
53) Dontayvion Wicks | GB
54) Khalil Shakir | BUF
55) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN
56) Christian Watson | GB
57) Xavier Worthy | FA
58) Joshua Palmer | LAC
59) Keon Coleman | FA
60) Zay Jones | JAX
61) DeMario Douglas | NE
62) Jakobi Meyers | LV
63) Treylon Burks | TEN
64) K.J. Osborn | NE
65) Marquise Brown | KC
66) Jonathan Mingo | CAR
67) Tyler Lockett | SEA
68) Quentin Johnston | LAC
69) Noah Brown | HOU
70) Jalin Hyatt | NYG
71) Michael Thomas | FA
72) Brandin Cooks | DAL
73) Kendrick Bourne | NE
74) Ladd McConkey | FA
75) Brian Thomas Jr. | FA
76) Tutu Atwell | LAR
77) Roman Wilson | FA
78) Adonai Mitchell | FA
79) Adam Thielen | CAR
80) Cedric Tillman | CLE
81) Rashid Shaheed | NO
82) Trey Palmer | TB
83) Darius Slayton | NYG
84) Wan’Dale Robinson | NYG
85) Darnell Mooney | ATL
86) Kadarius Toney | KC
87) Rashod Bateman | BAL
88) John Metchie III | HOU
89) Rondale Moore | ATL
90) Skyy Moore | KC
Should You Trade Mooney in Dynasty?
Are you considering trading Mooney? Our free PFN Trade Analyzer allows you to find the best trade offer to make in seconds!
A move out of Chicago should result in an uptick in his value, but that doesn’t mean he is poised to be an asset. I’d be willing to take anything I could get in a trade. There is likely a manager in your league who would like cheap exposure to a Falcons offense that most are optimistic about, so I’d recommend testing the waters, even if it’s not a simple one-for-one deal.
MORE: Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Value Chart
Mooney has earned just 6.0 targets per game for his career. Players at that level of volume need touchdown equity to matter (think rookie Jahan Dotson or the ever-frustrating Gabe Davis rollercoaster).
Mooney could improve in that area, but with a touchdown once every 32.7 targets through four seasons, I haven’t seen enough to think that he is going to develop into someone that we can start. However, I will admit that his path to viable production is more clear in Atlanta than it was ever going to be in Chicago.
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