The Atlanta Falcons‘ offense has a much different look to it, with a new quarterback and a new coach running the show. They also added a new wide receiver, Darnell Mooney, to line up opposite Drake London in 2024.
Does the addition of Cousins and a change of scheme boost London’s fantasy value, and can Mooney re-invigorate his career and fantasy relevance in the Falcons’ offense?
Drake London’s Fantasy Outlook and Projections
- PPR Fantasy Points: 295.4 (159.7 non-PPR)
- Receptions: 135.7
- Receiving Yards: 1130.5
- Receiving TDs: 7.5
It is hard not to like London’s potential, but it appears that everyone else has seen it as well, as his late second-round ADP (borderline WR1 status for a receiver with under 1,800 yards and just six scores total through two seasons) reflects as much.
By drafting him in the range of Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave, and Michael Pittman Jr., you’re leaving little room for a positive return on your investment.
I’d prefer a similarly built receiver in Nico Collins, who has more quarterback upside, even though the depth chart is more crowded, or maybe the elevated floor of the aforementioned Pittman, both of whom are currently being drafted just after London.
Could London be a buy as he and Cousins look to develop a connection in the early going? There are a lot of moving pieces in this offense, and with a star running back in Bijan Robinson, who is easy to force-feed while the passing game is ironed out, it wouldn’t shock me if London’s September is a bit of a letdown.
Be patient if that’s the case — his price is a little prohibitive now, but managers are quick to overreact, and that could open up a buying window for those looking to play the long game.
– Kyle Soppe, Fantasy Football Analyst
Darnell Mooney’s Fantasy Outlook and Projections
- PPR Fantasy Points: 134.4 (83.2 non-PPR)
- Receptions: 51.3
- Receiving Yards: 659.8
- Receiving TDs: 2.4
We just saw Kirk Cousins feed his WR1 at a high level and contribute to Jordan Addison scoring 10 times as a rookie, a level of success that puts Mooney on the radar of fantasy managers.
Of course, what Mooney has put on film is concerning. His yards per route tanked last season (0.89, 74th of 80 qualifiers), and his aDOT (average depth of target) was a career low.
Mooney’s path to success this season is to make big plays, something fantasy managers would be wise to require proof of before counting on it (Dontayvion Wicks in Green Bay and Rashid Shaheed of New Orleans are better bets down the draft board).
– Soppe