Darnell

Mooney

Dismal. This was Mooney’s worst game since Kirk Cousins replaced Michael Penix Jr. under center, but as fantasy managers know, his best game featured three receptions. Mooney is losing compiling looks to Kyle Pitts, and isn’t muscling out the journeymen wideouts behind him for looks in the receiver corps. That’s a tough way to make a WR4 living, especially for rough matchups like next week’s date with the Seahawks. Only the fact that four teams are on bye has Mooney in the top 48 mix for that one.

The Falcons seem intent on playing it safe with their superstar wideout during the final weeks of another lost season. It wouldn’t be a surprise if London doesn’t see the field again in 2025 after sustaining a knee injury in Week 11. Look for Darnell Mooney to continue functioning as the Falcons’ de factor WR1 with London sideline. Mooney had 71 yards and a touchdown on three targets last week against the Saints.

Mooney got another chance to operate as the Falcons’ WR1 with Drake London out in Week 12. With Kirk Cousins back at quarterback, he made a 16-yard reception on the sideline for first catch of the game. He only saw two targets the rest of the game, one being a 49-yard deep throw from Kirk Cousins for Mooney’s first touchdown of the season. Having Cousins at quarterback may mean more deep throws for Mooney, but it is still difficult to trust the 28-year-old on a weekly basis. Mooney is a boom-or-bust WR3 for Week 13 against the Jets.

It’s potentially bad new for London drafters who expected him back in Week 13 and beyond after head coach Raheem Morris said on Wednesday that he was hopeful the star wideout could come back after a one-week absence. Pelissero said London’s knee issue is considered “tricky” to manage. The Falcons could drop out of postseason contention if they lose to the Saints in Week 12, making it more likely the team would rest London and not rush him back into game action. Until his return, Darnell Mooney will function as the de facto WR1 for Atlanta.

Morris confirmed London will miss the Falcons’ Week 12 game against the Saints. The head coach’s comments don’t inspire a lot of confidence that London will be able to suit up in Week 13. With Michael Penix (knee) done for the season and the team’s postseason hopes dwindling, the Falcons will likely be cautious with their superstar wideout. With London sidelined, Darnell Mooney becomes the team’s WR1. Kyle Pitts should see an increase in targets as well.

Mooney caught three passes in his previous three games combined. Reeling in three balls in this game is an improvement, but it was still a rough day for Mooney. He continued to struggle with drops and averaged an inefficient 4.9 yards per target. Drake London got injured late in this game and could miss Week 12. Mooney will cling to WR4 life if London is out. He will otherwise be off the fantasy radar entirely.

That does help explain why Mooney has had such a rough season, both with being able to stay on the field and his struggles on it. A year after a 64/992/5 season, Mooney has caught more than one pass just three times this season, hasn’t scored, and has cracked 50 yards just once. This is useful context for why — until we see a good Mooney game, we’re probably going to have a hard time recommending him in all but deep leagues.

Mooney committed multiple drops on a day when the Falcons desperately needed a second pass-catcher to step up. He has now caught exactly one pass in three straight games. Drops and missed opportunities have been a headline feature of his slump. Mooney has been banged up throughout the year, which could be contributing to his poor play. Either way, fantasy managers should put him on the bench until he turns things around.

Mooney has fallen to the No. 4 pass-catching role in the Falcons’ offense. Robinson and Pitts get the short and intermediate targets while London is a definitive WR1 with a full route tree, leaving Mooney with marginal targets on the outside. He is averaging just two receptions per game this season and has become an afterthought in the Falcons offense. Mooney can be safely dropped in shallow leagues and left on benches in 12-team leagues for Week 10 against the Colts.

Mooney was upgraded to full participation on Thursday, though his Friday participation has not yet been released. Assuming he remains a full go, his Week 9 game against the Patriots serves as somewhat of a prove-it week. The Falcons’ field-stretching wide receiver has finished in the WR3-WR4 range just twice this season. Now, in reasonably good health, Mooney enters no-excuses territory. He can be treated as a volatile FLEX option against the Patriots.