Darnell

Mooney

Mooney played well behind Malik Nabers and rookie Malachi Fields but was able to cash in on a 33-yard reception to pad his counting stats in the loss. Fantasy managers of Nabers will want to track his status closely in the coming week after the talented youngster briefly departed with a shoulder injury. An absence could thrust Mooney into a near every-down role against the Titans in Week 3.

The rookie wide receiver showcased a polished all-around skillset, reinforcing offseason reports that he had locked down the WR2 role opposite Malik Nabers. His 6'4, 220-pound frame was on full display as he was continually utilized as both a down-blocker and blocker in the second level on runs, something that should allow him to continue to operate as the clear-cut WR2 for the Giants throughout his rookie campaign. That said, the box scores highlights the obvious distinction that his snap rate — he led all Giants wideouts with 50 — won’t always translate to fantasy production while playing alongside Nabers and tight end Isaiah Likely, the latter two of whom commanded 17 targets on 29 Jaxson Dart pass attempts. The good news is that he played well ahead of veterans Darnell Mooney and Odell Beckham Jr., with Mooney having 39 snaps and Beckham just 11. Fantasy managers are best off viewing Fields as a high-end stash at the end of benches for the time being.

This is not much of an endorsement. With Giants WR Malik Nabers (knee) and WR Darius Slayton (core muscle) sidelined by recent surgeries, Mooney and Austin are reportedly earning targets behind TE Isaiah Likely and TE Theo Johnson at organized team activities. Mooney ($10 million) and Austin ($4.5 million) signed one-year deals with the Giants in free agency. Nothing Stapleton “saw today would indicate that there’s no room” for free agent WR Odell Beckham Jr. in this wide receiver group. Avoiding the Giants’ healthy wide receivers in spring drafts is a prudent call.

This one is a bit head-scratching. Mooney’s skillset seems to carry significant overlap with returning veteran Darius Slayton, the latter of whom recently signed a new three-year deal that ties him to the franchise through 2027. Mooney did play from the slot at a 41% frequency a season ago and the team saw Wan’Dale Robinson walk in free agency, although Mooney will have to compete with veteran holdover Isaiah Hodgins and recent signee Calvin Austin for snaps inside, if that is the vision from the team. The size of the contract seems to indicate he will have a legitimate role in the offense in 2026.

Ian Rapoport was first on the news, which will be made official before the new league year next week. Atlanta saves $7.4 million in cap space with his release. Mooney looked like a steal one year into his three-year, $39 million contract. He went for 992 yards and five scores in 2024. The wheels then fell off in 2025 and he managed just 443 yards and one score on 32 grabs. Mooney dealt with several injuries, but his drops and overall inconsistent play were too much for Atlanta to keep him around this year. He should still have several suitors in free agency.

It was a fitting end to a disastrous, injury-marred campaign for the 28-year-old after he flirted with 1,000 yards a season ago, his first in Atlanta. This time around, Mooney finishes with 443 yards in 15 games, and as one of the league’s least-efficient wideouts. He averaged under a yard per route, a ghastly number for a player on the field as much as Mooney. Mooney will blame his summer collarbone break and in-season soft-tissue issues, but it’s never a good sign when injuries are your alibi, especially at Mooney’s advancing age. Out of guaranteed money and due a preposterous $10.97 million in 2026, Mooney will either be released or restructured.

Even if he does play, Mooney’s form has been bad enough this year while fighting through injuries that he probably doesn’t need to be in fantasy lineups at this point. You can do better, especially with Drake London and Kyle Pitts also expected to play. Mooney hasn’t cracked 40 yards or scored since November 23.

He was a new addition to the injury report. The last thing Mooney needed was another ailment to battle through after his collarbone injury in the preseason has largely left him ineffective this season. He’ll be tough to trust even in a WR5/WR6 role against the Saints.

Mooney and the rest of the Atlanta pass-catchers simply weren’t needed in this one as running back Bijan Robinson amassed 229 yards of offense against one of the better run defenses in the league. It was actually fill-in receiver David Sills that led the team in receiving with 37 yards on three receptions, which tells the tale of how the game was won. Mooney finishes his regular season against the surging Saints in Week 18 after a disappointing campaign.

Mooney delivered one usable fantasy outing during WR Drake London’s knee-related absences in Weeks 12-15. The formerly effective field stretcher suffered a broken collarbone in training camp and has attempted to play through it, becoming a seldom-used member of the receiving corps whose primary role is to command the attention of opposing safeties. He should not be rostered in re-draft leagues.