Darnell

Mooney

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.

Only five players for the Falcons received targets in Week 15, and one of them was something called a Charlie Woerner. Still, Mooney was ineffective again, and he hasn’t “taken advantage” of the absence of Drake London. Mooney shouldn’t be in fantasy lineups going forward, and that includes Week 16 against the Cardinals.

Falcons WR Darnell Mooney is, unfortunately, just a dart-throw FLEX option with London sidelined. Mooney has totaled 45-plus receiving yards just twice this season. Falcons TE Kyle Pitts will continue operating as the No. 1 pass catcher. He should be started as a high-end TE1.

Mooney nearly made an incredible touchdown grab late in the first half on a moon ball from Kirk Cousins. The play was eventually ruled an incomplete pass after replay showed Mooney stepping out of bounds. Mooney was arguably forced out of bounds by Seattle corner Josh Jobe. He re-established himself in bounds and sped ahead to corral the pass, but the refs didn’t see it that way. They said he stepped out on his own, making him an ineligible receiver. To add salt to the wound, Mooney dropped a low throw by Cousins in the end zone in the second half. Mooney can’t get anything going going this year and the absence of Drake London has changed nothing for him. He will be a WR6 when the Falcons take on the Bucs next week.