KhaDarel

Hodge

That’ll end his season as the Falcons aren’t going to the playoffs. Hodge went for 3/31 on eight targets against the Dolphins in Week 8 and was held to two catchless targets on the rest of the season. It was a land of contrasts. The soon-to-be 31-year-old veteran is signed to a reasonable $3.36 million cap figure in 2026.

Since receiving eight targets in Week 8, Hodge has one target in four games and now is a healthy scratch. London didn’t practice all week and is a question mark for Week 14. Star guard Chris Lindstrom (toe) continues to play through an injury on the questionable line.

Hodge was the primary beneficiary of Drake London’s injury-related absence this week. He led the team’s wideouts in targets and only trailed Kyle Pitts by one look. Hodge logged a 26 percent target share. If London misses another week because of his hip injury, Hodge could be in line for a strong target share against the Pats in Week 9. He would be a volume-based WR4 in that scenario, though London’s return would take him off the fantasy menu entirely.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter believes Mooney will be a game-time decision. Should Mooney not be able to play in Week 1, it’s possible that Ray-Ray McCloud could sneak up as a cheap DFS punt or impromptu start in deeper leagues. KhaDarel Hodge would likely start outside.

Morris’ comments about the injured Mooney suggest the wideout could miss significant time in the regular season. “Kind of just waiting and rolling. Kind of a week-to-week basis,” Morris said of Mooney, who will miss training camp with his shoulder injury. “I feel good about getting him back healthy and ready to go. When? I don’t know. We’ll have him back healthy this year, though.” Mooney in 2024 was a mainstay in two-receiver sets and had 992 receiving yards and five touchdowns as Atlanta’s WR2. His absence would open more routes and targets for KhaDarel Hodge and Ray-Ray McCloud, the team’s primary slot receiver.

This elevation is, of course, contingent on Darnell Mooney (shoulder) continuing to be out. Raheem Morris was non-committal on Mooney’s status for Week 1, which could put Hodge into a fantasy-viable role in deeper leagues. The unheralded 30-year-old could be this offense’s new Mack Hollins if Mooney misses extended time.

Brutal. Mooney injured himself diving for a sideline pass on Thursday. It is unclear whether this is the same shoulder that he injured late last season. The Falcons do not have an obvious fill-in option for No. 2 wide receiver duties, though the team can do worse than KhaDarel Hodge and Ray-Ray McCloud. Veteran WR DJ Chark was signed this afternoon. Hopefully, Mooney makes a swift recovery and filling his shoes at practice becomes a non-issue.

Hodge made his first Pro Bowl appearance last season, serving as a special teams player for the NFC squad. Hodge contributes minimally on offense but the team clearly values his services outside of that.

Hodge has spent the last two years with the Falcons, totaling 27 receptions for 434 yards and one touchdown over that span. The veteran receiver is little more than a depth signing at this point and may need to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster in training camp. In addition to Hodge, the Falcons also re-signed offensive lineman Storm Norton, who has started 21 games in his five-year career.

KhaDarel Hodge finishes the 2023 season third among Falcons’ receivers with 232 receiving yards on 14 catches. He saw just 22 targets all season, so his role certainly wasn’t a large one, but he did have three catches for over 20 yards and averaged 16.6 yards per catch, so he performed when he was asked. Like most receivers in Atlanta, Hodge is set to become a free agent, so his fantasy value will depend on where he lands but considering his 232 yards this season were a career-high, it’s unlikely he will become a fantasy asset regardless of where he ends up.