Ray-Ray

McCloud

McCloud has been signed to the Giants’ practice squad. The move reunites McCloud with Giants head coach Brian Daboll. The two spent McCloud’s 2018 rookie season with the Bills, where Daboll served as the offensive coordinator. McCloud barely played that year, catching 5-of-6 targets for 36 yards, but the 29-year-old wide receiver has become a capable returner and can fill in as a rotational receiver as needed. Injuries have thinned out the Giants’ perimeter wide receiver corps, so a Week 8 call-up from the practice squad is in the cards for McCloud. He is not on the FLEX radar in 12-team re-draft leagues, though.

McCloud was sent home by the Falcons last week over “a private matter,” and it seems like the distance did not make whatever the team and McCloud don’t see eye-to-eye about any better. The 29-year-old wideout is talented enough to catch on in another receiver room if the issue isn’t a big deal to other teams.

Sure, that’s a normal Friday storyline. Morris also noted that it wasn’t related to the firing of wideouts coach Ike Hilliard earlier in the season. Casey Washington figures to see a bigger role in McCloud’s absence.

Any hopes that McCloud would see an increased role with Darnell Mooney (hamstring) can be cast aside. McCloud who ranks third this season in snaps among Falcons receivers, won’t be suiting up on Monday, giving way to backups Casey Washington and Jamal Agnew to see bigger roles. McCloud has caught six passes for 64 yards this season.

McCloud has taken a backseat in the Falcons’ offense since Darnell Mooney (shoulder) returned to the lineup. He was mostly utilized on crossing routes and shallow targets in motion, with one of his two catches coming when Kirk Cousins entered the game. McCloud is off fantasy radars unless one of the Falcons’ two leading receivers miss time.

McCloud took on a full-time role in the Atlanta offense with Darnell Mooney sidelined with a shoulder injury. Playing mostly from the slot, McCloud did most of his damage on a 25-yard catch-and-run reception in the fourth quarter. If the Falcons remains as pass heavy as they were in Week 1’s loss, and if Mooney remains out, McCloud could be an option in deeper fantasy formats next week against the Vikings.

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.

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.

McCloud’s day was highlighted by a 42-yard diving grab in the first half on a nicely thrown ball from Michael Penix. McCloud had a career year in 2024 as the Falcons’ primary slot guy, catching 62 balls for 689 yards and one touchdown. He had four games with at least six receptions, most of them coming in the first half of the season. McCloud, 28, is signed through the 2025 season.

Mooney, who sustained a shoulder injury during practice this week, will miss the final game of the regular season — a must-win matchup for the Falcons. His absence should be a fantasy boost for Kyle Pitts and Ray-Ray McCloud against a terrible Panthers coverage unit. The Falcons also declared CB Kevin King, ILB JD Bertrand, DL Brandon Dorlus, OL Elijah Wilkinson, and T Brandon Parker inactive against Carolina.