Mooney left Chicago this offseason to sign in Atlanta on a three-year deal for $39 million, including $26 million guaranteed. The signing suggests Mooney will play a key role, and he's expected to start opposite Drake London, making him the expected No. 3 target in the passing game behind London and Kyle Pitts. You should plan on taking Mooney with a late-round flier in all leagues, and hopefully, he develops a quick rapport with Kirk Cousins. In Chicago, Mooney looked poised for stardom after a standout second year in 2021 with 81 catches, 1,055 yards, and four touchdowns on 140 targets. But injuries and a struggling passing game for the Bears never allowed Mooney to build off that campaign, and he averaged 8.5 PPR points per game or less in each of the past two seasons. The Falcons passing game is on the rise this year with the addition of Cousins, and Mooney should benefit, which should make him a surprise Fantasy option at the end of your bench.
These are the best circumstances of Mooney's career. He has Kirk Cousins at QB and he has Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts to draw attention. He won't be a consistent option, be he'll have spike week potential every week, which is exactly what you should want from a WR4 or second flex.
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Falcons' Darnell Mooney: Week 1 Waiver Priority List
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The Falcons added Mooney from Chicago this offseason to be their No. 2 receiver opposite Drake London. Mooney will likely be third on the team in targets behind London and Kyle Pitts, but Kirk Cousins should still make Mooney viable several weeks throughout the season. He's a great receiver to stash on your bench, and he could develop into a starter in three-receiver leagues.
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Falcons' Darnell Mooney: Locked in for key role
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The Falcons figure to be heavily reliant on Mooney and Drake London at wide receiver this coming season, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
The Falcons have sent multiple signals that they expect Mooney to bounce back from a quiet 2023 in Chicago, first giving him $26 million guaranteed on a three-year, $39 million contract and now waiting until the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft before taking a wide receiver (Casey Washington). There's no serious competition for the No. 2 WR job, though it is possible Mooney ends up a distant fourth behind London, RB Bijan Robinson and TE Kyle Pitts in terms of prioritization in Atlanta' offense. Still, it's not a bad spot to be in, especially for a thin, fast receiver who projects better as a deep threat than as a high-volume guy.
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Falcons' Darnell Mooney: Joining Kirk Cousins in Atlanta
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Mooney and the Falcons have reached agreement on a three-year contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The deal reportedly is for $39 million, including $26 million in guarantees. It's a good landing spot for Mooney's fantasy value, with the Falcons also set to sign QB Kirk Cousins (Achilles) and lacking depth at WR behind No. 1 option Drake London. The former Bear came into the NFL as a fifth-round pick and had 1,686 receiving yards over his first two seasons, but a severe ankle injury cut his third year short, and he then dropped off to only 414 yards in 15 regular-season games in 2023. If nothing else, Mooney's 4.38 speed should help keep defensive backs honest and leave more space underneath for London, TE Kyle Pitts and RB Bijan Robinson.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: Not playing in finale
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Mooney (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Packers.
Mooney will sit out the season finale after he has been unable to resume practicing in any capacity since experiencing concussion symptoms following the Bears' Week 16 win over the Cardinals. Before missing the team's final two games of the 2023 campaign, Mooney was active for each of the first 15 contests and recorded a 31-414-1 receiving line on 61 targets. The 26-year-old is scheduled to become a free agent this offseason, and while the Bears could look to retain him, Mooney could be pushed down a spot or two on the depth chart after he was one of the NFL's least-productive No. 2 receivers when healthy in 2023.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: Remains in concussion protocol
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Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday that Mooney remains in the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.
Mooney sat out Chicago's Week 17 win over the Falcons and remains in the protocol as the Bears prepare to face the Packers in their season finale this Sunday. With Chicago eliminated from playoff contention and Mooney set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, the team has little incentive to rush the wide receiver back into action unless he's able to clear the five-step protocol in advance of the weekend.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: Won't play Week 17
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Mooney (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Mooney entered concussion protocol earlier in the week and failed to gain clearance before Sunday's game. If he clears concussion protocol next week, Mooney could be available for Chicago's season finale against the Packers. Otherwise, he'll finish his fourth NFL season with 31 catches for 414 yards and one touchdown on 61 targets.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: Sits out another practice
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Mooney (concussion) didn't participate in Thursday's practice.
In the wake of Mooney self-reporting concussion symptoms Monday, he has yet to mix into any drills during Week 17 prep. He has Friday's practice available to him to show any sign of progress through the protocol for head injuries, but another absence likely would imply upcoming inactive status Sunday against the Falcons. If Mooney is out this weekend, Tyler Scott, Equanimeous St. Brown (pectoral), Velus Jones and Trent Taylor would be the candidates for WR reps alongside the Bears' top option DJ Moore.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: No practice reps Wednesday
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Mooney (concussion) didn't practice Wednesday.
Earlier Wednesday, head coach Matt Eberflus revealed that Mooney self-reported concussion symptoms Monday, and the wide receiver has since been placed in the five-step protocol for head injuries, per Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. If Mooney doesn't resume practicing as at least a limited participant by Friday, he would likely be in danger of missing his first game of the season Sunday versus Atlanta. In such a scenario, Equanimeous St. Brown (pectoral), Tyler Scott and Velus Jones could get more run behind the Bears' top wide receiver, DJ Moore.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: In concussion protocol
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Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday that Mooney is in concussion protocol, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.
Mooney self-reported concussion symptoms Monday and has been in the five-step protocol ever since. The receiver appears set to miss Wednesday's practice as a result, and he could be in danger of sitting out Sunday's game against the Falcons, too. With tight end Cole Kmet (knee) also not practicing Wednesday, Chicago's pass-catching corps is suddenly looking dangerously thin behind top target DJ Moore.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: Another poor perfromance
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Mooney caught two passes for five yards in the Bears' 27-16 win over the Cardinals on Sunday.
Mooney was third on the team with four targets, but for the third time in the last four contests, he was held to fewer than 15 yards. On the season, he hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 1, and Mooney has surpassed 53 yards once in a game all season. His recent struggles make the veteran receiver tough to trust in fantasy lineups.
Mooney caught two passes for 14 yards in the Bears' 20-17 loss to the Browns on Sunday.
Mooney tied DJ Moore for the team lead with eight targets. However, on the last play of the game, a Hail Mary pass was deflected into Mooney's arms, but he was unable to secure the ball, costing the Bears a victory. Although Mooney has 15 targets over his last two games, he has only caught four of those passes. The increased opportunity gives him potential to surprise with a productive game, but the veteran has surpassed 53 yards only once all season while not finding the end zone since Week 1. His lack of reliability makes him difficult to trust in fantasy lineups.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: Targeted seven times in win
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Mooney caught two passes for 44 yards in the Bears' 28-13 win over the Lions on Sunday.
Mooney posted over 24 yards for the first time in four games. He also has failed to find the end zone since Week 1. Fantasy managers who use Mooney in lineups need to hope he hauls in a long pass, or his upside is limited.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: Another modest performance
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Mooney caught two passes for six yards in the Bears' 12-10 win over the Vikings on Monday.
Mooney was reasonably productive when Tyson Bagent was the starting quarterback. In the last two games with Justin Fields under center, Mooney has three catches for 30 yards on four targets. His low floor and limited upside makes him difficult to count on each week.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: Targeted once in defeat
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Mooney caught a 24-yard pass on his only target in the Bears' 31-26 loss to the Lions on Sunday.
Mooney wasn't a major part of the Chicago game plan in Justin Fields' return to the lineup. Mooney has two or fewer receptions in four of his last six games, making him a low-upside fantasy option.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: Held to two catches Thursday
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Mooney brought in two of four targets for 14 yards in the Bears' 16-13 win over the Panthers on Thursday night.
Mooney was coming off a season-best 5-82 line on six targets in Week 9 against the Saints, but his production took a notable dive in the low-scoring win. The speedster was a clear complementary option behind top targets DJ Moore and Cole Kmet, and even rookie back Roschon Johnson saw more targets (six) than Mooney. The fourth-year pro could potentially see a boost in his outlook if Justin Fields (thumb) is able to return for a Week 11 road battle against the Lions on Nov. 19.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: Season-best effort in loss
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Mooney brought in five of six targets for 82 yards in the Bears' 24-17 loss to the Saints on Sunday.
Mooney got off to a fast start with a 13-yard reception on the Bears' first play from scrimmage and a game-high 38-yard grab on the last play of the opening period. The fourth-year speedster went on to set the pace in receiving yards for Chicago on the afternoon with a figure that also qualified as a season high. Mooney has a 12-203 line over his last four games after a four-game stretch during which he was blanked on three occasions, and he could have Justin Fields (thumb) back as his quarterback in a Week 10 home matchup against the Panthers on Thursday night.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: Catches long pass
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Mooney caught one of four targets for 41 yards in the Bears' 30-13 loss to the Chargers on Sunday. He added three rushing yards on one carry.
Mooney hauled in a deep pass in the first quarter but was unable to secure any of his three other targets. He has posted between 32 and 53 yards in five games but was shut out in the other three contests. For now, he's a low-floor, low-upside fantasy option in an erratic Chicago passing attack.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: Two catches in Week 6 loss
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Mooney secured two of three targets for 48 yards in the Bears' 19-13 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.
A game after being shut out on four targets against the Commanders, Mooney bounced back to an extent with the help of a game-long 39-yard grab. The speedy fourth-year pro could be a trade candidate with the Oct. 31 deadline fast approaching, but for the time being, he'll look to build on Sunday's numbers while working with either Justin Fields (hand) or Tyson Bagent in a Week 7 home matchup against the Raiders.
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Bears' Darnell Mooney: Week 5 Waiver Priority List
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The Bears moving on from Chase Claypool, as well as Justin Fields looking much better throwing the ball in Week 4 against Denver, should give you confidence to add Mooney in deeper leagues heading into Week 5 at Washington. He had four catches for 51 yards on four targets against the Broncos, and he could turn into a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in deeper leagues. Mooney is worth adding for 1 percent of your FAB.
