Darnell Mooney

Darnell Mooney

26-Year-Old Wide ReceiverWR
Atlanta Falcons
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Mooney was a fantastic fifth-round pick by Chicago in 2020, going for 631 yards on 98 targets (6.4 YPT) as a rookie and 1,055 on 140 looks (7.5 YPT) the following season. He then took a step back last year, despite having career highs for catch rate (65.6 percent) and YPT (8.1). The first problem was a lack of volume -- 5.1 targets per game -- in a subpar offense that attempted the fewest passes in the league. Then came a severe ankle injury in late November, which held Mooney out for the final five games and required surgery. The 25-year-old should be healthy for training camp, but his window to operate as a No. 1 receiver seemingly closed with Chicago's offseason trade for DJ Moore. That's a good thing for the team, considered Mooney was miscast as a No. 1. He ran a 4.38 40 at the 2020 combine, but at only 5-10, 176. Moore is about 35 pounds heavier, nearly as fast and only half a year older, with a trio of 1,000-yard seasons to his name. Both have a chance to experience quality QB play for the first time in their careers, with Justin Fields entering his third season after major signs of progress in Year 2. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Falcons in March of 2024.
Joining Kirk Cousins in Atlanta
WRAtlanta Falcons
March 12, 2024
Mooney and the Falcons have reached agreement on a three-year contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Darnell Mooney's 2023 advanced stats compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Air Yards Per Game
43.9
 
Air Yards Per Snap
0.89
 
% Team Air Yards
18.6%
 
% Team Targets
12.5%
 
Avg Depth of Target
11.0 Yds
 
Catch Rate
50.8%
 
Drop Rate
3.3%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
6.1
 
% Targeted On Route
13.0%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
0.88
 
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2023
2022
2021
2020
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2022 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Atlanta FalconsFalcons 2023 WR Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

83076%
35833%
34532%
33731%
25824%
182%
91%
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Darnell Mooney lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2023 Darnell Mooney Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Darnell Mooney's measurables compare to other wide receivers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
5' 11"
 
Weight
173 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.38 sec
 
Vertical Jump
37.0 in
 
Broad Jump
124 in
 
Bench Press
9 reps
 
Hand Length
9.63 in
 
Arm Length
30.88 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Darnell Mooney See More
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14 days ago
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NFL Free Agency: The Return of the Running Back Position
15 days ago
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16 days ago
Derrick Henry will look strange in a Ravens uniform, but he could look intimidating in black and purple, too.
Best Ball Strategy: Predicting Outcomes for the QB Carousel
22 days ago
Kirk Cousins signing with the Falcons represents a best-case scenario for Drake London's 2024 fantasy value.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
Mooney has already proven himself a gem of a fifth-round pick, earning a starting job as a rookie and clearing 1,000 yards in Year 2. He never had that many yards in a season in run-first offenses at Tulane, and he might've gone undrafted if not for a 4.38 40 at the 2020 Combine. The time is less impressive given his slender frame, but Mooney hasn't been bullied too much by defensive backs, nor has he been pigeon-holed as a mere deep threat. In fact, Mooney has caught only 10 of 46 targets 20-plus yards downfield in his career (three of 23 as a rookie, seven of 23 last season). And that's without any drops on the downfield targets, many of which were misfires or miscommunications. The good news is that Mooney showed rapport last year with rookie quarterback Justin Fields, who never got it going with Allen Robinson (now on the Rams). In addition to seeing more cumulative targets, Mooney easily outpaced Robinson in targets per game (8.2 to 5.5). Now the Bears have Mooney in Year 3, Fields in Year 2 and head coach Matt Eberflus in Year 1, with former Packers QBs coach Luke Getsy taking over as offensive coordinator. It should be an improvement on the Matt Nagy era, if nothing else, and there's no question about Mooney's status as the No. 1 receiver sans Robinson.
A fifth-round pick last year, Mooney saw action all season, catching at least one pass in every game and finishing with 98 targets, second on the Bears only to Allen Robinson. Robinson accepted his franchise tag this offseason, solidifying himself as the team’s target hog, but Mooney is second on the depth chart. At 5-11, 177, Mooney is small and slight, but he’s fast and explosive — 4.38 40, two catches of 40-plus yards in an inept passing offense. Andy Dalton probably isn’t the answer at quarterback, but he’s likely better for the passing game than last year’s duo of Nick Foles and Mitchell Trubisky, and this year's 11th overall draft pick, Justin Fields, should take over before long.
Impressed by his 4.38 40-yard dash time, the Bears traded up to draft Mooney in the fifth round of this year's draft. Due to his slight 176-pound frame, he projects as a slot receiver, but the team has Anthony Miller, their second-best receiver, mainly occupying that spot, and Allen Robinson also lines up frequently in the slot. It's difficult enough for a rookie selected that late in the NFL Draft to make an immediate impact, and the fact that Chicago signed Ted Ginn to a free-agent deal makes it even more unlikely that Mooney makes a major impact as a rookie. Still, not many players can run like Mooney, and if the Bears somehow get quality quarterback play from the tandem of Nick Foles and Mitchell Trubisky, there's a chance that Mooney can emerge as the season progresses. However, that's not a very probable scenario.
More Fantasy News
Not playing in finale
WRChicago Bears
Concussion
January 5, 2024
Mooney (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Packers.
ANALYSIS
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Still not practicing
WRChicago Bears
Concussion
January 4, 2024
Mooney (concussion) didn't practice Thursday.
ANALYSIS
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Remains in concussion protocol
WRChicago Bears
Concussion
January 3, 2024
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday that Mooney remains in the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Won't play Week 17
WRChicago Bears
Concussion
December 29, 2023
Mooney (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
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Sits out another practice
WRChicago Bears
Concussion
December 28, 2023
Mooney (concussion) didn't participate in Thursday's practice.
ANALYSIS
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