Darnell Mooney — 2026 Fantasy Outlook

Mooney never quite found his rhythm across his 11 full starts in 2022, managing just five usable outings in season-long formats (4/94, 7/68, 5/70, 7/43/1, and 4/29/1). Chicago targeted him six times or fewer in nine of those games, limiting his upside on a weekly basis. His catch rate climbed to 65.6%, but the volume wasn't there. He was trending toward a 62-catch, 762-yard, three-touchdown pace before a left ankle injury ended his season in late November and required surgery.

Things got worse in 2023. Mooney set career lows across the board (31 catches, 414 yards, and one touchdown over 15 games), as Chicago looked his way just 61 times all season, barely four targets per game. He scored on a four-catch, 53-yard opener, then went back-to-back zeroes on a single combined target. Week 9 offered a brief reminder of his upside (5/82), but the season petered out with two missed games due to a concussion.

The move to Atlanta breathed new life into his career. Mooney posted his second-best statistical season as a pro (64 catches for 992 yards and five touchdowns on 108 targets), while playing 86.4% of the Falcons' snaps. He delivered one impact performance (9/105/2) and flashed a reliable floor across seven other games (3/88/1, 8/66, 4/86/1, 5/88/1, 5/96, 6/142, and 5/82) before a shoulder injury ended his year in Week 17. He converted 32.8% of his receptions into gains of 20 or more yards, which helped him finish 32nd among wide receivers in PPR scoring at 193.20 fantasy points.

With Michael Penix behind center for nine games in 2025, Mooney lost his fantasy pulse over his 15 games (32/443/1 on 72 targets). He scored over 10.00 fantasy points in only one game (3/74/1) despite leading the Falcons in snaps (778 – 71.0%).