Fantasy football managers are keeping a close eye on Darnell Mooney’s status ahead of Week 1. The Atlanta Falcons’ wideout is nursing a high ankle sprain that has clouded his availability, leaving uncertainty for lineups. Should you draft or start him? Here’s the latest update on his injury and outlook.
What Is Darnell Mooney’s Injury?
Mooney is dealing with a shoulder injury that has kept him out since late July. He remains week to week and could open the year on the sidelines. Head coach Raheem Morris was extremely vague about Mooney’s return, stating he would be back “this year.” If Mooney is out, Ray-Ray McCloud or KhaDarel Hodge will play in two receiver sets.
Mooney’s Fantasy Football Outlook
Mooney was rock-solid in his first year as a Falcon, catching 64-of-106 targets for five touchdowns in 16 games. With the quarterback upgrade to Michael Penix Jr., Mooney could improve on those numbers. Let’s remember that Kirk Cousins was nowhere near himself in his first year off the torn Achilles, so a gunslinger like Penix should benefit the entire offense.
Darnell Mooney had a career resurgence in 2024 with 992 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns.
Both marks surpass his past two years combined 😲
Is Mooney THE MOST slept on WR2 in the NFL? pic.twitter.com/ZDHVTSv4Ww
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) July 19, 2025
The problem is that Mooney’s status is in question for the early stages of the season. I recommend buying the dip since your teammates are likely to steer clear due to this injury. It seems unlikely that this’ll be a long-term solution so that you won’t get a discount on this dependable wideout.
As with other high-floor wideouts, I think that the best place to target Mooney is in Best Ball. It’s here where he can add floor to your WR room, helping you out when your other options put up duds. However, Mooney is still desirable in redraft leagues, but I like to go with a bit more upside, such as Luther Burden III or Brandon Aiyuk.