Darnell Mooney 2026 fantasy outlook and rest-of-season projection
- Age
- 28
- Height / weight
- 5'11", 177 lb
- Experience
- 7th season
- Drafted
- 2020 R5, #173
2026 Season
- PPR PPG
- 5.5
- Pos rank
- WR74
- Rostered
- 4%
Week 4 vs. Cardinals, Sun Oct 4, 1:00 PM ET 4th vs. WRs, favorable
Darnell Mooney Rest-of-Season Outlook
Downfield depth WR for deep leagues only
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished WR79 last season at 5.5 points per game.
Our Take After Week 4
Through 3 games he's WR74 at 5.5 PPR points per game, against 5.5 over 15 games last season (WR79). The role is producing the same fantasy output two years running.
Last season he ranked 49th of 142 in target volume (13.9% target share), 35th of 142 in downfield role (24.4% air-yards share) and 108th of 142 in efficiency (1.00 yards per route run). His points come from his downfield role. Efficiency is the soft spot. Jameis Winston is his quarterback.
The main risk is the job itself. He's the listed starter with Braxton Berrios next on the depth chart, and a benching or an injury would take his value to zero overnight.
The next favorable matchups are the Cardinals in Week 4 (4th against WRs) and the Commanders in Week 5 (1st against WRs).
Read our preseason outlook (June 2026)
Published June 17, 2026. Kept for reference; the take above replaces it.
The two-year trend is jarring. In 2024 Mooney was a legitimate weapon: 992 yards and five scores on a 19.7% target share, with a 0.414 EPA per play, a 53.8% success rate and 1.92 yards per route run that ranked him 23rd. An injury-marred 2025 erased all of it, as his catch rate cratered to 44.4%, his EPA flatlined at 0.051, his success rate fell to 37.5%, and his yards per route halved to 1.00 (WR64). He still flashed the deep speed that produced a 14.2 air-yards-per-target mark, but the efficiency disappeared.
A one-year Giants deal reunites him with Matt Nagy and plugs him into Jaxson Dart's offense, but the path is narrow behind Malik Nabers, with Darius Slayton and Malachi Fields also in the mix. Consensus pegs him near 535 yards and three touchdowns, a WR3/WR4 line at best. His clearest route to relevance is a Nabers absence; otherwise he's a late-round dart throw.
What Drives His Outlook
His 2025 rank among the 142 receivers who played at least six games. Each bar is one receiver, best on the left; his is highlighted.
Target volume
Downfield role
Efficiency
- Average depth of target
- 14.2
- Drop rate
- 6.9%
- Red-zone targets
- 8
- Route participation
- 78.0%
- YAC per reception
- 2.3
What Could Change His Value
Upside
- A soft stretchThe Cardinals in Week 4 and the Commanders in Week 5 are top-10 matchups for WRs.Wk 4 ARI, 4thWk 5 WAS, 1stWk 6 NO, 24thWk 7 HOU, 5th
- Downfield role24.4% air-yards share, 35th of 142 WRs in 2025.
Risk
- Job securityBraxton Berrios is next on the depth chart; a benching or injury hands him the job.
- Weak efficiency1.00 yards per route run, 108th of 142 WRs in 2025.
- A tough matchupThe Saints in Week 6 (24th) is among the stingiest defenses against WRs.
All Darnell Mooney stats & analysis
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Darnell Mooney Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is Darnell Mooney's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
Darnell Mooney projects as a downfield depth WR for deep leagues only for the rest of the 2026 season: waiver-wire material in 12-team PPR, 10-team PPR and half-PPR leagues. His downfield role (24.4% air-yards share, 35th of 142 WRs in 2025) supports that. His efficiency (1.00 yards per route run, 108th of 142 WRs in 2025) holds him back. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is Darnell Mooney's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
Darnell Mooney is the WR74 in PPR points per game through Week 4. That puts him in depth WR territory, waiver-wire material in 10-team PPR leagues.
What is Darnell Mooney's projected role going forward?
Darnell Mooney is the listed starting WR, with Braxton Berrios next on the depth chart. Nothing on the chart threatens the job, so the role is his to lose on performance.
Will Darnell Mooney get more targets?
Darnell Mooney's targets are holding steady: 3.0 a game over his last two games against 2.7 for the season. His share of the offense is what his fantasy value rides on.
What is Darnell Mooney's fantasy football upside?
Darnell Mooney's upside: his ceiling this season is 6.8 PPR points (Week 2, WR54), his downfield role (24.4% air-yards share, 35th of 142 WRs in 2025) gives him a weekly floor to build on and the Cardinals in Week 4 and the Commanders in Week 5 are top-10 matchups for WRs.
What could hurt Darnell Mooney's fantasy value?
Darnell Mooney's risks: Braxton Berrios is next on the depth chart if he is benched or hurt, his efficiency (1.00 yards per route run, 108th of 142 WRs in 2025) limits his scoring and the Saints in Week 6 is a tough matchup. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is Darnell Mooney's remaining fantasy schedule?
Favorable: of his next seven games, 4 come against a top-10 matchup for WRs and 1 against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.