Darnell Mooney

Darnell Mooney

26-Year-Old Wide ReceiverWR
Chicago Bears
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
RANKS
$Signed a four-year, $3.58 million contract with the Bears in July of 2020.
Another modest performance
WRChicago Bears
November 28, 2023
Mooney caught two passes for six yards in the Bears' 12-10 win over the Vikings on Monday.
ANALYSIS
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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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
36.4
 
Air Yards Per Snap
0.77
 
% Team Air Yards
19.1%
 
% Team Targets
11.9%
 
Avg Depth of Target
10.7 Yds
 
Catch Rate
59.5%
 
Drop Rate
2.4%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
6.4
 
% Targeted On Route
11.7%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
0.98
 
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2023
2022
2021
2020
2023 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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2020 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Chicago BearsBears 2023 WR Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

72493%
26196%
56573%
20073%
28136%
10338%
15420%
8933%
13918%
00%
618%
187%
395%
104%
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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
Target Breakdown: WR & TE Usage Report + Week 13 Waivers Preview
5 days ago
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth was the only NFL player to reach 120 receiving yards Week 12, but a couple of rookie wideouts weren't too far behind.
Box Score Breakdown: Snaps, Routes, Air Yards & Personnel from Week 12
6 days ago
Jonathan Taylor scored a pair of touchdowns, but Zack Moss got more work than in recent weeks and could limit JT's production moving forward.
Monday Night Football DFS Breakdown: Minnesota vs. Chicago
6 days ago
The Vikings' blitzing tendencies versus Justin Fields' big-play ability could make for a boom-or-bust proposition Monday.
Wide Receivers vs. Cornerbacks: Week 12 Matchups
9 days ago
The Indianapolis secondary is weakest on the boundary and downfield, where Mike Evans is at his best.
NFL Game Previews: Bears-Vikings Matchup
11 days ago
Erik Siegrist previews the Monday night matchup as Joshua Dobbs leads the Vikings against the division-rival Bears.
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
Targeted once in defeat
WRChicago Bears
November 19, 2023
Mooney caught a 24-yard pass on his only target in the Bears' 31-26 loss to the Lions on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
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Held to two catches Thursday
WRChicago Bears
November 9, 2023
Mooney brought in two of four targets for 14 yards in the Bears' 16-13 win over the Panthers on Thursday night.
ANALYSIS
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Season-best effort in loss
WRChicago Bears
November 5, 2023
Mooney brought in five of six targets for 82 yards in the Bears' 24-17 loss to the Saints on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
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Catches long pass
WRChicago Bears
October 30, 2023
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.
ANALYSIS
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Four grabs in victory
WRChicago Bears
October 22, 2023
Mooney caught four passes for 32 yards in the Bears' 30-12 win over the Raiders on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
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