Must-draft fantasy football player on Chicago Bears: Darnell Mooney, WR
There was a clear jump in production for the fifth-round draft pick from his rookie to his sophomore season in 2021.
Darnell Mooney’s stat bumps from 2020 to 2021:
- +42 in targets (140)
- +20 in receptions (81)
- +424 in receiving yards (1,055)
- +127 in yards after catch (127)
For these specific statistics, Mooney ranked No. 11 in targets, No.18 in receptions, No. 17 in receiving yards and No. 18 in yards after the catch. Mooney’s 26.7% target share (percentage of team targets directed to the WR) showed his importance to the Bears.
In last year’s Darnell Mooney fantasy preview, I wrote about how Darnell Mooney was being drafted as the WR50 for fantasy football, but how I could see him finishing as high as WR34. I stressed that Mooney would produce better for fantasy football compared to where he was being drafted. Even being higher than the consensus, I was still too low.
Mooney finished 2021 as the WR27 for fantasy — averaging 12.2 PPG. Weeks 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, and 17 he finished as the WR15, WR21, WR5, WR4, WR15, and WR11 for those specific weeks. Great return on investment for those who drafted Mooney last season for his production over expectation in the fantasy football world.
Two major categories I look for when it comes to WRs for fantasy football are:
- High target volume
- Upside.
Looking at the Bears’ current WR room of Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle, Velus Jones, Jr., N’Keal Harry, Dazz Newsome, and others — it is clear that Mooney is the true WR1 on the roster. His 26.7% target share can be similar in 2022. Volume is king in fantasy for all positions. Seeing consistency in high targets is huge for me when it comes to WRs I target in my fantasy drafts.
Mooney’s upside potential was evident last year, having four games of 120+ receiving yards which really boosted his fantasy scoring ceiling on those given weeks. Looking at the full regular season, Mooney had five weeks of 18+ fantasy points which displayed his upside as well. For PPR leagues, high target volume can directly relate to upside but the player typically needs to be able to add to the receiving yards and yards after the catch categories which Mooney did in 2021.
Right now, Darnell Mooney is being drafted as the WR25 for PPR leagues heading into 2022. ADP will typically change through camp and preseason, but I would assume he stays right around that range in drafts. In my rankings, I have him one spot better as the WR24. For now, that puts him in the same tier as Jerry Jeudy (Broncos), Elijah Moore (Jets), Rashod Bateman (Ravens) and Courtland Sutton (Broncos).
Although this year I am not saying there is a big gap (like last year) between where he is being drafted vs. how he can finish, ranking as a top-24 player (in my rankings) means he is a must-draft player. If you have 12 teams in your fantasy league, and all teams are spread evenly (hypothetically), he would be someone’s WR2 on their team.
Due to Mooney’s fantasy production in 2021, his current role on the Bears, potential for high target volume, and fantasy upside, Darnell Mooney is a must-draft player for the 2022 season. I also trust the connection that continues to build between Justin Fields and his WR1, so I expect Mooney to have plenty of fantasy value through this season on a team that may be forced to pass the ball often.