Another weekend of NFL football has arrived! Unfortunately, the injury watch for fantasy football managers is also here, and that’s certainly the case for Darnell Mooney. Players who appear on the injury report and haven’t practiced much during the week can often lead to trepidation for managers trying to make fantasy football lineup decisions and/or waiver claims. Don’t fret, though – FantasyPros is here to provide you with all of the latest news and updates on the players who are questionable heading into this week. So, is Darnell Mooney playing in Week 1? Here’s what we know about Darnell Mooney’s injury and his status for Week 1. And use our Are They Playing tool to see the probability of any injured player playing this week, including Darnell Mooney. So, is Darnell Mooney playing Week 1?
- Waiver Wire Advice
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Outlook: Will Darnell Mooney Play Week 1?
Darnell Mooney (shoulder) questionable to play Sunday
Darnell Mooney (shoulder) is questionable to play in Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Fantasy Impact
Mooney has been limited at practice all week as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury that he suffered earlier in the offseason. He officially carries a questionable tag heading into the weekend, and the team is reportedly expecting him to be a game-time decision. If he is ruled out ahead of game time, Kyle Pitts and Ray-Ray McCloud III will both benefit from his absence.
Leo Sells
Darnell Mooney (shoulder) limited again Thursday
Darnell Mooney (shoulder) was limited at practice again on Thursday.
Fantasy Impact
Mooney was limited for a second-straight practice on Thursday due to his shoulder issue. He is at real risk of being sidelined in Week 1, and if that’s the case, fantasy managers should look for Kyle Pitts and Ray-Ray McCloud III to both see more work while he’s out.
Leo Sells
See the latest odds of Darnell Mooney playing this week 
What the Experts Are Saying
Last year, Darnell Mooney posted the second WR3 finish of his career in fantasy points per game (WR34), and he could easily do it again in 2025. There’s no disputing that the Falcons’ passing attack will be led by Drake London and Mooney this season. The target tree is extremely consolidated. Last year, Mooney had a 19.6% target share while averaging 62 receiving yards per game (29th-best), posting 2.04 yards per route run (31st) and 0.099 first downs per route run (28th). Last year, Tampa Bay had the sixth-highest single high rate (59.5%). Last year, against single-high, Mooney posted 1.81 yards per route run, a 26% first-read share, and 0.086 first downs per route run. All of those are solid metrics against single high. Last year, Tampa Bay allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game and the 11th-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers. Mooney sustained a shoulder injury during camp and has been listed as a game-time decision. If he’s out there, he could see a snap hit and is, overall, a risky play for Week 1. The payoff could be nice, but is this a risk worth taking when weighing your other flex options? Probably not.
– Derek Brown
Check out our NFL News Desk for the latest injury news
