Who Should I Start? Brandon Aiyuk or Darnell Mooney

Wednesday, November 5, 6:04 PM

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Wednesday that he's "pretty confident" that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) will play at some point this season, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. However, the 49ers are still waiting for Aiyuk to "hit certain markers" on GPS speed measurements before opening his 21-day practice window. Once Aiyuk returns to practice, the team will have 21 days to officially activate him from the Physically Unable to Perform list. Despite the optimism, reports on Monday suggested that the 27-year-old former first-rounder wasn't close to a return to practice, so fantasy managers who have been stashing Aiyuk all year shouldn't get their hopes up. Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7 of last year and probably won't be back in games for the 49ers until December.

Tuesday, November 4, 4:53 PM

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney was a non-factor again in Week 9's 24-23 loss to the Patriots, earning just two targets, which resulted in one catch for 15 yards. It was the second straight game with one reception and the third time this season. The 28-year-old played every single offensive snap on Sunday, so his lack of production is all the more glaring. So far this season, the veteran receiver has registered 0.15 targets per route run, putting him in a range with the likes of Matthew Golden and Rashod Bateman. Aside from an 11-target, four-catch performance in Week 3, the 5-foot-11 wideout has tallied a total of eight catches on 16 targets for 129 yards and no scores in the five other contests in which he played. Whether it is his injury history piling up or Michael Penix Jr. simply sticking to shorter routes -- or a combination of both -- Mooney doesn't look startable in fantasy leagues right now. A favorable matchup on paper awaits Mooney in Week 10 against a beatable Colts pass defense, but Tuesday's addition of Sauce Gardner from the Jets should enhance their ability to defend the pass.