Who Should I Start? Darnell Mooney or Chris Olave

Wednesday, December 10, 5:32 PM

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney was limited to just one catch on four targets for six yards this past week, his fifth one-catch performance of the season in 11 games played. The 28-year-old has had an opportunity to become the team's top receiver with Drake London (knee) missing the last three weeks due to injury, however, that role appears to have been occupied by tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. The 5-foot-11 wideout played on just 77 percent of the team's offensive snaps in Week 14, while David Sills V logged 94 percent and the aforementioned Pitts totaled 92 percent. The veteran will have another chance to carve out an expanded role in Week 15 versus the Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football, with London ruled out again and against a pass defense that is middle of the road in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers, but a unit that has yielded the sixth-most yards in the NFL through the air this season. For what it's worth, Mooney had a touchdown reception overturned last week because he stepped on the sideline before securing the pass, which could have been his second touchdown in the last three games despite the limited volume. Still, considering the situation at quarterback and Mooney's inability to garner sufficient targets, he falls outside the WR3 range this week, making him more of a boom/bust Flex play on TNF.

Saturday, December 13, 1:23 PM

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave recorded three receptions for 30 yards on five targets in the Week 14 win against the Buccaneers. His muted performance was a surprise, given he had recorded at least 54 yards or a touchdown in every other game this season. He now faces the Panthers, against whom he put up a season-high 104 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 10. Carolina allows the seventh-fewest PPR points per game to receivers, though New Orleans dominated through the air in their first meeting with 282 passing yards. Olave remains the top option in the Saints' passing game and could be in line for a strong bounce-back showing in Week 15. He ranks as a strong WR2 with upside this week.