Who Should I Start? Darnell Mooney or Christian Watson

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.

Friday, December 12, 5:36 PM

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has been the most productive pass-catcher for the Packers in the past few weeks, and he looks to carry over that momentum when the Packers head to Denver to face the Broncos in Week 15. Watson followed up a 4-80-1 effort against the Detroit Lions in Week 13 with a 4-89 and two scores last week in the Packers' pivotal division showdown with the Chicago Bears. Watson runs into a stiff test in Week 15, as he'll likely draw the shadow coverage of Patrick Surtain II, one of the best cornerbacks in football and the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Despite that, Watson is on a heater right now for fantasy, and if anybody can break a long reception for a score, it's Watson. Surtain's presence should temper fantasy managers' expectations for Watson this week. That said, Watson is a volatile WR3 fantasy option against the Broncos.