Who Should I Start? Darnell Mooney or Josh Downs

Saturday, April 4, 8:10 AM

New York Giants wide receiver Darnell Mooney will compete for an opportunity to be Jaxson Dart's No. 2 target behind Malik Nabers. There are a lot of players in the mix for bigger pass-catching roles, and Mooney will have a chance to compete for a path to significant volume if he can stay healthy and productive throughout training camp. Mooney was seen as a potential breakout candidate prior to the 2025 season, but he ultimately fell quite short with just 32 catches, 443 yards, and one touchdown, ranking as the WR79 in PPR leagues. This offseason, he took his talents to New York, where his biggest competition will be Calvin Austin III, Darius Slayton, Theo Johnson, and Isaiah Likely. Dart is arguably more capable of supporting multiple fantasy-relevant receivers than Mooney's last quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., so that's an encouraging sign for 2026. It's too early and too bold to say that he'll be a consistent WR3/flex in 2026, but he certainly has the upside. He had 996 yards just two years ago, and he's an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues this offseason after a down season.