Who Should I Start? Darnell Mooney or Malik Nabers

Friday, January 2, 2:42 PM

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (knee) was able to log limited practices on Thursday and Friday, and he carries a questionable designation into the team's Week 18 season finale against the Saints. Head coach Raheem Morris is optimistic about his availability for Sunday, but even if Mooney can play, he represents a high-risk, low-reward option for any fantasy managers still competing in Week 18. He has topped 35 receiving yards only once in his last 10 outings, and his Week 12 touchdown grab against the Saints remains his lone score on the year. The bull case for Mooney is that his best game of the season came in that Week 12 win in New Orleans, though it should be noted that the Saints have won four of five games since, including their last four.

Tuesday, October 28, 5:23 PM

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) had surgery on Tuesday to fix the torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee, and he "should be ready" for the start of next season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Nabers suffered his season-ending knee injury in the Week 4 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, but he just now had surgery after doctors had to wait for the swelling in his knee to dissipate. Barring setbacks with his rehab and recovery in the offseason, the 22-year-old former first-rounder should be good to go for the start of the 2026 season next fall, although fantasy managers might have some reservations about rolling with a receiver coming off a major knee repair as a high-end WR1. Before his injury, though, Nabers had displayed his game-changing abilities with 271 yards and two scores on 18 receptions in four games. His long-term fantasy ceiling should be higher going forward now that rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart looks like the real deal.