Who Should I Start? Darnell Mooney or Rashod Bateman

Monday, December 23, 12:00 AM

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney was the team's leading receiver on Sunday with five receptions for 82 yards but was unable to find the end zone as Bijan Robinson punched in both of Atlanta's offensive touchdowns in the lopsided 34-7 win. Drake London also caught five passes but totaled just 59 yards on his receptions. He also left the game in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury, although coach Raheem Morris stated after the game that London could have gone back in, however, with a comfortable lead there was no reason for him to reenter. Mooney is nearing his first 1000-yard season since 2021, and can likely still be trusted again next week with the chemistry he showed with Michael Penix Jr., but in the matchup with Washington he is probably a WR3 at best. Managers will want to monitor London's status throughout the week, and if the hamstring injury were to cause him to miss time, then Mooney could be in line for a few more targets.

Tuesday, December 24, 4:27 PM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has surpassed almost every career high this season except for receptions. He's even quadrupled his previous-best touchdown mark (eight this season). In the Ravens' Week 17 matchup with the Houston Texans, they'll be without Nelson Agholor (concussion) and Justice Hill (concussion), and Zay Flowers (shoulder) is considered questionable. Bateman may be the number-one wideout on the depth chart, but he'll remain the primary deep threat even if Flowers plays. The Texans allow 29.6 fantasy points per game to receivers in half-PPR formats, so Bateman has a borderline WR2 ceiling in this game.