Who Should I Start? Keenan Allen or Darnell Mooney

Saturday, December 13, 12:19 AM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen enters the Week 15 road game against the Kansas City Chiefs on a decline, having caught all three of his targets for just 22 yards last week. Since Week 7, Allen has only caught 19 passes compared to 44 in the first seven weeks. The Chiefs, who have allowed the ninth fewest passing yards this season, are a tough matchup, though the potential questionable status of their top defensive back, Trent McDuffie (knee), could slightly help the passing game. However, with the offensive line battered, Justin Herbert playing injured, and the team leaning on the run, Allen's floor and ceiling are considerably lower. RotoBaller ranks Allen at WR53 this week. Unless the Chargers fall behind early by multiple scores or if fellow wide receiver Quentin Johnston (groin) is ruled out, Allen remains an unreliable WR5 who should only be started in deeper leagues.

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.