Darnell Mooney’s Fantasy Outlook
Mooney rewarded fantasy managers with 16.4 fantasy points last week. If you started him, congratulations on getting away with it. The production masked troubling underlying usage patterns that should concern anyone considering him moving forward.
Through three quarters, Mooney had accumulated just two catches for 25 yards. Kirk Cousins connected with him on a 49-yard post route for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
That single play completely salvaged his fantasy day and prevented yet another single-digit performance from extending his streak. Without that explosive score, Mooney would have posted roughly three fantasy points despite Drake London’s absence supposedly creating opportunities.
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Mooney saw a mere three targets against the New Orleans Saints. The notion that Mooney receives increased volume when London sits has no tangible support from actual game data. It simply doesn’t manifest in target distribution. Cousins and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson haven’t demonstrated any inclination to force-feed Mooney when their WR1 is unavailable.
Kyle Pitts’ Fantasy Outlook
Pitts operated as Cousins’ primary target early against New Orleans. The veteran quarterback looked for his tight end on the game’s opening drives, targeting him five times total. Unfortunately, execution failures doomed any chance at fantasy production. Cousins threw 16 completions on 23 attempts for 199 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
Pitts caught two passes for 25 yards. He also dropped two targets, continuing a pattern of unreliability that has plagued his season. His combination of inability to create separation and inconsistent hands creates an impossible situation for fantasy purposes regardless of target volume.
READ MORE: Soppe’s Week 13 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Analysis for Every Player in Every Game
The struggles have persisted over recent weeks. Pitts has failed to reach 8.0 fantasy points in four consecutive games. His best outing of the season produced 18 fantasy points, and he has exceeded double-digit scoring just four times across 11 contests. These numbers reflect a player performing well below his draft capital and physical tools.
The former fourth-overall pick appears more comfortable with Cousins under center than he was with Penix. However, increased opportunity means nothing when execution remains this poor.
Should You Start Mooney or Pitts This Week?
New York presents an average defensive matchup for both Atlanta pass-catchers. The Jets rank middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed to both wide receivers and tight ends.
The real concern stems from Atlanta’s offensive approach. Without Penix available for the rest of the season following his ACL tear, the Falcons have little interest in throwing if they can avoid it. Cousins completed 16 passes last week in a game Atlanta controlled throughout. Robinson emphasized that Cousins operates best under center with play-action opportunities rather than spread formations.
Game environment factors work against passing volume expectations. Atlanta opened as 2.5-point road favorites with the total sitting at just 39.5 points. The Jets sit at 2-9 with minimal offensive firepower, making it unlikely they force the Falcons into a shootout scenario. New York won’t push Atlanta to deviate from their run-first identity featuring Bijan Robinson.
Fantasy managers should leave both Mooney and Pitts on benches in Week 13. Mooney lacks the target volume to provide a reliable floor, making him entirely touchdown-dependent.
Pitts offers even less appeal given his execution failures and limited scoring upside. Neither player possesses sufficient talent to overcome their offensive environment and usage constraints this week.
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