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Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney flashed in 2021 with over 1,000 receiving yards, but his 2022 campaign left a lot to be desired -- even before he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 12.
However, the Bears' offense looks to take a big step forward in 2023 and Mooney should have a major role in that process. We have his latest injury update.
Will Mooney be ready for the start of training camp? Let's get into it.
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Will Darnell Mooney Be Ready For Training Camp?
Mooney (ankle) suffered a broken ankle in the Week 12 game against the New York Jets, effectively ending his 2022 season. The Tulane product finished the year with 40 receptions for 493 yards and two touchdowns. Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said "Darnell is working his tail off. He's on track. He'll be ready (for training camp)."
This is great news for his early-season availability, and he'll be moved to a more natural WR2 role in 2023 with the arrival of DJ Moore.
Darnell Mooney 2023 Fantasy Football Outlook
While Mooney is an exciting deep-play threat, it's tough to find a path for him to command real volume in 2023. The Bears are expected to have a more pass-happy attack than in previous seasons, but they will likely still be one of the lowest pass-rate teams in the NFL.
With DJ Moore in town, Mooney's ceiling is the No. 2 target and since it could take him time to fully come back from the fractured fibula, he could get out to a slow start.
Ultimately. Mooney will likely be a much better Best Ball fantasy asset than a traditional league asset. He can produce spike weeks with big-play touchdowns, but there's a low chance he's a "set 'em and forget 'em starter" in regular formats. That said, he could be worth taking a flyer on at his WR55 pricetag in early Best Ball drafts (Underdog ADP). If the offense does take a big leap forward and becomes a respectable passing attack, a top-36 wide receiver season is in his range of outcomes.
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