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DJ Moore's name has carried a lot of weight in dynasty fantasy football leagues since the University of Maryland product was selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, dynasty managers of Moore were underwhelmed, disappointed, and frustrated throughout much of his tenure in Carolina. Moore posted solid numbers but was outshined by running back Christian McCaffrey in a Panthers offense that averaged just over 18 passing touchdowns per season from 2018 through 2022.
Many dynasty players likely moved on from Moore before the Panthers did. However, those who stuck with him through the Carolina quarterback carousel of 2022 were rewarded with a blockbuster deal that sent the wideout to Chicago last March. Believers argued that the Bears' quarterback play couldn't possibly be worse than the Panthers while detractors pointed out the outlandishly low passing volume that accentuated Chicago's struggles with Justin Fields under center.
Despite noticeable improvements in 2023, the Bears underwent significant changes this offseason, specifically on the offensive side of the ball. It's fair to question how Moore will operate in a new system with different personnel on the coaching staff and on the field. What is Moore's current dynasty value, and should you be buying, selling, or holding him before the 2024 campaign kicks off? Without further ado, let's dive in.
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DJ Moore 2023 Season Review
Moore's time in Chicago could not have gotten off to a hotter start. Just three plays into the Bears' first possession of their 2023 preseason opener, Moore took a screen pass from quarterback Justin Fields 62 yards to the house. Of course, this play demonstrated Moore's explosiveness far more than it displayed any improvement from Fields, but still, fantasy gamers had reason to be excited.
Although Week 1 of the regular season didn't go quite as well, Moore got back on track quickly. He eclipsed 100 receiving yards in Week 2 and proceeded to catch fire. Over the following three weeks, Moore would surpass the century mark twice more and find the end zone five times. Included in this span was a Week 5 explosion in which Moore turned 10 targets into eight receptions for a whopping 230 yards and three touchdowns.
230 YARDS. THREE TOUCHDOWNS.
HAVE A NIGHT, DJ MOORE!#TNFonPrime | #CHIvsWAS | @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/baW4p5sOCF
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) October 6, 2023
Unfortunately, Fields dislocated his thumb in Week 6 and was forced to miss Chicago's next four contests. Moore's production took a sizeable dip with undrafted rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent at the helm. He managed to stay afloat by averaging five receptions and over 52 yards per game but did not score between Weeks 7 and 10. Needless to say, Fields' return in Week 11 was a welcome one, as Moore immediately revisited the end zone.
The Bears played some of their best football late in the season, going 4-2 in their last six games and challenging for a spot in the NFC playoffs. Moore had a few quiet outings down the stretch but ultimately finished the season strong, scoring as a top-12 fantasy receiver from Week 12 on.
Overall, Moore's first season in Chicago was a massive success as he set career highs in receptions, yardage, and touchdowns. His WR6 finish was by far the best of his six-year career. Moore's talent cannot be denied, but it is important to note his target competition when evaluating his production.
Tight end Cole Kmet was the team's second option in the passing game, with wideouts Darnell Mooney and Tyler Scott combining for fewer than 100 opportunities through the air. With an obvious lack of depth in its receiver room, it's no surprise that Chicago prioritized the position this offseason.
What is DJ Moore's Fantasy Football Worth in Dynasty Leagues?
Heading into last season, Moore was valued around WR20 in dynasty leagues, according to KeepTradeCut.com. Despite a true breakout campaign, his value remains unchanged. With the landscape of the NFL shifting drastically this offseason and highly touted rookie receivers entering the league, Moore is currently valued at WR19.
This stagnation in value would not make sense for the vast majority of players entering the prime of their careers. Moore is still just 27 years old and should be expected to perform at a high level well into his thirties, especially considering how healthy he has been to this point. As I previously alluded to, though, the Bears are going to look very different in 2024.
In January, the organization hired Shane Waldron to be its next offensive coordinator. Waldron most recently served as the OC of the Seattle Seahawks and previously worked under Sean McVay in Los Angeles.
In March, Chicago kicked free agency off with a bang, signing running back D'Andre Swift to a three-year deal. Swift has averaged over 60 targets per season so far in his career and is certainly a more proven pass-catching threat than any back on the Bears roster last year. Just a few days after agreeing to terms with Swift, Chicago acquired six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers.
Allen has struggled with injuries in recent seasons but has been one of the most consistent players in the league when on the field. A respected target-earner, Allen will take both attention and opportunities away from Moore. He is 32 years old, however, and therefore should not drastically alter Moore's long-term dynasty outlook.
From the moment it was confirmed that Chicago would own the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft via the Carolina Panthers, it was debated whether the team would stick with Fields at quarterback or trade the former first-rounder and select Caleb Williams to be his replacement. The Bears made their decision in March when Fields was dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Of course, Williams became the first overall pick in April's draft, but Chicago wasn't done adding to its offensive arsenal. With the ninth overall pick, the Bears selected Rome Odunze, an elite receiver prospect from the University of Washington.
We don't yet know exactly how Waldron is going to conduct the offense, but we do know that Moore will face more competition for targets than ever before. While this isn't inherently good for his fantasy outlook this season, defenses will be forced to key in on other playmakers, and more scoring opportunities could be available if the offense as a whole improves. This scenario isn't too difficult to imagine with a generational talent like Williams now leading the way.
Some Moore OTA content for ya 💫 pic.twitter.com/vIrdcruE1y
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 22, 2024
DJ Moore 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
Given all the turbulence the Bears offense has undergone this offseason, it's understandable to be weary of Moore heading into 2024. The added talent around him could prove to be beneficial, but it could also take a significant amount of work off his plate.
Speculation and projections will always be a crucial aspect of fantasy football. Sometimes, however, it's better to focus on the known rather than the unknown. Moore is still relatively young and has been a productive alpha receiver throughout his entire career, despite the downright terrible quarterback play he has been given for most of it. Although any prospect could turn out to be a bust at the NFL level, Caleb Williams possesses many traits of a franchise quarterback and is easily the most gifted signal-caller Moore has run routes for since Cam Newton in 2018.
We also know that Shane Waldron coordinated an effective passing attack in Seattle. Geno Smith's 2022 numbers stand out the most, but Waldron's ability to get multiple receivers involved last season should not be ignored.
Shane Waldron did have all of DK, Lockett and JSN getting 90+ targets last year… 🤔
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) March 15, 2024
At WR19 in dynasty, Moore should be considered a solid buy candidate. Even with the intense competition he will face, Moore has the durability and skill set to once again score as a fantasy WR1 in what projects to be an ascending offense.
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