RADIO
If you're asking the question "Should I Start Darnell Mooney or Treylon Burks?" you're either in a deep league or you drafted Cooper Kupp and/or Christian Watson. If the latter is the case, I'd like to paraphrase a famous poet: If you're having WR problems, I feel bad for you son. You got 99 problems and the roster is one.
Following the offseason addition of D.J. Moore, Mooney was bumped down to the second WR option in the Windy City. A similar situation happened in Tennessee, where DeAndre Hopkins claimed the WR1 spot over Burks. Both squads prefer to lean on the rushing game, limiting the opportunities for pass catchers.
There are still some things to like about both young receivers on the season and in Week 1. Let's find out who should start in your fantasy football lineup.
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Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears
Darnell Mooney is tagged with the disappointment label and the stench followed him into 2023 fantasy football drafts. In 2021, he put together a 1,000-yard season on 81 catches. Entering his third season and Justin Fields claiming the role of full-time starter, expectations were high for Mooney. Instead, the production for the former fifth-round pick was essentially cut in half.
Some of that was due to injury (12 games played in 2022) but Fields wasn't particularly proficient in passing the pigskin. The young quarterback threw for over 174 yards just five times in 2022.
| Week | Fields Passing | Passing Yards | Mooney Stats |
| 4 | 11-22 | 174 | 4 catches, 94 yards |
| 5 | 15-21 | 208 | 2 catches, 52 yards |
| 6 | 14-27 | 190 | 7 catches, 58 yards |
| 7 | 13-21 | 179 | 3 catches, 53 yards |
| 13 | 20-25 | 254 | DNP |
The 254-yard Week 13 performance did come against the Green Bay Packers, who are also the Bears' Week 1 opponent in the new year. Tight end Cole Kmet and Equanimeous St. Brown led the team in receiving.
Kmet got paid in the offseason and, as stated above, the Bears brought in Moore to be their go-to wide receiver. Mooney has a strong relationship with Fields, but there were rumblings of the Bears trading the receiver during the offseason. With what figures to continue to be a run-first offense, there may just not be enough targets to go around for Mooney to be reliable on a week-to-week basis.
Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans
Burks was initially a question mark for Week 1. The sophomore suffered an LCL injury in mid-August but logged practices as a full participant this week. Injuries were a problem for the former Arkansas Razorback during his rookie campaign, forcing him to six games.
Burks ended his first season with 33 catches for 444 yards and one touchdown in 11 games. His score came on a play where he suffered a concussion, knocking him out for a majority of that Week 13 contest against Philadelphia. There was another lucky six points when Burks recovered a Derrick Henry fumble in the end zone.
Burks only played more than 80% of the snaps once in 2022. Coincidentally, that was his worst game of the season (zero catches and one rush for 15 yards against Houston in Week 16). His snap percentage will be much higher in the new year.
The Titans' Week 1 opponent, the New Orleans Saints, possessed one of the best passing defenses in football in 2022. Marshon Lattimore and Co. allowed the third-lowest completion percentage and yards per attempt, second-fewest passing yards, and third-fewest touchdowns.
New Orleans was beatable in the rushing game in 2022, something that also benefits the Titans. Tennessee had the fourth-highest run rate in the league last season. Expect another heavy dose of Derrick Henry on Sunday.
Should I Start Mooney Or Burks In Week 1?
See it to believe it. We've seen Ryan Tannehill throw for 300 yards when called upon. Fields has not shown us that part of his game yet in the professional ranks. That gives Burks a higher ceiling than Mooney.
With what figures to be low-target volume for both teams, it also comes down to who has a higher chance of scoring a touchdown. Burks has the size and athleticism to go up and get a ball. Mooney is not that kind of receiver.
Consider Burks more of a WR4 this weekend while Mooney is in the WR5 tier.
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