Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darnell Mooney vs Elic AyomanorWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Darnell Mooney is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.5 PPG to Elic Ayomanor's 6.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Darnell Mooney is the better fantasy play this season.

Darnell Mooney has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.5-PPG advantage is real (7.5 to 6.0), and Darnell Mooney's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Elic Ayomanor is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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WRAtlanta Falcons#99PPG LEADER

Darnell Mooney

PPG

7.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

612

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

WRTennessee Titans#99

Elic Ayomanor

PPG

6.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

515

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Darnell Mooney

Elic Ayomanor

Head to Head

7.5 PPG6.0 PPG

15 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Darnell Mooney: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Elic Ayomanor: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Darnell Mooney is producing at 34% of elite pace and Elic Ayomanor at 27%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Darnell Mooney vs Elic Ayomanor: The Full Breakdown

Darnell Mooney and Elic Ayomanor are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Darnell Mooney averaged 7.5 PPG across 15 games with the Atlanta Falcons, while Elic Ayomanor posted 6.0 PPG in 16 appearances for the Tennessee Titans.

A 1.5-PPG gap gives Darnell Mooney the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Darnell Mooney turned 78 targets into 612 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Elic Ayomanor converted 89 looks into 515 yards and 4 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Darnell Mooney sits Week 12 while Elic Ayomanor is off Week 5. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Darnell Mooney (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Elic Ayomanor (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Darnell Mooney outscored Elic Ayomanor by a projected 26 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Elic Ayomanor played 16 games in 2025 compared to Darnell Mooney's 15. That durability gap means Elic Ayomanor contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Elic Ayomanor scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Elic Ayomanor saw 89 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darnell Mooney vs Elic Ayomanor: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darnell Mooney	Elic Ayomanor
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.5	6.0
Games Played	15	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	113	96
Receptions	48	41
Rec/Game	3.2	2.6
Receiving Yards	612	515
Rec Yds/Game	40.8	32.2
Receiving TDs	3	4
Targets	78	89
Target Share/Game	5.2	5.6
Age	-	22
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 5

Summary

Darnell Mooney outscored Elic Ayomanor by 1.5 PPG in 2025 (7.5 to 6.0). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darnell Mooney or Elic Ayomanor in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darnell Mooney has the edge at 7.5 PPG compared to Elic Ayomanor's 6.0 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Darnell Mooney and Elic Ayomanor average in 2025?▾

Darnell Mooney averaged 7.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Elic Ayomanor averaged 6.0 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 1.5 points per game.

When are Darnell Mooney and Elic Ayomanor's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darnell Mooney (ATL) has a bye in Week 12, and Elic Ayomanor (TEN) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darnell Mooney or Elic Ayomanor a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Darnell Mooney outscored Elic Ayomanor by 1.5 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.