Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darnell Mooney vs Ladd McConkeyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Ladd McConkey is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.2 PPG to Darnell Mooney's 7.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Ladd McConkey is the better fantasy play this season.

Ladd McConkey is the better play on a neutral week. 9.2 PPG with 789 yards gives a reliable baseline. Darnell Mooney at 7.5 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Ladd McConkey higher, but do not fade Darnell Mooney entirely.

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

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WRAtlanta Falcons#99

Darnell Mooney

PPG

7.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

612

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

WRLos Angeles Chargers#38PPG LEADER

Ladd McConkey

PPG

9.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

789

Rec TDs

Targets

106

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Darnell Mooney

Ladd McConkey

Head to Head

7.5 PPG9.2 PPG

15 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Darnell Mooney: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Ladd McConkey: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #38 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Darnell Mooney is producing at 34% of elite pace and Ladd McConkey at 42%. That ranking gap means Ladd McConkey carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darnell Mooney vs Ladd McConkey: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Darnell Mooney and Ladd McConkey for your lineup, you are not alone. Darnell Mooney finished the 2025 season at 7.5 PPG for the Atlanta Falcons (15 games), and Ladd McConkey averaged 9.2 for the Los Angeles Chargers (16 games).

That 1.7-point weekly advantage for Ladd McConkey is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Target volume is the story here. Ladd McConkey saw 106 targets in 2025, while Darnell Mooney drew 78. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Ladd McConkey, even in weeks where Darnell Mooney posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One scheduling note: Darnell Mooney is off Week 12 and Ladd McConkey Week 7. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

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. Ladd McConkey (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Ladd McConkey outscored Darnell Mooney by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Ladd McConkey played 16 games in 2025 compared to Darnell Mooney's 15. That durability gap means Ladd McConkey contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Ladd McConkey scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Ladd McConkey saw 106 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 Ladd McConkey: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darnell Mooney	Ladd McConkey
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.5	9.2
Games Played	15	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	113	147
Receptions	48	66
Rec/Game	3.2	4.1
Receiving Yards	612	789
Rec Yds/Game	40.8	49.3
Receiving TDs	3	6
Targets	78	106
Target Share/Game	5.2	6.6
Age	-	24
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Ladd McConkey at 9.2 PPG, 1.7 points per game above Darnell Mooney's 7.5. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darnell Mooney or Ladd McConkey in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Ladd McConkey has the edge at 9.2 PPG compared to Darnell Mooney's 7.5 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 Ladd McConkey average in 2025?▾

Darnell Mooney averaged 7.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Ladd McConkey averaged 9.2 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Darnell Mooney and Ladd McConkey's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darnell Mooney (ATL) has a bye in Week 12, and Ladd McConkey (LAC) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darnell Mooney or Ladd McConkey a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Ladd McConkey outscored Darnell Mooney by 1.7 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.