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Head to Head

Updated from live stats

Darnell Mooney vs Michael PittmanWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Michael Pittman is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.6 PPG to Darnell Mooney's 7.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Michael Pittman is the better fantasy play this season.

Michael Pittman is the better play on a neutral week. 9.6 PPG with 784 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 Michael Pittman higher, but do not fade Darnell Mooney entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRAtlanta Falcons#99
Darnell Mooney
PPG
7.5
Games
15
Rec
48
Rec Yds
612
Rec TDs
3
Targets
78
Bye
Week 12
WRIndianapolis Colts#33PPG LEADER
Michael Pittman
PPG
9.6
Games
17
Rec
80
Rec Yds
784
Rec TDs
7
Targets
111
Bye
Week 13

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Darnell Mooney
Michael Pittman

Head to Head

7.5 PPG9.6 PPG
15 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Darnell Mooney: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Michael Pittman: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #33 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Darnell Mooney is producing at 34% of elite pace and Michael Pittman at 44%. That ranking gap means Michael Pittman carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darnell Mooney vs Michael Pittman: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Darnell Mooney and Michael Pittman for your lineup, you are not alone. Darnell Mooney finished the 2025 season at 7.5 PPG for the Atlanta Falcons (15 games), and Michael Pittman averaged 9.6 for the Indianapolis Colts (17 games).

That 2.1-point weekly advantage for Michael Pittman 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. Michael Pittman saw 111 targets in 2025, while Darnell Mooney drew 78. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Michael Pittman, even in weeks where Darnell Mooney posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Darnell Mooney has his bye in Week 12, and Michael Pittman rests in Week 13. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at wide receiver for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

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. Michael Pittman (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Michael Pittman outscored Darnell Mooney by a projected 36 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Michael Pittman played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darnell Mooney's 15. That durability gap means Michael Pittman contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Michael Pittman scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Michael Pittman saw 111 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 Michael Pittman: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatDarnell MooneyMichael Pittman
PPG (Half-PPR)7.59.6
Games Played1517
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)113163
Receptions4880
Rec/Game3.24.7
Receiving Yards612784
Rec Yds/Game40.846.1
Receiving TDs37
Targets78111
Target Share/Game5.26.5
Age-28
Experience-5 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 12Week 13

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Michael Pittman at 9.6 PPG, 2.1 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 Michael Pittman in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Michael Pittman has the edge at 9.6 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 Michael Pittman average in 2025?

Darnell Mooney averaged 7.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Michael Pittman averaged 9.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.1 points per game.

When are Darnell Mooney and Michael Pittman's bye weeks in 2026?

Darnell Mooney (ATL) has a bye in Week 12, and Michael Pittman (IND) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darnell Mooney or Michael Pittman a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Michael Pittman outscored Darnell Mooney by 2.1 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.