Bottom Line

Mooney’s run as the Bears’ WR1 was short-lived. It’s unlikely he will see a massive haul of targets in a newly-crowded WR room with Chase Claypool and D.J. Moore.

The Bears appear likely to throw more than they did in 2022, but they’ll need a dramatic shift to support multiple fantasy wideouts. Mooney’s tough to like in drafts.

What We Learned Last Year

• Mooney concluded 2021 as the Bears’ lead pass-catcher and entered 2022 with some excitement attached to his name. Unfortunately, injury and the team’s lack of passing volume caused him to crater, finishing as the WR72 in PPR.
• In 12 games, he failed to record a single top-12 finish and had just three games within the top 24.
• Mooney suffered a ligament tear in his right ankle in Week 12 and missed the remaining five games of 2022.
• Despite his struggles, he led the Bears in target share (27.9%), air yards share (36.8%), and Weighted Opportunity Rating (0.65). Mooney finished second in receiving yards (493).
• Among 80 WRs who saw 50+ targets in 2022, Mooney finished 49th in PFF receiving grade, 40th in yards per route run (1.58), and 58th in yards after catch (170).
• As crummy as Mooney was in 2022, it’s not like any other Bears’ pass-catcher thrived last year. The Bears ranked 31st in pass rate and recorded the league’s lowest pass rate over expectation (-14.1%) since 2016.
  

What to Expect in 2023

• Mooney’s standing on the depth chart has taken a massive hit. The Bears added former Steelers WR Chase Claypool ahead of the trade deadline last year and acquired D.J. Moore via trade this offseason.
• Mooney figures to battle Claypool and TE Cole Kmet for targets behind Moore.
• While we expect the Bears to throw more this year, it’s unlikely that they’ll pass at a high enough clip to support multiple fantasy-viable receivers.