Rondale

Moore

Moore was carted off the field on Wednesday sporting an air cast. What appeared to be a bad injury was confirmed on Thursday when the team announced Moore would be out for the season. We don’t know the specifics of the injury, but we will likely know more about that in the coming days. Moore was acquired by the Falcons earlier this offseason in a trade that sent Desmond Ridder to the Cardinals. Moore caught 40 passes for 352 yards and one touchdown last season but was spotted on multiple occasions working with the backups in training camp.

Moore was seen wearing an inflatable cast on his injured leg. It would appear Moore will miss an extended period, if not the entire 2024 season after being traded from the Cardinals to the Falcons in the offseason. Ray-Ray McCloud was already running ahead of Moore as Atlanta’s top slot receiver option. McCloud could see a full complement of routes alongside Drake London and Darnell Mooney if Moore is done for the year.

McCloud has easily outperformed Rondale Moore, who was acquired in an offseason trade involving QB Desmond Ridder. While Moore has made some plays with Michael Penix in the Falcons’ second-team offense during camp, it’s the veteran McCloud who has functioned as the first-team option through the spring and summer. “I have the ultimate confidence in him,” Atlanta wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard said of McCloud. “I think he’s going to be really good for our football team.” McCloud worked primarily as a kicker returner in San Francisco before signing with the Falcons this offseason. His best receiving season came in 2021 with the Steelers, when he had 39 receptions for 277 scoreless yards. McCloud could benefit from what is expected to be a pass-heavy Atlanta offense, though he would be the team’s fourth or fifth pass-catching option barring wideout injuries.

Drake London reiterated Hilliard’s objectives, saying the “ball’s gonna be in the air” and “slow feet don’t eat.” The Falcons’ new OC Zac Robinson, formerly the Rams’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, helped guide the Rams 2023 offense to NFL’s highest 11 personnel (three wide receivers) snap count (1,144) while utilizing a 60.4 percent passing rate in one-score games, 5.6 percent higher than the Falcons’ 54.8 percent rate. Waack noted slot receiver Rondale Moore and downfield specialist Darnell Mooney’s respective 4.29- and 4.38-second 40-yard dashes. The trio, side-kicked by Kyle Pitts (4.44 seconds at Florida’s pro day), possess the requisite speed to achieve Hilliard’s goal.

The rare player-for-player trade sends Moore to the Falcons as yet another weapon for Kirk Cousins after Atlanta previously signed Darnell Mooney. They are beefing up what had been an undermanned receiver corps, though it’s fair to question how big of an addition Moore really is. Under-utilized and frequently banged up in Arizona, 5-foot-7 Moore has still managed at least 40 catches each of the past three years. He was not playing for creative offensive minds in Arizona. The Falcons not only have Cousins, but the latest Sean McVay disciple in Zac Robinson. With Moore still somehow only 24 years old (in June), you can keep the Dynasty league candle burning just a little bit longer.

The diminutive gadget wide receiver has struggled to carve out a meaningful role in the absence of Kliff Kingsbury, ending the 2023 season with 40 receptions for 352 yards and one touchdown. The Cardinals hold the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and appear to have struck gold on rookie wide receiver Michael Wilson, meaning both Moore and fellow veteran wide receiver Marquise Brown could be on their way out of Arizona, particularly considering Moore’s small $500,000 dead cap hit in 2024.

Moore’s missed connection was a blatant drop on what should have been a monster second quarter gain. Continuing to get out-targeted by Greg Dortch — though only barely this afternoon — Moore is once again having trouble sustaining WR4 value. The 49ers are a brutal Week 15 matchup for when the Cardinals come off bye.

Moore hasn’t been involved as much as you’d like over the past couple of weeks. In this negative game script he still wasn’t able to muster up much production. It may be time to cool off a little on his potential upside.

The day got off to a tremendous start for the diminutive slot receiver, as Kyler Murray hit Moore in stride for a long score on Arizona’s first drive of the game. Besides two first half rushes, Moore was a non-factor in the Cardinals offense despite running a full complement of pass routes. Moore’s usage suggests he should be part of an ascending Cardinals offense but his lack of targets in a pass-heavy attack against Houston is concerning. Moore will be a WR3/4 in PPR formats next week against the Rams.

Wilson missed Week 9 with the shoulder issue but returned to action last week. He was not on the injury report this week until being listed as limited on Friday. The Cardinals did not give him a designation heading into the weekend, but it’s clear he suffered the setback on Friday. Arizona likely didn’t determine the extent of the injury until Saturday. Zach Pascal will step onto the field for three-receiver sets in his place. There isn’t much fantasy value to be had with him, but fantasy managers can feel more confident in starting Rondale Moore and Marquise Brown with Wilson out.