Week 9 at Pittsburgh
Forced to match up frequently with New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis in Week 8, Amari Cooper was unable to get much going on a day where Derek Carr threw for 333 yards. Amari finished the afternoon with five receptions for 46 yards.
Cooper ought to be able to hit the comeback trail in Pittsburgh. While the Steelers have given up just three passing touchdowns in their last three games, they still allow around 270 yards per game and have been burned recently by Arizona’s John Brown and Cincinnati’s A.J. Green. And who can forget Rob Gronkowski’s hat trick against Pittsburgh on opening night? Cooper is a low-level WR1 who has high-level upside.
Week 8 vs. New York Jets
Amari Cooper is doing in 2015 what Mike Evans and Odell Beckham did in 2014, taking the league by storm as a rookie. In Week 7 against what was thought to be a solid San Diego pass defense, Cooper caught five passes for 133 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown where Cooper was dominating in the open field. In six games, Amari has 33 receptions for 519 yards and three touchdowns.
Unfortunately, this looks like a week where Cooper will have a hard time continuing to build his Rookie of the Year candidacy. Though Tom Brady got the better of the Jets last Sunday, New York still boasts a top-5 pass defense and Cooper will probably see a lot of Darrelle Revis, who continues to be one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks. While benching Cooper is not recommended unless you are absolutely loaded at receiver, you should be aware he will be more of a WR2/WR3 than WR1.
Week 7 vs San Diego
The last time the Raiders took the field, Amari Cooper was unable to get much going in a tough matchup with the Broncos, catching four passes for 47 yards. Despite the troubles against Denver, the talented rookie out of Alabama has 28 receptions for 386 yards and two touchdowns.
San Diego generally does a good job in limiting passing yards, but the Chargers have given up 10 touchdowns. And as hot as Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has been playing, Oakland may have to pass a lot to keep pace. Cooper should have no trouble racking up WR2 numbers.
Week 5 vs Denver
Although Amari Cooper did not post gigantic reception or yardage totals in Week 4, catching four passes for 49 yards, he scored his second touchdown thanks to a nifty back of the end zone catch. Outside of Week 1, when Derek Carr did not play a full game due to injury, Cooper has been a consistent weapon for fantasy owners.
That consistency will be put to the test against Denver’s dominating defense. In four games, the Broncos have given up just two passing touchdowns. Additionally, they allow less than 200 passing yards per game. Cooper does not have a high ceiling this week, but he will be targeted enough to remain within the WR2 crowd.
Already a strong contender for Rookie of the Year, Amari Cooper is a major reason why the Raiders are 2-1. He has 20 receptions for 290 yards and a touchdown and caught eight passes for 134 yards in a Week 3 triumph over Cleveland.
If you were to judge Chicago’s defense based on passing yards allowed, they would look good, as the Bears are holding their opponents to under 200 yards a game. But that is partly because Arizona and Seattle built big leads against the Bears. Chicago has allowed eight touchdown passes, and seven of those have gone to wide receivers, three alone to Larry Fitzgerald. Cooper could have a huge Sunday and is an automatic starter across all formats.
Week 3 at Cleveland
The inevitable breakout party for Amari Cooper was quite a bash. Cooper caught seven passes for 109 yards last Sunday, including a 68-yard touchdown as the Raiders won a 37-33 thriller over Baltimore. Cooper has been targeted 20 times in Oakland’s first two games.
The Browns boast a pretty good secondary, with cornerback Joe Haden leading the way, and they've allowed just 199 passing yards per game thus far. However, the Browns surrendered two touchdown passes to the Jets in Week 1 and two more scores against the Titans last Sunday. It is not a dream matchup for Cooper, but Amari can be trusted as a WR2.
Week 2 vs. New Orleans
Amari Cooper made plenty of highlight segments following his first NFL game. However, it was because one of the NFL’s notorious bad boys, Adam “Pacman” Jones of the Cincinnati Bengals, slammed Cooper’s head into his helmet. Cooper survived the dirty play, but like the rest of the Raiders, struggled mightily in a 33-13 loss. Amari caught five passes for 47 yards. His disappointing debut can partly be excused as Oakland quarterback Derek Carr exited early with an injury.
The Ravens clamped down on Denver’s passing game in Week 1, holding Peyton Manning to 175 yards and zero touchdowns. While Cooper lacks upside in a rough matchup, he will probably lead Oakland in targets and can be started as a WR3.
Week 1 vs. Cincinnati
New sensations emerge every season in the NFL, and the Raiders are confident rookie Amari Cooper will give them some much needed star power. Cooper, who had 124 receptions during his final season at Alabama, immediately steps into the fray as Derek Carr’s top target. It will not be easy against Cincinnati, who surrendered just 18 touchdown passes last year. The Bengals lost cornerback Terrance Newman in free agency, but still have veterans Adam Jones and Leon Hall, as well as youngsters such as Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard. Cooper will be challenged, but a heavy amount of targets should help him conquer the Cincinnati secondary and post WR2 numbers in his NFL debut.
Julio Jones has emerged as one of the best receivers in the NFL after being drafted by the Falcons out of the University of Alabama four years ago. Oakland is hoping for the same level of success with another Alabama receiver, Amari Cooper, after selecting him fourth overall in this year’s draft. Cooper led the NCAA in receptions last year with an amazing total of 124 and he also added 16 touchdowns and 1,727 yards. The Raiders have not had a player with the potential of Cooper in many years. Can Amari be this year’s superstar rookie receiver?
Fantasy Upside
In many ways, the best way to measure a player is how well they perform in big games. Although Alabama lost to Ohio State in the college football playoffs, Cooper scored two touchdowns against the Buckeyes. And in the 2014 Iron Bowl, Cooper burned Alabama’s hated rival, Auburn, for 224 yards and three scores. Cooper has already developed chemistry with Oakland’s second-year quarterback, Derek Carr, who played well as a rookie. In Oakland’s third preseason game, Cooper caught four passes for 62 yards against a stout Arizona Cardinals defense. He also had a 40-yard reception against Minnesota.
Fantasy Downside
You would not know it from the lofty reception total he compiled in Tuscaloosa, but Cooper did have issues with drops at times during his college career. While it appears the 21-year-old is on the fast track to being a star, there are no guarantees with rookies, especially if Carr shows any sign of regression. Michael Crabtree, signed to start opposite Cooper, could see plenty of targets if he can regain the form he once displayed in San Francisco.
Bottom Line
Much like Sponge Bob Square Pants and Patrick Star, Cooper and Carr are going to be best buddies. While it remains to be seen if Cooper will be this year’s version of Odell Beckham, he will be an immediate starter with upside for fantasy teams as a WR2/WR3.
