Week 2 vs. New York Jets
Cleveland showed they are going to be limited in the passing game with Jacoby Brissett. They never had much of a chance to utilize their new toy, Amari Cooper. He saw six targets, but only caught three of them for just 17 yards. You also may be surprised to hear this, but the Jets offer a pretty tough matchup for Cooper. Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed both had strong showings in their debuts with the Jets. Until we really see some strong work from Cooper and a stronger connection with Brissett, Cooper is a borderline flex option in Week 2.
Week 1 at Carolina Panthers
This is a tough spot for Amari Cooper. The Browns brought him in to help shore up the wide-receiver group. But now it's Jacoby Brissett at quarterback so Cleveland may lean heavily on the run. And when they do pass, it's possible Brissett connects more with TE David Njoku. Cooper looks like a WR3, at best, and is outside our top-40 WRs for the week. You may be better off looking for another option if you can.
2022 Fantasy Upside
The first big acquisition the Browns made this offseason and it only cost them a fifth-round pick to do so. Amari Cooper comes to Cleveland perhaps with a chip on his shoulder after being a cap-casualty trade candidate from the Cowboys and now has a chance to really shine again as the top guy in Cleveland, especially with Jarvis Landry now in New Orleans. Whoever is behind center for the Browns will undoubtedly be looking Cooper’s way quite a bit.
2022 Fantasy Downside
If Jacoby Brissett has to play quarterback, that knocks the entire offense down a notch, including Cooper. And chances are, Brissett is going to play a few games and we can’t yet rule out the possibility of him playing the entire season if Deshaun Watson receives a full-season suspension.
2022 Bottom Line
Cooper should still gobble up targets no matter who is at quarterback and should at least be a steady fantasy option. He’s going off the board near round six and should be viewed as a high-floor flex option.
Week 17 versus Arizona Cardinals
Cooper saw double-digit targets for the third time this season Week 16 and pulled in his second touchdown over the past month. The Arizona Cardinals matchup Week 17 is tougher than Week 16’s against WFT, but injuries could leave the Cardinals depleted against one of the best passing offenses in football. Cooper is a top 25 wideout Week 17 with a chance to be Dallas’s WR1 for the week.
Week 16 versus Washington Football Team
No Cowboys receiver has been hurt by a stagnant offense than Cooper. He has the fewest yards and receptions over the past three games with Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb active. Dak Prescott has not had his best stretch of football the past month but a home game against the porous WFT secondary could be the cure. WFT ranks 27th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to wideouts. Cooper is a WR3 until production improves.
Week 15 at New York Giants
Cooper’s targets returned to normal and despite an off game from Dak Prescott, Cooper was the recipient of his only touchdown pass. He is back in the good graces of the WR2 category and continues to be a safety valve for Prescott.
Week 14 at Washington Football Team
For one play Week 13, Amari Cooper looked back. Then he added one reception for one more yard. It was good to see Cooper slowly work back into the Cowboys rotation, but it was clear he was not 100% following his COVID-19 diagnosis. He only played 34.3% of snaps in Week 13, so it will be interesting to see if he eclipses at least 50% Week 14. Cooper has a fair amount of boom/bust attached to him this week despite a plus matchup against Washington’s secondary. The upside is there, but if he does not increase his practice reps ahead of Sunday’s game, it could be another quiet week.
Week 13 at New Orleans Saints
Cooper is capital ‘Q’ questionable because of COVID-19. He has been at the Cowboys’ facility, but lingering symptoms of illness have prevented the wideout from practicing. If Cooper does not play, he will have missed three straight games because of the virus.
Week 11 at Kansas City Chiefs
Cooper will miss Week 11's game due to COVID-19 protocols and is at risk of missing Week 12's Thanksgiving game.
Week 10 vs Atlanta Falcons
Cooper’s hamstring injury limited his snaps in Week 9, but he still saw five targets on 36 snaps. If the hamstring is still a major issue, it will cap Cooper’s upside with an easy matchup in Week 10 against Atlanta. The Falcons are bottom-10 in aFPA against every skill position, so a limited game from Cooper could make him the WR3 in production for Dallas. Monitor his practice reps and adjust expectations accordingly.
