Week 1 vs New York Giants
Amari Cooper will now get a full season with his quarterback Dak Prescott and this should let him be a very good fantasy wide receiver in 2019. Cooper was reborn after coming over from Oakland during the season and gave the Cowboys a true No. 1 receiver.
Cooper will face a Giants defense Week 1 that was 24th in aFPA to wide receivers. He was limited to five receptions for 31 yards in the season finale last season, but should be ready to be more impactful this time around.
Start Cooper Week 1 as a solid WR1 and expect around six receptions for 80 yards and his odds of scoring are very good as Prescott looks for him in the red zone.
Fantasy Upside
Amari Cooper was reborn in Big D after the trade from the Raiders during last season. Cooper put up numbers like his first two seasons in Oakland. With the Cowboys, he caught 66 passes for 896 yards and seven touchdowns including the playoffs. The Dallas offense should be very good, and Cooper should benefit from a full season with QB Dak Prescott. He has proven he can be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL and filled a need the Cowboys were lacking.
Fantasy Downside
So, what went wrong last season in Oakland? That’s the big question and can it happen in Dallas? The circumstances say otherwise just because of the offensive support system Cooper has with the Cowboys.
2019 Bottom Line
Cooper’s fantasy stock is on the rise and he ranks as a solid WR1 heading into the 2019 season. His ADP is 30 which has him going in the third round. Do not be afraid to take him higher. Cooper is definitely a top 10 fantasy receiver and is projected to have 92 receptions for 1,235 yards and eight touchdowns.
Week 19 at Los Angeles Rams
After being quiet for three weeks, Amari Cooper emerged in last week's playoff game with the numbers we had seen mid-season. He caught seven passes for 106 yards. The Cowboys will rely heavily on him in the passing game in the postseason and that was evident last week.
Cooper has a great matchup as the Rams are 29th in aFPA to wide receivers. Even though Ezekiel Elliot is the focus of the Dallas offense, Cooper will get freed up on play action. Still, the numbers won't be as good on the road this week so Cooper ranks a second tier receiver for Week 19.
Week 18 vs. Seattle Seahawks
Amari Cooper's numbers have dipped over the last three games as opposing defenses have paid more attention to him in recent weeks. He has only 13 catches for 83 yards over that span. Don't be fooled by those numbers. Dallas will target Cooper heavily in Week 18.
The Seahawks are 18th in aFPA to wide receivers. They will have to choose whether to key on Ezekiel Elliot or Amari Cooper. That should give Cooper some opportunities. Expect at least eight targets which will equal production. Cooper is one of the top receivers in Week 18 but there are some better options.
Week 17 at New York Giants
Amari Cooper had cooled off over the past two weeks with eight receptions for 52 yards. He is still a major factor in the Cowboys offense, but with Dallas locked into the No. 4 seed, the starters will probably not play as much as usual.
Cooper will face the Giants who are 16th in aFPA to wide receivers. We still expect Cooper to play enough to have fantasy value, but he is limited to a role as a low-end WR2 for Week 17.
Week 16 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Amari Cooper came back down to earth with a four reception game for 32 yards. It was an off day for the Dallas offense overall so we will give them a pass. They will be back in the friendly confines of Jerry World and have a good chance to get back to where they were.
Cooper will face the Buccaneers who are 20th in aFPA to wide receivers. The Cowboys offense should be fine this week and expect Cooper to get back to form. Start him as a low-end WR for Week 16.
Week 15 at Indianapolis Colts
Amari Cooper had the best fantasy wide receiver performance of the year last week against Philly. He had 10 receptions for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Since his arrival, Cooper has become the focus of the Dallas passing game and opponents have not been able to keep him from putting up good fantasy numbers although we don't expect him to do what he did last week every week.
Cooper will have a tougher defensive matchup this week as the Colts are 11th in aFPA to wide receivers. We expect him to continue to get targets (he has averaged 10 per game over the last three). Start Cooper as a low-end WR1 for Week 15.
Week 14 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Amari Cooper has 16 receptions for 256 yards and two touchdowns over the past two games. This is what the Cowboys envisioned when they gave up a No. 1 draft pick for the veteran wide receiver who is the legit number one guy for QB Dak Prescott in the passing game. Cooper is the most targeted Cowboy since he arrived in Dallas.
Cooper had six catches for 75 yards in the first meeting back in Week 10 against Philadelphia. The Eagles are ranked 27th in aFPA to wide receivers, so Cooper should have a big day again this week. Start him as a high-end WR2 for Week 14 and expect similar or better numbers than the first time he faced the Eagles.
Week 13 vs. New Orleans Saints
Amari Cooper had his best game as a Cowboy on Thanksgiving with eight receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns. He has been the most targeted player for the Cowboys since he joined the team and there is no doubt he is the No. 1 wide receiver for Dallas. The breakout game numbers will probably happen again this season which is a good sign if you own him.
Cooper faces the Saints who are 27th in aFPA to wide receivers so the favorable matchup for him could mean another big game. As long as QB Dak Prescott keeps targeting him, he should put up numbers. Start Cooper as a solid WR2 for Week 13.
Week 12 vs. Washington Redskins
Amari Cooper had his worst game as a Cowboy last Sunday recording only three catches for 36 yards. He was only targeted five times. The Cowboys have won two straight games and the offense has looked better. But Cooper hasn't put up huge numbers like many in Dallas thought he could.
Cooper will face Washington who is 17th in aFPA to wide receivers. With a neutral matchup, Cooper still only rates a low-end WR2 for Week 12. Dallas needs to get him more targets if he is going to put up No. 1 receiver type numbers.
