Week 3 at Arizona Cardinals
At this point what is there to say about Cooper Kupp other than he is dominant? Kupp once again filled the stat sheet securing 11-108-2 on 14 targets in Week 2. This has led him to be top five in every receiving category through the first two weeks of the NFL season. Kupp of course is an auto-start in season long, but the question week to week is if we should pay up for him in daily fantasy. On DraftKings Kupp is the most expensive player on the slate at $9,900. This means for him to return value he would need to get you between 25-30 points in PPR. In the three games vs. Arizona in 2021, Kupp averaged 31, 17, and 11 PPR PPG. Based on that production it might be best to pivot in DFS to less expensive options in Week 3.
Week 2 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Cooper Kupp stated his case again in Week 1 to be the top wide receiver in fantasy. Kupp was third in the NFL in targets with 15, first in receptions with 13, and finished as the WR2 in fantasy on the week. He continued to have elite usage as he was only one of nine wide receivers on the week to run a route on 100% of drop-backs. The most impressive part about Kupp’s dominant performance was it came against the Bills’ top-ranked defense from a year ago.
This week, Kupp should be able to repeat as a top-three option once again vs. the Atlanta Falcons. In Week 1, Atlanta allowed two Saints wide receivers to finish inside the top 20 at the position. This includes allowing the eighth-most points to the slot last week. Kupp earns his targets all over the field, but anytime you can face a plus matchup on the inside, Kupp becomes an elite season-long play and should be on our DFS radar in Week 2.
Week 1 vs. Buffalo Bills
Coming off a career year leading the league in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, Cooper Kupp gives us no reason to doubt he’ll continue to dominate. Virtually matchup-proof, Kupp should be able to produce WR1 numbers even against this stout defense. He is a set-it-and-forget-it type player not only this week but for the entire season.
2022 Fantasy Upside
It was an incredible year for 29-year-old Cooper Kupp, who led all wide receivers in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. He was able to pile up the receptions while accumulating the third-most slot snaps, and finished as the weekly overall WR3 or better on six separate occasions. Kupp’s connection with quarterback Matthew Stafford was strong from Week 1 and should again provide the highest of fantasy floors, especially in PPR formats. Kupp is an automatic Round 1 selection in 2022.
2022 Fantasy Downside
Hard to find a downside with the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, but maybe Allen Robinson takes away some red zone targets? Kupp’s receptions and receiving yards should be safe, since he also competed with Robert Woods last season, but Robinson brings a much better skill set to the Rams offense. It is certainly reasonable to project a decrease from his 16 total touchdowns in 2021.
2022 Bottom Line
There is nothing to overthink here. Cooper Kupp is an elite fantasy wide receiving option, and is a solid first-round pick in all formats. He brings the unique combination of high receiving yardage and red zone efficiency, while tethered to one of the best pure throwers of the football in the league. Cooper Kupp projects for another Top 3 fantasy WR season in 2022.
Week 17 at Baltimore Ravens
Start Cooper Kupp against the 32nd-ranked defense in aFPA to wide receivers. The hardest decision you will make this week.
Week 16 at Minnesota Vikings
Play Cooper Kupp, because you need convincing.
Week 15 versus Seattle Seahawks
Kupp did not score a touchdown the first time he faced the Arizona Cardinals Week 4. Same with the Seahawks one week later. Kupp scored Week 14 against Arizona and now gets Seattle.
Week 14 at Arizona Cardinals
You are starting Cooper Kupp come hell or high water, even if Arizona held him to his lowest yardage output of the season (64 yards). The only reason not to trust Kupp is if the Rams employ a Bill Belichick-esque game plan like we saw in Week 13 in Buffalo.
Week 13 versus Jacksonville Jaguars
Kupp does not have a touchdown in three straight games and broke a five-game streak of at least 20 full-point PPR points Week 12. That is the bad news for Cooper Kupp. He has a solid matchup against Jacksonville this week and is locked in as a top-three receiver this week.
Week 12 at Green Bay Packers
It is unknown if Packers CB Eric Stokes will travel with Kupp into the slot, but if Kupp ends up facing slot CB Rasul Douglas, expect the wideout to have another big day. Despite injuries, the Packers' secondary has managed a top 10 mark against wide receivers according to aFPA, and a lot of that has to do with the safety play behind the corners. If Kupp is to have his patented big day, expect a lot of shorter aDOT passes so Kupp can make plays before the safeties can interrupt his routes farther downfield. Kupp is the top-ranked wideout at 4for4 Week 12.
