Week 10 at San Francisco 49ers
The WR1 can rack up yards against the 49ers in Week 10, but credit to their defense for limiting receiver touchdowns. Kupp is the best slot receiver the 49ers will face this season and is comfortably a top option Monday night.
Week 9 versus Tennessee Titans
WR1 in fantasy football and breakfast Twitter. Kupp has at least 115 yards and one touchdown in three straight games and gets the 31st-ranked defense in aFPA to wide receivers. Kupp is the favorite to lead receivers in scoring Week 9.
Week 8 at Houston Texans
Kupp is on pace to have the WR1 season and gets one of the best matchups against the Houston Texans. Yes, they rank highly in aFPA. No, it does not matter as Kupp continues to make opposing secondaries look awful. After not allowing a passing score since Week 1, Houston has allowed at least one each of the past two weeks. The Texans have also allowed an opposing receiver to catch seven passes four times in six games.
Week 7 vs Lions
Kupp’s touchdown “drought” ended Week 6 at two games as he exploded for 130 yards receiving on nine catches. Week 7 brings the Lions’ ninth-ranked defense against opposing wide receivers according to aFPA. Despite ranking top 10, the Lions have allowed four 100-yard receiving games and a touchdown to another receiver in two of those instances. If Kupp does hit the century mark, he would be the first to do so against the Lions from the slot. Depending on how the Rams attack the Lions’ last-ranked rushing defense, Kupp could be forced to be efficient to reach his WR1 status in Week 7.
Week 6 at Giants
Despite not scoring the past two weeks, Cooper Kupp only has one game without double-digit fantasy points. Kupp faces a Giants pass defense that is 24th in aFPA and has allowed to receiving touchdowns to slot receivers. Kupp averages 11 targets per game and will be the best receiver the Giants face to this point in the season. He is ranked third in 4for4’s Week 6 wide receiver rankings.
Week 5 at Seahawks
Fantasy players who roster Cooper Kupp had to settle for a 5/64/0 line Week 4, but the slot receiver logged a season-high 13 targets. Seattle has allowed four-plus receptions to slot receivers in three of four games and three touchdowns. Kupp is a top 10 option as Matthew Stafford’s favorite receiving target.
Week 4 vs Cardinals
One way to cool down Cooper Kupp is to see him against a top secondary. There is a good chance Week 4 is not that week. The Cardinals rank 19th in aFPA against the wide receiver position and have allowed at least one touchdown to the position each week. Arizona has also allowed three receivers to collect at least three catches in each game. Even if Kupp were to cool off by his standards to open 2021, 100 yards receiving and/or a touchdown seems inevitable this week. He will once again be in the battle for the WR1 this week.
Week 3 vs Buccaneers
Pardon my language but holy heck Cooper Kupp! The addition of QB Matthew Stafford has unlocked a new level to Kupp’s game. He is averaging six more yards per reception in 2021 (16.94) than he had in 2020, and while it may feel unsustainable, this could be the new expectation for the slot receiver. The Bucs allowed CeeDee Lamb to get 100-plus yards and a touchdown in the slot Week 1 and with Sean Murphy-Bunting on IR, Kupp is in line to be the next slot presence to eclipse the century mark. Kupp is a WR1 until further notice.
Week 2 vs Colts
Matthew Stafford knew the Bears had a weakness at the nickel corner position and exposed it with Cooper Kupp. A reprise is in the cards against a Colts secondary that allowed 100 yards and two touchdowns to Tyler Lockett Week 1. Kupp may not see a blown coverage like the one he experienced against Chicago but it is clear the duo of Stafford and Kupp can exploit an injured Colts secondary.
Week 1 vs Bears
Despite being bottom-five in targets to slot receivers since 2009 (PFF), Matthew Stafford will be looking Cooper Kupp’s way early and often in Week 1. Artie Burns and Duke Shelley are battling for nickelback snaps in Chicago, and no matter who wins the role they will struggle against arguably the best slot receiver in the NFL. Kupp is a WR2 that very well could be a WR1 when the clock hits 0:00 Sunday night.
