Cooper Kupp Never Lost His Elite Status

Jason Wood's Cooper Kupp Never Lost His Elite Status Jason Wood Published 07/07/2023

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The Kupp Runneth Over

Are you surprised that Cooper Kupp is a consensus first-round pick and one of the first three receivers off the board in drafts, on average? You're not alone, as Kupp is becoming one of the most debated early-round players. Some consider him a player to avoid completely due to his cost and the changing circumstances. However, there are others who see him as a sensible choice to anchor your roster. While the concerns are valid, we firmly believe that Kupp will prove his worth as a first-round pick and is among a select group of receivers with the potential to finish at the top of the rankings.

An Up and Down Career

While many of us consider Cooper Kupp to be one of the most reliable players in the league, his performance has been inconsistent throughout his first six seasons.

Table: Cooper Kupp Career Statistics (2017-2022)

YR TM G RSH RUSHYD RUSHTD TGT REC RECYD Y/REC RECTD RANK VBD ADP
2017 LAR 15 0 0 0 94 62 869 14.0 5 27 7 57
2018 LAR 8 4 25 0 56 40 566 14.2 6 47 36
2019 LAR 16 2 4 0 134 94 1162 12.4 10 4 47 21
2020 LAR 15 4 33 0 125 92 974 10.6 3 34 13
2021 LAR 17 4 18 0 191 145 1947 13.4 16 1 171 18
2022 LAR 9 9 52 1 98 75 812 10.8 6 22 14 1
Total 80 23 132 1 698 508 6330 12.5 46 239

After establishing himself as a top fantasy option in 2019, high expectations surrounded Kupp heading into the 2020 season. However, the Rams' offense struggled as a whole, with Jared Goff's declining performance and difficulties in converting drives into touchdowns. Both Kupp and his teammate Robert Woods were limited to short-yardage work, resulting in a highly disappointing season for Kupp. It was later revealed that Kupp had played through two knee injuries—a de-gloving injury and bursitis. However, it's common for players to attribute poor seasons to injuries after the fact, making it questionable to trust in a bounceback.

But indeed, Kupp did bounce back. With the Rams trading Goff for Matthew Stafford, the offense transformed from good to fantastic, and Kupp not only reclaimed his WR1 status but also came close to rewriting the record books. He finished the 2021 season with a historic performance, recording 145 receptions, 1,947 yards, and 16 touchdowns. By any measure, his 2021 season was one for the history books.

Table: Best Fantasy Seasons, Wide Receiver (PPR Scoring, 1960-2022)

Rank Name Year Recs ReYds YPR TDs FPTs
1 Cooper Kupp 2021 145 1947 13.43 16 435.7
2 Jerry Rice 1995 122 1848 15.15 15 396.8
3 Randy Moss 2007 98 1493 15.23 23 385.3
4 Marvin Harrison 2002 143 1722 12.04 11 381.2
5 Antonio Brown 2015 136 1834 13.49 10 379.4
6 Antonio Brown 2014 129 1698 13.16 13 376.8
7 Randy Moss 2003 111 1632 14.7 17 376.2
8 Herman Moore 1995 123 1686 13.71 14 375.6
9 Isaac Bruce 1995 119 1781 14.97 13 375.1
10 Julio Jones 2015 136 1871 13.76 8 371.1
11 Cris Carter 1995 122 1371 11.24 17 361.1
12 Davante Adams 2020 115 1374 11.95 18 360.4
13 Calvin Johnson 2011 96 1681 17.51 16 360.1
14 Torry Holt 2003 117 1696 14.5 12 358.6
15 Justin Jefferson 2022 128 1809 14.13 8 356.9
16 Marvin Harrison 1999 115 1663 14.46 12 353.3
17 Marvin Harrison 2001 109 1524 13.98 15 351.4
18 Brandon Marshall 2015 109 1502 13.78 14 343.2
19 Jerry Rice 1994 112 1499 13.38 13 339.9
20 Jerry Rice 1993 98 1503 15.34 15 338.3
21 Davante Adams 2022 100 1516 15.16 14 335.6
22 Jerry Rice 1986 86 1570 18.26 15 333.0
23 Jerry Rice 1989 82 1483 18.09 17 332.3
24 Tyreek Hill 2022 119 1710 14.37 7 332.0
25 Steve Smith 2005 103 1563 15.17 12 331.3

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Tags:
Analysis WR spotlight Los Angeles Rams Davante Adams Cam Akers Keenan Allen A.J. Brown Antonio Brown Ja'Marr Chase Amari Cooper Stefon Diggs Aaron Donald Mike Evans Leonard Floyd Greg Gaines Chris Godwin Jared Goff Troy Hill Tyreek Hill Justin Hollins DeAndre Hopkins Justin Jefferson Van Jefferson Julio Jones Christian Kirk Cooper Kupp CeeDee Lamb Tyler Lockett Michael Pittman Jr Jalen Ramsey A'Shawn Robinson Nick Scott DeVonta Smith Matthew Stafford Amon-Ra St. Brown Michael Thomas Jaylen Waddle Bobby Wagner Robert Woods
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