RADIO
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp came out of nowhere in 2019 to become a reliable fantasy option. During that campaign, Kupp finished as the WR5 in PPR formats. Then, the Rams traded for quarterback Matthew Stafford before the 2021 season, which pushed the wideout to fantasy stardom.
In their first year together in 2021, Kupp set the single-season record for most fantasy points by a wideout with 439.5 PPR fantasy points. That year saw the playmaker rack up 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns behind a whopping 25.9 PPR fantasy points per game.
However, Kupp has not finished as a WR1 since that 2021 campaign. He is also coming off one of the worst fantasy finishes of his career (WR40 in PPR formats). So, are you in or out on the 31-year-old this season? Let's dive in and look at the good and the bad in drafting the Rams wideout in 2024.
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The Bad - Age + Injury History
When NFL players hit a certain age, their production starts to drop off. At 31 years old, Kupp is not on the right side of that age decline. Fantasy managers have also started to see age catch up to the veteran wideout, as he has missed a large portion of the past two seasons due to injuries.
In 2022, Kupp only played in nine games after undergoing season-ending ankle surgery in Week 11. But most fantasy managers looked past that injury heading into the 2023 season, considering the Rams playmaker averaged 22.3 PPR fantasy points during that year. Then, he suffered a hamstring strain in training camp before reaggravating his hamstring in late August, which caused him to miss the first four games.
Are you in or out on Cooper Kupp this season? pic.twitter.com/4sTqjh36iy
— Nick Penticoff (@NickPenticoff) June 7, 2024
Playing in nine games in 2022 and only 12 games last year does not bode well for Kupp in 2024. After missing 13 games over the past two seasons, it might not be easy for fantasy managers to rely on the wideout for all 17 games this season. With the veteran showing signs of decline -- given his age and injury history -- he will likely be a high-risk selection in the early part of fantasy drafts this summer.
The Good - In A Pass-Heavy Offense
Of course, Kupp has dealt with some injuries over the past couple of years. But what has made him so appealing in fantasy is his situation with the Rams. He is in a pass-first, pass-heavy offense led by Stafford and offensive-minded head coach Sean McVay. That alone should help the wideout post solid numbers again in 2024.
Since Stafford arrived in Los Angeles, he has thrown a ton of passes. In 2021, he ranked eighth in pass attempts (601) and seventh in completions (404). 2022 wasn't the best passing year for the veteran quarterback, considering he came into the year with an elbow injury and dealt with a nagging thumb issue for several weeks. However, he did average 37.5 pass attempts per game through the first six weeks of that season.
Nobody wants to admit it but you should leave every fantasy football draft with Cooper Kupp on your squad. pic.twitter.com/IwMZYtr48u
— Moody (@EricNMoody) June 19, 2024
Then, last year, Stafford averaged 34.7 pass attempts per game, which ranked sixth among all quarterbacks who played above 10 games. Given the offense that Kupp is a part of, the 31-year-old will surely get his fair share of opportunities in the passing game. The Rams like to pass a lot, and having a 15-year veteran running the show should help the former All-Pro wideout in fantasy. There's also no doubt that Stafford and Kupp have built a strong connection on the field together, which shouldn't stop in 2024.
The Bad - Puka Nacua
One thing that made Kupp one of the best fantasy options over the past few years was the Rams' lack of weapons outside of him. In 2021, Van Jefferson totaled the second-most receiving yards (802) on the team, as Robert Woods was hurt for most of the year, and Odell Beckham Jr. didn't join Los Angeles until later that season. In 2022, Tyler Higbee totaled 620 receiving yards, while Ben Skowronek finished third on the team with 376 receiving yards.
That changed last year, though, with the emergence of rookie Puka Nacua. After being drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Nacua immediately made a name for himself and put together the best rookie season by a wide receiver in NFL history. The former BYU product totaled 105 catches for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. His presence surely hurt Kupp's production last year and should continue to hurt his fantasy value in 2024.
It was just three years ago that Kupp saw 191 targets in Los Angeles' offense. During that year, the 31-year-old averaged 11.2 targets per game. But don't expect that high target share for him in 2024. In 12 games in which both the veteran and Nacua played together, Kupp saw 95 targets (7.9 targets per game), while the rookie saw 102 targets (8.5 targets per game).
As a result, fantasy managers can anticipate more of an even target share for both Rams wideouts this season, likely resulting in a lower fantasy ceiling for Kupp.
The Good - Strong PPR Floor
While Kupp might have a lower ceiling than in previous years due to Nacua's presence, it's important to note that he is still a player who has a high floor in fantasy. That was surely the case for the former Eastern Washington star at the end of last season.
Over the final five weeks (Week 13 to Week 17), Kupp was a consistent fantasy option for managers. He scored in double figures in all five of those contests while averaging 18 PPR fantasy points per game. Two of those games also saw the veteran score over 25 PPR fantasy points, and he out-targeted Nacua, 44 to 43, during that stretch.
COOPER KUPP COMEBACK SZN LOADING 🔥
(🎥via @RamsNFL)pic.twitter.com/pdJG5JU5TR
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) April 23, 2024
Even though Kupp has shown signs of slowing down, he can surely still be a strong fantasy option in 2024. He has Stafford throwing him passes again, and he saw at least eight targets in four of the final five weeks of the season. If he can see somewhere between 8-10 targets per game this year, there's no reason why he can't be a strong WR2 option in fantasy. His ability to catch at least 90 passes should give him a strong fantasy floor in PPR formats.
Are You In or Out?
There are surely a lot of things working against Kupp entering his eighth NFL season. For starters, his age and injury history are not in his favor. Nacua's presence is also a big problem for the veteran, given his potential to take away a handful of targets in the passing game.
However, Kupp is definitely a player to be in on in 2024. While fantasy managers shouldn't expect huge fantasy days all the time from the wideout -- like we were all used to seeing -- his high floor in a pass-heavy offense makes him a solid WR2 option in drafts this year. There's also a good chance that he is still Stafford's favorite target in the receiving game, so spending a late third or early fourth-round pick on him could wind up being a bargain.
This will be a big year for fantasy managers who draft Kupp. After two injury-riddled seasons, can he finally stay healthy? The wideout said he is 100% healthy heading into the season for the first time in a while, so that is some encouraging news as we head into drafts. With a current ADP of 42.8, the Rams superstar is a great pick early in leagues.
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