Is Amari Cooper Injured or Playing In Week 17? Should I Start Elijah Moore For Fantasy Football?

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper is coming off a monster performance in Week 16 against the Houston Texans. The veteran caught 11 of his 15 targets for 265 yards and two touchdowns. Needless to say, he won a ton of fantasy managers matchups in the semifinals of the fantasy playoffs.

However, Cooper is banged during a short week ahead of the Thursday Night Football contest against the New York Jets. The Jets have one of the best pass defenses in the NFL, so the injury concerns make things even trickier. If Cooper can't play, Elijah Moore will enter the fantasy radar.

Is Cooper playing in Week 17? If he's out, should you consider starting Moore? Let's take a look at Cooper's latest injury update and Moore's fantasy outlook below.

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Is Amari Cooper Playing In Week 17?

Cooper's availability for Thursday night's matchup against the New York Jets has been cloudy all week. In recent breaking news, ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that Cooper will be inactive against the Jets in Week 17. His absence is a serious blow to both a trending Browns passing attack and his fantasy managers who are fighting for a league title in championship matchups.

Browns’ WR Amari Cooper is inactive tonight vs. the Jets.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 28, 2023

Should I Start Elijah Moore for Fantasy Football Week 17?

While Moore becomes a viable fantasy option with Cooper sidelined, he'll have a low floor against the Jets. New York has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers this year, and Moore will be subject to tougher coverage without Cooper on the field.

After earning 12 targets in Joe Flacco's first start this season, Moore has failed to see more than four targets in each of his last two games. He could approach double-digit looks if Cooper isn't available, but it's far from a guarantee.

Ultimately, he should likely be avoided in 12-team leagues, even with Cooper sidelined. In PPR leagues of 14 teams or more, consider him as a flex option, but he has a path to upside due to raw usage.

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