Is Cooper Kupp Playing This Week? Fantasy Football Injury Update For Week 6

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp was limited in practice this week with a foot injury. Kupp is leading the league in receptions this season and is the leading fantasy wide receiver in PPR and standard formats. If he misses his Week 6 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, it would be a huge hit to fantasy managers and the Rams.

What Happened To Cooper Kupp?

Kupp must have picked up this injury at some point during the Rams’ Week 5 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but it is not obvious when. He played 98% of the offensive snaps and did not ever appear to be limping last week. He did not show up on the Week 5 injury report. The injury was only noted when Kupp was listed on the official injury report as “did not practice” on Wednesday and then “limited” on Thursday and Friday.

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Is Cooper Kupp In Danger Of Missing Week 6?

According to Gilbert Manzano, a Rams correspondent for the OC Register and the LA Daily News, Kupp (along with teammates Tyler Higbee and Aaron Donald) is expected to be on the field against the Panthers on Sunday.

This makes sense. The fact that Kupp did not miss any playing time in Week 5 suggests that whatever is ailing him must be a relatively minor injury. AP reporter Greg Beacham quoted Rams coach Sean McVay as saying Kupp was logging lighter practices to recover for the game.

If Kupp plays, fantasy managers should start him as usual. He has played through worse injuries before. A banged-up Kupp is still better than 99% of NFL wide receivers. Kupp is so elite that I am convinced even if he had his limbs dismembered like the Black Knight in Monty Python, if he said he was good to go, you should go with him.

If Kupp Misses Week 6, Who Should I Start in Fantasy Football?

Kupp has accounted for 36.5% of the Rams’ completed passes, 33.4% of their total yards, and 62.5% of their touchdowns. If his injury happens to be more severe than the team is letting on and he has to miss the game or leave early, then one of two things would happen: either a huge amount of targets would open up for the next Ram up or the Los Angeles offense would completely implode.

Given the dismal performance of the Rams this season, I am inclined to believe it would be the latter. Allen Robinson II, who was supposed to be the number two receiver, isn’t getting open. The running backs are going down at the first touch. Tight end Tyler Higbee is doing alright, but he’s only getting fed 10 targets per game because of the lack of production from anyone else.

Whether you look at the eye test or the analytics, the conclusion is the same. Matthew Stafford, Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson Jr., Robinson, and Ben Skowronek, who happens to be the third-leading pass catcher behind Higbee, are all grading in the 50s, according to PFF.

I would say don’t start anyone in the Rams' offense if Kupp is out. Without Kupp, the Rams' offense is as bad as the Panthers'. Rather than open up opportunities for others, it would shut down the whole offense.

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