X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

2016 Player vs. Player - Amari Cooper vs. Brandon Marshall

In this series, two RotoBaller experts will discuss the merits of two players with similar value and average draft position (ADP). Remember that situations will change for all players over the course of the summer and it may impact where they are selected in drafts.

This next article comes from staff writers Harris Yudin (@hayudi18) and Ben Ruppert (@ben_ruppert_21). Harris defends second-year wideout Amari Cooper, while Ben shows his support for the veteran Brandon Marshall.

Editor's Note: Purchase a full season NFL Premium Pass (including Draft Kit + DFS Premium), and also get MLB Premium + DFS for free through the playoffs. Premium DFS lineup picks, expert lineups, tools and more - seven days a week. You can see screenshots of our NFL Premium and MLB Premium and DFS tools. What are you waiting for?

 

Amari Cooper (WR, OAK) - Harris Yudin

Amari Cooper finished the 2015 season with 72 receptions, 1,070 yards and six touchdowns, constructing a rookie season eerily similar to that of Mike Evans.

Screen Shot 2016-09-04 at 10.33.31 PM

Last year, while Evans incomprehensibly caught just three touchdown passes in 15 games, he also racked up 1,206 yards and 16.3 yards per reception, 11th and 14th in the league, respectively.

Cooper was the fourth overall pick in the 2015 draft after posting 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior at Alabama in 2014. H3e totaled five 100-yard games as a rookie, and could’ve had more if it weren’t for the plantar fasciitis that supposedly affected him for much of the season.

Cooper, 22, is a polished wideout with solid size and speed— although he’s not off the charts in either aspect. He is a strong route runner with the ability to make plays down the field and in traffic. Despite what his 7.7% drop rate may indicate, he has good hands. In fact, his NFL.com draft profile mentions that he “caught absolutely everything during NFL Scouting combine workout.”

Cooper should continue to build chemistry with quarterback Derek Carr in year two. He finished the 2015 season with 130 targets, leading Oakland on seven different occasions. Michael Crabtree, Cooper’s biggest competition for targets, collected 85 catches on 146 targets, but posted just 922 yards. Additionally, despite having nine touchdown, his longest reception came out to just 38 yards— Cooper had seven catches of at least 38 yards, including a 68-yard score in Week 2. As Carr begins to trust his deep ball more, Cooper should see an uptick in deep looks.

Heading into his second year, Cooper is being drafted as the 13th wide receiver in standard leagues — according to Fantasy Pros — behind Evans, Keenan Allen and Alshon Jeffery. He could very well enjoy a season similar to that of Evans in 2015, except with more touchdowns. That gives him the chance to finish in the top seven or eight among all wideouts.

Brandon Marshall is 32 years old with his own history of dropped passes. Last year, he set a career high in touchdowns with 14 and came just six yards shy of matching his career high in yards. Those numbers are likely unsustainable for a player his age. Marshall is a workhorse who should continue to thrive with Ryan Fitzpatrick back in town.

However, missing just eight games over his 10-year career could certainly take its toll on his body, and it is not unthinkable for Marshall to begin his gradual decline this year. If that means 90 receptions, 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns, Cooper absolutely has the potential to outperform the Jets’ No. 1 receiver.

 

Brandon Marshall (WR, NYJ) - Ben Ruppert

After a down year in 2014 and a trade to the New York Jets for Brandon Marshall, no one really knew what to expect from the aging wideout. Drafted in the fifth round in fantasy leagues, he was able to prove all of us and the Bears wrong by having one of if not his best year as a pro, catching 109 passes (Jets single season record) for 1502 yards and a career-best 14 TDs. While it will be difficult to match those lofty totals, Marshall, at age-32, will still be a dominant force this season.

“Brandon Marshall is too old. He’s bound to fall off at 32.” This common narrative about Marshall is false. Marshall isn’t a player that relies on speed, a trait which can decline very quickly around age-30. What Marshall relies on is his competitiveness, route running, and knowledge of the game. You can take strength and knowledge with you much, much longer than raw speed. As long as Marshall is healthy, he is going to be one of the most productive receivers in the league. Considering he has only missed eight games in his illustrious 10-year career, it shouldn’t be too much of a worry for fantasy owners.

Speaking of his career, let’s take a quick look back at the quarterbacks he’s had throwing to him over the years. Jay Cutler, Chad Henne, Kyle Orton, and Ryan Fitzpatrick are some of the examples. Point being, he has never had a stud QB throwing him the ball, and he’s put up over 1,000 in all but his rookie year and in 2014 when he missed three games, the most in a single season in his career. You may not think Fitzpatrick throws for 30 TDs again after never doing that in his career, but Marshall doesn’t need a perfect QB.

He doesn’t even need a good QB to be successful (looking at you Matt Moore). Fitzpatrick and the Jets threw the ball 604 times last season, which was above the league average. He was one of only 10 receivers with more than 20 red zone targets last season (including teammate Eric Decker). Amari Cooper had only seven all of last season. Marshall is a big, sure-handed receiver that Fitz loves to look for in the end zone. While Marshall won’t likely put up 14 TDs again, double-digit scores is not out of the question.

Marshall did have 10 recorded drops last season, which placed him tied for second in the league with Ted Ginn Jr. and Amari Cooper. However, what sets Marshall apart is the volume of targets he saw. Marshall saw 173 targets last season (fifth overall) and caught 109 passes. Those 10 drops divided by the 173 targets gives you a 5.8% drop rate. Players with higher drop rates: Amari Cooper- 7.7%, Mike Evans- 7.4%, Julian Edelman- 9.1%. Looking at Marshall’s number of drops doesn’t tell the whole story, so don’t let that number fool you on draft day.

Brandon Marshall finished as a top-five receiver last season, and is being drafted as the ninth WR off the board this year. With Marshall you know exactly what you’re getting, even at this stage in his career. He will put well over 1,000 yards in this offense, and has a great chance at double-digit touchdowns once again. He is worth every cent you will spend on him this season, as one of the safest second-round picks there is.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Zach Tom

An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Trevor Williams

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Kyren Williams

Rams Not Willing to Pay Kyren Williams Top-Market Money?
Byron Buxton

Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Alex Bregman

has "Really Good Chance" to Return Before All-Star Break
Christian Kirk

the No. 2 WR in Houston?
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Expected to Return on Friday
Jerome Ford

the Likely Starter for Cleveland to Begin 2025
Chig Okonkwo

"Poised" for Best Season of Career
Xavier Watts

Falcons High on Xavier Watts
Xavier Restrepo

Training With Star Wideouts
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Carter Bryant

Struggles in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Drops a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder

Malevy Leons Logs Impressive Summer League Outing on Tuesday
Dalton Knecht

Collects 25 Points in Lakers Summer League Win
Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Bazley Drops 27 Points in Summer League on Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Tristan Wirfs

Undergoes Knee Surgery, Likely to Miss Start of Season
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Chet Holmgren

Agrees to Rookie Max Extension
Alex Bregman

Not Returning Wednesday
Jhoan Duran

Unavailable Due to Illness
Shane McClanahan

Tosses Clean Frame in First Rehab Appearance
Jacob Wilson

Day-to-Day After HBP
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Reassessed Wednesday
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Malaki Branham

Traded to Washington
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Blake Wesley

Moves to Washington
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Kelly Olynyk

on the Move Again
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Anthony Davis

Recovering From Eye Surgery
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic to Delay Extension Talks Until 2026
Cal Raleigh

Continues Historic Homer Pace Tuesday
Jacob Wilson

Exits Early On Tuesday With Left Hand Contusion
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
Laken Tomlinson

Confident in Texans Offensive Line
J.K. Dobbins

the Starter in Denver?
JT Woods

Seahawks Release JT Woods
Darren Waller

Trade to Miami Becomes Official
Asante Samuel Jr.

Dolphins Interested in Asante Samuel Jr.
Nyheim Hines

Seeking Return to NFL
Dak Prescott

Expects to be Full-Go for Training Camp
Ajay Mitchell

Posts 16 Points in Summer League Win on Monday
Milwaukee Bucks

Vasilije Micic Waived by Bucks
Brice Sensabaugh

Logs 37 points in Summer League Win on Monday
Luis Garcia

Fans Four in Rehab Outing
GG Jackson II

Collects 27 Points in Summer League Loss
Ace Bailey

Scores 18 Points in Summer League Victory
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Kobe Bufkin

Cleared for Summer League Action
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Milwaukee Bucks

Vasilije Micic Agrees to Contract Buyout with Bucks
Anthony Santander

Hoping to Hit Soon
Luis Robert Jr.

Returning in Short Order
Alex Bregman

Could Return Later This Week
Ketel Marte

Day-to-Day with Groin Tightness
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Hunter Greene

Suffers Setback on Monday
T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Still Not Close on New Contract
Terry McLaurin

Still Not Pleased with Contract Situation
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Yu Darvish

to Make Season Debut on Monday
MLB

Nationals Fire Dave Martinez, Mike Rizzo
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF