Is Cooper Kupp The WR1 For The Rams When He Returns?

Will Cooper Kupp start as WR1 for the Los Angeles Rams when he returns? John Johnson breaks down the Cooper Kupp return timeline and fantasy football outlook.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp had a fantastic 2024 season through one game -- he was forced out of his Week 2 contest against the rival Arizona Cardinals with an ankle injury and hasn't played a down since. He's an elite receiver, but injuries have interrupted his past three campaigns now.

He played just nine games in 2022 before missing the rest of the season and competed in 12 outings in 2023, yet was clearly hobbled, as was confirmed after the season by the Los Angeles coaching staff. It's been a rough couple of years for the All-Pro and Super Bowl MVP.

So will Cooper Kupp be the WR1 for the Los Angeles Rams when he returns to play?

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Will Cooper Kupp Be The WR1 For The Rams When He Returns?

Unquestionably yes. There is absolutely nothing to suggest that another Rams receiver could take that job away from him as long as he's on the field. In Week 1, he was targeted 21 times, good for the second-most targets earned by a player in a game (Garrett Wilson had 23 in Week 5).

Cooper Kupp’s 21 Targets in Week 1 tied Davante Adams (2023) for the highest target total in a single game since 2016.

Last season only three players (Adams x2, ARSB & Keenan Allen) had games with 20 or more targets.

It is officially Cooper Kupp SZN
pic.twitter.com/mvk4sSUdJA

— TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) September 12, 2024

Head coach Sean McVay's offense will run through the eighth-year pro, who is still one of the league's premier receivers at consistently getting open. While he may have lost a step from his younger days, he's still very sudden with his movements and able to put opposing defensive backs in a blender.

Cooper Kupp W1 Target Cut-Up

21 Targets
14 Receptions
110 Yards
1 TD pic.twitter.com/2tf9UG3xxb

— Mike Vannucci (@WRCoachVannucci) September 9, 2024

 

Cooper Kupp Fantasy Football Outlook

He's a massive PPR fantasy football cheat code, especially when fellow wide receiver Puka Nacua doesn't play. He's far better than the other receivers on the Rams roster, and he's targeted a ridiculous number of times by quarterback Matthew Stafford. 21 targets in Week 1 was a ridiculous clip.

Leaders in YPRR [Since 2021]

1. Tyreek Hill (3.08) 👑
2. A.J. Brown (2.79)
3. Cooper Kupp (2.79)

Leaders in YPRR without designed targets [Since 2021]

1. A.J. Brown (3.69) 👑
2. Tyreek Hill (3.68)
3. Justin Jefferson (3.37)

H/T @DanJWhisner for my fav stat of the offseason

— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) August 14, 2024

The passing offense is entirely structured around his ability to consistently beat any type of coverage the defense throws at him. He's designed a ton of targets and is often Stafford's first read. Kupp may have lost a step, but a complete receiver that's lost a step is still a complete receiver.

He's a league winner, especially in PPR formats, if he can stay healthy, and should never see the bench in fantasy leagues if he's on the field come game time.

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