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Cooper Kupp 2020 Outlook: Great Player, but Questions Abound
One of the most difficult players to evaluate heading into the 2020 season is Cooper Kupp. A lot of what you believe hinges upon whether you think his first half usage or second half usage is the real Kupp. Over the first eight weeks of the season, Kupp was the WR3, averaging 21 ppg. From week 9 to week 16, Kupp was borderline unstartable - the WR45, averaging 11.4 ppg. For comparison purposes, you would've been better off with Cole Beasley, Randall Cobb, James Washington, and Hunter Renfrow over that span. The biggest problem was that Sean McVay decided to flat out bench Kupp for long stretches. Weeks 14 and 16 were especially troublesome as Kupp played 34.3% and 58.6% of the snaps. From week 13 on, Kupp scored a touchdown in every game, which salvaged his fantasy value, but his usage was extremely disconcerting. He was regularly out-snapped by Johnny Mundt! It appears as though Kupp is the odd man out when the Rams use 12 personnel. Even with Brandin Cooks gone, McVay has shown that he would rather have Josh Reynolds and Robert Woods out there in two receiver sets. I like Kupp. He has WR1 upside. If you think he plays in two receiver sets and is a near every down player, then he's a steal anywhere past the third round. If you think he comes off the field too much for backup tight ends, then he's a hard fade.
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