Cooper Kupp, the former NFL WR Triple Crown winner, is ready to dominate fantasy football once again.
After battling injuries that sidelined him for 13 games over the past two seasons, including hamstring and ankle issues last year, Kupp is “all the way back” and shining in recent practices as Matthew Stafford’s primary target, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
With both Kupp and teammate Puka Nacua projected for over 115 targets, Kupp stands out as the Rams receiver to target in 2024 fantasy football. Despite Kupp’s WR22 ADP compared to Nacua’s WR7, his proven track record and renewed health make him a value target in 2024 fantasy football drafts.
“He’s on an absolute mission,” a team source told Fowler. “He was deeply affected about not being out there for parts of last year.”
We all remember the ‘Breakfast Club‘ narrative that led to one of the greatest wide receiver seasons of all time. Now, it appears the duo is back to that elite level with Kupp healthy and Stafford peppering him with targets.
“Three years ago, I noticed that Matthew Stafford couldn’t stop throwing to Kupp, who turned every target into yardage,” wrote Fowler.
“This time around felt similar. With the Rams’ offensive line depleted on this day, Stafford wasted no time getting Kupp the ball, including multiple times in the red zone… The former Triple Crown winner could be getting his spot in the receiver pantheon back sooner rather than later, because the offense clearly runs through him,” Fowler added.
Over the weekend, Rams beat writer Stu Jackson noted a play highlighting Kupp’s return to greatness with Stafford. In an 11v11 red zone rep against the first-team defense, Kupp created separation on the top of his route, and Stafford lofted up a dime to the back of the end zone, where his receiver gained control and got two feet in for the touchdown.
It looked like 2021 again.
NFL Network’s Peter Schrager echoed Fowler’s opinions when he visited his buddy Sean McVay at Rams camp, noting that the trio of Stafford, Kupp, and Nacua are ‘dialed in.’
“Stafford looks incredible, and Kupp and Nacua are dialed in,” Schrager said. “Cooper Kupp, coming off a little bit of an injury, wasn’t himself last year maybe, looks amazing. He is in the best shape he’s been in in years.”
Health will always be a concern at this point in Kupp’s career. However, fantasy managers should gamble on Cooper Kupp’s 2024 fantasy outlook as he slides into round three and sometimes even round four in drafts.
COOPER KUPP 2024 FANTASY OUTLOOK
Cooper Kupp, now 31, had a legendary receiver season in 2021, leading the NFL in catches (145), receiving yards (1,947), and receiving touchdowns (16). However, injuries have limited Kupp to only 21 games since that remarkable season.
In 2022, he led his position in fantasy points per game before being shut down in the second half of the season due to an ankle injury. Then, he missed a chunk of time in 2023 due to hamstring and ankle injuries. During those two seasons, he caught 134 balls for 1,549 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Those injuries in 2023 allowed Nacua to emerge as Stafford’s go-to target as a rookie. Nacua responded impressively, posting 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. His stellar performance earned him recognition as one of the top fantasy performers of the season. When healthy, Kupp showed glimpses of greatness, finishing as a top-five receiver in three weeks, but busted big-time in four weeks.
Luckily, Kupp and Nacua have a gunslinger at quarterback who heavily targets his receivers. Plus, McVay’s offense utilizes three-WR sets at the highest clip in the league. With Kupp and Nacua as the team’s clear top wideouts, both will be mainstays on the field.
Although Nacua will boost his fantasy outlook by utilizing his playmaking skills on designed runs, screens, and quick hitters, Fowler is puzzled by the two teammates’ ADP discrepancy.
“Receiver Puka Nacua will have immense fantasy value, but his ceiling as a first-round target in drafts is still tough to figure,” wrote Fowler. “Kupp was clearly the No. 1 based on what I saw in practice, though Nacua still has plays designed for him, and those plays are relatively clean (a high probability of completion).”
There’s a decent chance I could be wrong, and Kupp could be washed at age 31. However, I’m willing to take the third or fourth-round gamble that Kupp is better than what he showed during an injury-plagued 2023.
Nacua could lead the team in targets, but I’m opting to draft the cheaper option with a similar fantasy ceiling. Kupp should give his owners weekly WR2/starter output, which would be a great return at his WR22 ADP.
The Wolf is higher on the vet than the experts, ranking Kupp WR18 (+3 vs ECR) on his 2024 Fantasy Football Rankings.
