{"id":134379,"date":"2022-07-27T20:28:40","date_gmt":"2022-07-28T00:28:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=134379"},"modified":"2022-07-27T20:28:40","modified_gmt":"2022-07-28T00:28:40","slug":"cooper-kupp-2022-fantasy-football-outlook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2022\/07\/27\/cooper-kupp-2022-fantasy-football-outlook\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooper Kupp 2022 Fantasy Football Outlook"},"content":{"rendered":"

For fantasy football connoisseurs things are about to get very real <\/span><\/span><\/span>in the coming weeks<\/span><\/span><\/span>. Knowing that the value and true potency of your team lies in mid to later rounds, why make it harder than it has to be? <\/span><\/span><\/span>Keep it safe and trustworthy early and you give yourself a fighting chance out the gate. <\/span><\/span><\/span>If you don\u2019t sport one of the top two or three picks in your fantasy football draft, Los Angeles Rams<\/a> receiver Cooper Kupp is as safe as it gets.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fantasy Football Outlook: Julio Jones<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

2022 Fantasy Football Profile: Cooper Kupp<\/h2>\n

2021 Recap<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In 2021, Cooper Kupp put together the best year any receiver has ever had in the history of the game. Kupp finished first <\/span><\/span><\/span>in total receiving yards and receiving yards per game (1,947 and 114.5 respectively), receiving touchdowns (16), <\/span><\/span><\/span>and <\/span><\/span><\/span>receptions (145). <\/span><\/span><\/span>Additionally, he was the overall NFL leader in<\/span><\/span><\/span> points per game and target share (31%) with 200<\/span><\/span><\/span>+<\/span><\/span><\/span> targets in <\/span><\/span><\/span>all 21 games played. <\/span><\/span><\/span>His 191 regular-season targets led the league with 56 of those being red zone targets (also league-leading).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Kupp scored 93.2 more PPR points and 31.5 more non-PPR points than <\/span><\/span><\/span>all<\/span><\/span><\/span> other <\/span><\/span><\/span>receivers<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span> His <\/span><\/span><\/span>expected PPR points per game (21.4) also led in 2021 while his more-than-expected PPR (+4.3) finished only behind Deebo Samuel (+6.1) and Ja\u2019Marr Chase (+4.4). Of the 89 <\/span><\/span><\/span>top-rated<\/span><\/span><\/span> receivers Pro Football Focus <\/span><\/span><\/span>graded with 50 or more targets, Kupp led in route-running (3.12 yards per route). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The over-speculated pre-2021 issue of whether or not the Matthew Stafford addition would make a difference was answered with an exclamation mark. Stafford not only read and reacted to defensive schemes better than anyone Kupp was used to but also had better anticipation of Kupp’s route breaks and on-the-fly adjustments. These teammates worked long and hard on timing and rapport. It definitely paid off. Kupp\u2019s 2021 campaign was capped with accolades that included AP Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2022 Outlook<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Some so-called expert NFL analysts and fantasy pros alike have already begun to set the stage for a Cooper Kupp decline in 2022. You should not allow yourself to be coaxed into passing on him by their rhetoric.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>Sure, his numbers can decline. You read the above 2021 recap, right? Who could blame anyone for not duplicating that season? The question you want answered is, can Kupp come close to the same production? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Rams reached the postseason at less than a hundred percent. Whatever that percentage, it dipped further when Odell Beckham Jr. went down<\/a> in the Super Bowl. They went on to win the championship with an offensive firepower shortage. Of course, the dynamic Stafford-Kupp duo can come close to another huge season, and it\u2019s rather easy to see why. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Matthew Stafford is still his quarterback, reason one. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Roughly a year ago, I wrote how the Rams would not be as efficient as needed early on but would solidify towards the season\u2019s end. This year I write no such thing. There is no need to because the team goes into this regular season much more prepared, confident, experienced and comfortable playing together. With that comes the opening and expansion of playbooks and game plans. Both Sean McVay and Stafford have hinted this in recent weeks. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cooper Kupp the Player<\/h3>\n
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Go ahead….bet against'em if you want to. pic.twitter.com\/bye9OV8UfI<\/a><\/p>\n

— MobSquad Times~2021 NFL Champs \u2605\ud83d\udc51\ud835\udcdb\ud835\udcd0 \ud835\udce1\ud835\udcea\ud835\udcf6\ud835\udcfc\ud83d\udc51\u2605 (@GridDawgs247) July 27, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n