Fantasy football: Analyzing Cooper Kupp’s outlook in 2023
Cooper Kupp has been a coveted wideout in fantasy football in recent years and he remains one of the first players off of the board in drafts this year. Following a 2022 season where he was sidelined for a decent portion due to an ankle injury, many believe Kupp is poised for a bounce-back campaign with the Los Angeles Rams in 2023.
Given the other wide receivers on the current roster, Kupp will continue to operate as Matthew Stafford’s go-to weapon in the Rams’ aerial attack. In each of the last four seasons, Kupp has averaged over eight targets per game and he’s just one year removed from leading the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947), and receiving touchdowns (16).
Ahead of the 2023 season, Kupp boasts an ADP (average draft position) of WR3 and is being taken as the sixth overall pick in most drafts, according to FantasyPros. The five players typically being selected ahead of Kupp are Justin Jefferson, Christian McCaffrey, Ja’Marr Chase, Austin Ekeler, and Travis Kelce.
Even with the All-Pro wideout missing eight games in 2022, he still produced at an elite level. Kupp registered 75 catches for 812 yards and six touchdowns on 98 targets in nine starts before suffering a season-ending ankle injury.
For those that took Kupp early in drafts last year after his WR1 finish in 2021, they were disappointed in him finishing as WR24 overall in half-PPR formats. Meanwhile, Kupp led all wide receivers with 18.2 fantasy points per game in half-PPR leagues for the nine games he was active in.
Despite turning 30 years old recently, Kupp appears to be healthy entering training camp and he doesn’t have much competition for targets. After trading Allen Robinson earlier this offseason, the notable receivers behind Kupp are Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell, Puka Nacua, Ben Skowronek, and Demarcus Robinson.
Jefferson is the only one of the bunch that has proven that he can succeed in a starting role and he’s in a contract year with the Rams. Tyler Higbee also figures to command targets from Stafford in 2023, but it’s tough seeing him replicate his career-best numbers from last season with Kupp back in the mix.
The Rams figure to throw the ball more in the upcoming season considering how many new faces they have on the defensive side of the ball. Kupp should confidently be taken early in drafts this year and he still has overall WR1 upside with Stafford peppering him with targets in a new-look offense.
