Cooper Kupp Can Be Fantasy Football's WR1 Again

The 2023 NFL season is fast approaching, meaning fantasy football is right around the corner.

Here's a look at Cooper Kupp, who was easily the best fantasy wide receiver in 2021. He was also averaging the most half-PPR points per game in 2022 before getting hurt in Week 10.

What can we expect from Kupp in 2023?

Cooper Kupp Overview

2022 Stats: 75 Receptions, 812 Yards, 8 Touchdowns
2022 Fantasy Points: 163.9 Points
2023 Projected Points: 209.44 Points
numberFire 2023 Ranking: WR4

Cooper Kupp Fantasy Football Outlook

A Historic 2021 Season

The 2021 season from Cooper Kupp was one of the best we've seen from a wide receiver. He won the wide receiver triple crown, leading the league in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He continued that into the playoffs, ultimately winning the MVP in the Super Bowl.

Many people were expecting regression heading into the 2022 season because of just how dominant that 2021 year was. The regression wasn’t nearly as bad as some people might have expected. He went from averaging 21.6 half-PPR points to 20.3, so it wasn't a huge drop-off.

Whenever a receiver gets a target share of close to 30.0%, it's pretty hard for them to fail. Kupp saw 31.6% of the teams' targets in 2021 and amassed 32.2% in games he played in 2022. With the Los Angeles Rams not adding any significant pass-catchers to their roster, it looks like the volume will be similar in 2023.

Kupp has dominated in the red zone in the last few seasons. He saw 32.7% of the team's targets in the red zone in 2021 and was very efficient with those targets. He turned 37.8% of those into touchdowns. From inside the five-yard line, he saw 11 targets and turned 63.6% of those targets into touchdowns.

More Volume in 2023?

The Rams were not the same team in 2022 that won the Super Bowl in 2021. Injuries really hit them hard, and the lack of depth on the roster was exposed. They are looking more like the team last season than the one who won it all.

They will likely need to rely on Kupp again and could be trailing often in games. Their defense ranked below average last season, and now, they lost Jalen Ramsey without any direct replacement.

This could lead to a lot of volume for Kupp. He is by far their best playmaker on offense, and the team may have to throw a ton. Last season, they had a 1.44 pass-to-run ratio, and this year, it could be even higher.

A lot of that high pass-to-run ratio happened when Matthew Stafford and Kupp were both injured last season. They should be more comfortable throwing more often when these two are back on the field.

Where Should Kupp Be Drafted?

Currently, Kupp has an average draft position (ADP) of 8.6 on Fantasy Football Calculator in half-PPR drafts. That puts him as the third wide receiver off the board. In FanDuel's best-ball contests, he's also the WR3 but is going slightly earlier (6.7).

Kupp is only going behind Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chaseat his position. Kupp averaged over two more points per game than Jefferson and nearly 3.5 more points than Chase before he suffered his injury in Week 10.

That's not to say Kupp should definitely go ahead of these guys; there is a bit more risk associated with him. He has just turned 30 and may lose a step. The Rams' overall outlook is also significantly lower than the Minnesota Vikings or Cincinnati Bengals, who added more talent to their roster this offseason.

Kupp's lofty averages cement his spot in the top tier at the position. Tyreek Hill is right behind Kupp in ADP and rounds out this top tier of wide receiver.

Kupp makes for a fine first-round selection in any format this season. His knack for scoring touchdowns in the redzone makes him good in half-PPR while the sheer amount of volume he will get in this offense makes him a dream option in full-PPR formats.

Kupp has the potential to be the WR1 in fantasy once again. He does carry a bit of risk as age and injury creep into the equation, but if he's on the field it's hard to see him failing.

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.