Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is fresh off the greatest fantasy football season of all time for a wide receiver. What is Kupp’s current ADP, and should managers select him at that price in fantasy drafts?
Cooper Kupp ADP | Is he worth his current price in fantasy drafts?
Kupp’s ADP is firmly inside the top five. He is the first wide receiver off the board. He is third overall and the top WR in PFN’s consensus 2022 PPR fantasy rankings. If Kupp is on the board, you take him.
While I would prioritize Jonathan Taylor and Christian McCaffrey over him in the top two, by no means would I criticize anyone who elected to go with the best wide receiver in fantasy.
Cooper Kupp’s projected fantasy value in 2022
Kupp had quite the ascent from 2020 to 2021. A quarterback upgrade from Jared Goff to Matthew Stafford propelled Kupp into the annals of fantasy football history. Stafford turned Kupp into a new Calvin Johnson.
Kupp averaged 25.9 PPR fantasy points per game. He averaged 4.2 ppg more than the WR2. It was the largest gap between the WR1 and WR2 in fantasy history.
Kupp achieved his legendary status through both volume and efficiency. He led the NFL in target share at 31.7%, snap share at 94%, red-zone targets at 38, yards per route run at 3.38, and a medley of other categories. Most importantly for fantasy, Kupp won the receiving triple crown, leading the NFL in receptions (145), yards (1,947), and touchdowns (16).
Heading into the 2022 season, Kupp is the clear WR1 and should be drafted as the first wide receiver off the board. There may be people out there that think Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase are worthy of the top spot. I think there’s a very good argument to be made for Jefferson. In fact, I think he will be the unquestioned best wide receiver in the NFL after this season. However, Kupp was in a tier by himself in 2021 — he’s earned the top spot entering 2022.
Impact of the Rams’ depth chart on Cooper Kupp’s fantasy value
When players suddenly have historical seasons like Kupp, seemingly out of nowhere, there’s reason to be skeptical. It’s even more pronounced when they’re guys like Kupp who do it at age 28. With that said, I buy it as completely legitimate.
What we love about the Rams is their consolidated offense. This a team that funnels the majority of its targets and touches to their top two wide receivers and their lead running back.
In 2021, the Rams threw the ball 602 times and ran it 420 times. Of those 1,022 opportunities, 72% went to Kupp, Robert Woods/Odell Beckham, and the running backs. The Rams went on to win the Super Bowl.
This is Sean McVay’s offense. No team runs 11 personnel more than the Rams (86%). They also throw the ball to their best players. No team targeted the wide receiver position more than the Rams last year at 71.8%. Kupp is undoubtedly their best player.
In the offseason, the Rams traded Woods to the Titans. They replaced him by signing Allen Robinson away from the Bears. Van Jefferson, upon his return from injury (which should be in September), remains their WR3.
Kupp is obviously not about to repeat the greatest wide receiver fantasy season of all time. But even if he loses 30% of his production, he’s still an elite WR1. Kupp has such a high floor and ceiling that he’s a can’t-fail player outside of injury.