Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp has been looking a lot like his old self lately. Coming off back-to-back smash games, fantasy football managers have no questions as to whether to start him in Week 16. But what exactly should we expect from Kupp against a tough New Orleans Saints pass defense?
Should You Start Cooper Kupp in Week 16?
In the words of Michelle Tanner, “Duh!” Of course, you’re starting Cooper Kupp. The former and now current elite WR1 has posted consecutive 25-point games.
The week before, he scored 15.9 fantasy points. Since 16.0 fantasy points is typically the WR1 threshold, we’ll allow it and say Kupp has now given us three straight WR1-caliber performances. That’s the guy we expected to see all season.
Hampered by an ankle injury for much of the season, Kupp finally looks healthy and past the issue. The target volume hasn’t been the typical absurd levels it was the previous two years, but the efficiency has been off the charts.
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Kupp has caught a staggering 22 of his last 26 targets. Over the past two weeks, he’s caught exactly eight passes in each game for 111 and 115 yards, scoring once in each.
This week, Kupp is in for a bigger challenge. He is on a short week against a Saints defense allowing the third-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
Additionally, the Saints have been a disaster against the run lately. That could mean we see a whole lot of Kyren Williams, forcing Kupp to remain efficient to continue producing WR1 numbers.
Trending Start/Sit Searches for Kupp
Did you know that we have a Start/Sit Optimizer here at Pro Football Network?! It’s completely free to use and it allows you to enter in up to six players to find the best option to plug into your starting lineup!
It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, and we’ve jotted some of them down here to help provide some clarity!
Should You Start Cooper Kupp or Deebo Samuel?
If this is a real decision anyone has to make, congratulations on having the greatest fantasy team of all time. This is the true definition of an embarrassment of riches.
The Start/Sit Optimizer has Kupp projected for 15.1 fantasy points against 14.6 from Deebo Samuel. The latter has been a machine lately. Samuel scored 21.9 fantasy points last week. That was his worst outing since Week 11.
Even against a tough Baltimore Ravens defense, it’s hard to fade Samuel, given how well he and the San Francisco 49ers’ offense are playing. Both of these guys need to be in fantasy lineups, but if forced to choose, I side with Kupp.
Should You Start Kupp or Justin Jefferson?
This is yet another decision that would signal you have the greatest fantasy team of all time. Heading into the season, both of these guys were ranked as top 6-8 wide receivers.
It is highly unlikely anyone needs to bench one of these guys. But if you want to know who is going to score more fantasy points this week, the Start/Sit Optimizer has Justin Jefferson at 16.9, 1.8 ahead of Kupp.
Jefferson looked healthy last week, catching seven of 10 targets for 84 yards. The only reason his game wasn’t bigger was because Jordan Addison caught both of Nick Mullens’ touchdowns.
Against a Detroit Lions pass-funnel defense allowing the ninth-most ppg to wide receivers, Jefferson is set up to smash this week. With that said, he is still playing with a third-string quarterback. Given that Kupp has Matthew Stafford, I am going to disagree with the Optimizer and say Kupp will have a better fantasy outing than Jefferson this week.
Jason Katz’s Week 16 WR Rankings
1) Tyreek Hill | MIA (vs. DAL)
2) CeeDee Lamb | DAL (at MIA)
3) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (at MIN)
4) Cooper Kupp | LAR (vs. NO)
5) Justin Jefferson | MIN (vs. DET)
6) DJ Moore | CHI (vs. ARI)
7) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (vs. DAL)
8) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND (at ATL)
9) A.J. Brown | PHI (vs. NYG)
10) Mike Evans | TB (vs. JAX)
11) Deebo Samuel | SF (vs. BAL)
12) DK Metcalf | SEA (at TEN)
13) Brandon Aiyuk | SF (vs. BAL)
14) Tee Higgins | CIN (at PIT)
15) Chris Olave | NO (at LAR)
16) Puka Nacua | LAR (vs. NO)
17) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (vs. WAS)
18) Rashee Rice | KC (vs. LV)
19) Davante Adams | LV (at KC)
20) DeVonta Smith | PHI (vs. NYG)
21) Nico Collins | HOU (vs. CLE)
22) Courtland Sutton | DEN (vs. NE)
23) Amari Cooper | CLE (at HOU)
24) Calvin Ridley | JAX (at TB)
25) DeAndre Hopkins | TEN (vs. SEA)
26) Jayden Reed | GB (at CAR)
27) Diontae Johnson | PIT (vs. CIN)
28) Chris Godwin | TB (vs. JAX)
29) Stefon Diggs | BUF (at LAC)
30) Zay Flowers | BAL (at SF)
31) Tyler Lockett | SEA (at TEN)
32) Drake London | ATL (vs. IND)
33) Jakobi Meyers | LV (at KC)
34) Terry McLaurin | WAS (at NYJ)
35) Jordan Addison | MIN (vs. DET)
36) Brandin Cooks | DAL (at MIA)
37) Odell Beckham Jr. | BAL (at SF)
38) Josh Downs | IND (at ATL)
39) Adam Thielen | CAR (vs. GB)
40) Noah Brown | HOU (vs. CLE)
41) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (at TEN)
42) Demario Douglas | NE (at DEN)
43) Joshua Palmer | LAC (vs. BUF)
44) Curtis Samuel | WAS (at NYJ)
45) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (at CAR)
46) Romeo Doubs | GB (at CAR)
47) Gabe Davis | BUF (at LAC)
48) Marquise Brown | ARI (at CHI)
49) Jerry Jeudy | DEN (vs. NE)
50) Rashid Shaheed | NO (at LAR)
51) George Pickens | PIT (vs. CIN)
52) Wan’Dale Robinson | NYG (at PHI)
53) Jonathan Mingo | CAR (vs. GB)
54) Jameson Williams | DET (at MIN)
55) Quentin Johnston | LAC (vs. BUF)
56) Elijah Moore | CLE (at HOU)
57) Alec Pierce | IND (at ATL)
58) Michael Wilson | ARI (at CHI)
59) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (vs. NO)
60) Darius Slayton | NYG (at PHI)
61) Jalin Hyatt | NYG (at PHI)
62) Tyler Boyd | CIN (at PIT)
63) Rashod Bateman | BAL (at SF)
64) Parker Washington | JAX (at TB)
65) Justin Watson | KC (vs. LV)
66) Robert Woods | HOU (vs. CLE)
67) Khalil Shakir | BUF (at LAC)
68) Darnell Mooney | CHI (vs. ARI)
69) Rondale Moore | ARI (at CHI)
70) Jahan Dotson | WAS (at NYJ)
71) D.J. Montgomery | IND (at ATL)
72) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (vs. NE)
73) DJ Chark | CAR (vs. GB)
74) Trey Palmer | TB (vs. JAX)
75) Josh Reynolds | DET (at MIN)
76) A.T. Perry | NO (at LAR)
77) Michael Gallup | DAL (at MIA)
78) Trenton Irwin | CIN (at PIT)
79) Cedric Tillman | CLE (at HOU)
80) DeVante Parker | NE (at DEN)
81) K.J. Osborn | MIN (vs. DET)
82) Treylon Burks | TEN (vs. SEA)
83) Jamal Agnew | JAX (at TB)
84) John Metchie III | HOU (vs. CLE)
85) Marquez Valdes-Scantling | KC (vs. LV)
86) Kadarius Toney | KC (vs. LV)
87) Hunter Renfrow | LV (at KC)
88) Cedrick Wilson Jr. | MIA (vs. DAL)
89) Xavier Gipson | NYJ (vs. WAS)
90) Nelson Agholor | BAL (at SF)
91) Allen Robinson II | PIT (vs. CIN)
92) Kalif Raymond | DET (at MIN)
93) Lynn Bowden Jr. | NO (at LAR)
94) Malik Heath | GB (at CAR)
95) Jalen Guyton | LAC (vs. BUF)
96) Xavier Hutchinson | HOU (vs. CLE)
97) Jauan Jennings | SF (vs. BAL)
98) Greg Dortch | ARI (at CHI)
99) Braxton Berrios | MIA (vs. DAL)
100) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (at MIA)
101) Tyquan Thornton | NE (at DEN)
102) Isaiah Hodgins | NYG (at PHI)
103) Chris Moore | TEN (vs. SEA)
104) Allen Lazard | NYJ (vs. WAS)
105) Tutu Atwell | LAR (vs. NO)
106) River Cracraft | MIA (vs. DAL)
107) Alex Erickson | FA ()
108) Brandon Powell | MIN (vs. DET)
109) Zay Jones | JAX (at TB)
110) Christian Watson | GB (at CAR)
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