Last week saw Amari Cooper have the greatest game for a receiver in the history of the Cleveland Browns franchise, but his health leaves him very much uncertain about playing on Thursday. Should Cooper still be the choice to start for fantasy football managers, or should the steady yet unspectacular Garrett Wilson be the choice for Week 17?
Let’s take a look at each player’s fantasy outlook for this week.
Should You Start Amari Cooper or Garrett Wilson This Week?
Editor’s note: Cooper is INACTIVE for Week 17.
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say Cooper is the player to start. His projected 12.9 points include four receptions for 60 receiving yards. That projected stat line narrowly outperforms Wilson’s 12.0 points.
However, when you isolate my rankings, I see Wilson outperforming Cooper this week. Cooper’s health is a major concern for both the Browns and fantasy managers, and Wilson should provide close to the same value.
Fantasy Outlook for Cooper This Week
Editor’s note: Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Cooper is hopeful he can suit up in Week 17 as he battles a heel injury.
When we last saw Cooper, he was setting a franchise record with 265 receiving yards in Cleveland’s win over the Houston Texans last week. Cooper finished with a season-high 11 catches and two touchdown receptions.
It was his second straight impressive performance, as he had 109 yards on four receptions and a touchdown in the Week 15 win over the Chicago Bears. Since he tied his season-low mark of 16 receiving yards back in Week 12, Cooper had had 34 yards, 77 yards, 109 yards, and 265 yards receiving.
However, Cooper has injury issues. He did not practice on Monday or Tuesday due to a knee injury and is officially questionable for Thursday’s game against the New York Jets. Even if he can play on Thursday, one can’t help but wonder just how healthy he will be in the game.
Fantasy Outlook for Wilson This Week
While not on the level of Cooper’s game last week, Wilson is coming off of a solid game against the Washington Commanders. Wilson was targeted a season-high 15 times, finishing with 76 yards on nine receptions — tying his season-high.
In his second season, Wilson is 42 yards away from reaching 1,000 on the year. Three weeks ago, Wilson had his best game of the season, with nine catches for a season-high 108 yards.
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A couple of reasons to give him some thought if fantasy managers are considering starting Wilson this week: He is going from playing the team with the league’s worst defense — Commanders — to playing the team with the league’s best defense — Browns.
The other issue with Wilson is his inability to get in the end zone. After scoring touchdowns in each of his first two games of the season, Wilson has just one touchdown catch over his last 13 games.
The PFN Start/Sit Optimizer projects Wilson to finish with five receptions for 60 receiving yards.
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