Cleveland Browns WR Amari Cooper’s dynasty fantasy football ranking is all over the place due to an odd season that saw him produce with a variety of quarterbacks and included a franchise-record performance with Joe Flacco featuring him.
Entering his age-30 season, should Cooper be viewed as a strong asset with prime years in front of him or a receiver who will struggle to replicate his 2023 numbers? Cooper’s role is not a question, but the supporting cast around him is full of uncertainty, which is the reason for the varied thoughts on Cleveland’s WR1.
Amari Cooper’s Dynasty Outlook
Some dynasty profiles are straightforward, where the receiver walks back into a stable situation and is projected to make growth around the edges on a profile that largely looks the same in 2024 as it did in 2023.
That’s not the case for Cooper.
The former first-round pick turns 30 this summer, and while the age curve is expanded at the WR position compared to running backs, it should be noted that only two of the top 10 fantasy wide receivers in terms of total half-PPR points in 2023 were in their age-30 (or older) season (Mike Evans and Keenan Allen).
That’s not to say that Cooper can’t be on that list in 2024, it’s just making you aware that while receivers stay productive longer than other positions, counting on them for truly elite numbers does fade some with age.
In 2023, the Browns had five different quarterbacks throw 25+ passes, as they experienced absolute chaos at the position that ended with a Flacco run of excellence.
For better or worse, however, the franchise is committed to Deshaun Watson, thanks to a contract that will pay him $46,000,000 per season through 2026.
The explosive QB is expected to be fully recovered from shoulder surgery in time for spring practices, but that doesn’t change the fact that (a) he’s played just 12 games over the past three seasons or (b) he’s completed just 59.8% of his passes since joining the Browns (14 touchdowns and nine interceptions).
While his raw numbers have been underwhelming, Watson’s willingness to feature Cooper in a meaningful way should leave you with optimism for the foreseeable future.
- 24.5% target share
- 43.5% deep-target share
- 38.2% receiving-yardage share
- 42.9% third-down receiving-yardage share
What we’ve seen from Cooper during his two years in Cleveland figures to serve as something of a floor for the short term. In those two seasons, his per 17-game averages work out to 80 catches for 1,280 yards and seven touchdowns — not a bad expectation to set, especially for dynasty managers interested in competing right now.
Cooper’s Dynasty Ranking
Where does Cooper land in the dynasty WR landscape going into the 2024 offseason? Here are Soppe’s latest rankings, featuring where Cooper lands in comparison to other top names at the position.
1) Ja’Marr Chase | CIN
2) Justin Jefferson | MIN
3) Tyreek Hill | MIA
4) CeeDee Lamb | DAL
5) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET
6) A.J. Brown | PHI
7) Garrett Wilson | NYJ
8) Jaylen Waddle | MIA
9) Chris Olave | NO
10) Tee Higgins | CIN
11) Brandon Aiyuk | SF
12) Puka Nacua | LAR
13) Cooper Kupp | LAR
14) DJ Moore | CHI
15) Nico Collins | HOU
16) Rashee Rice | KC
17) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND
18) Amari Cooper | CLE
19) DeVonta Smith | PHI
20) Stefon Diggs | BUF
21) DK Metcalf | SEA
22) Zay Flowers | BAL
23) Drake London | ATL
24) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA
25) Davante Adams | LV
Should You Trade Cooper in Dynasty?
This is a tricky case, but I would be more likely to embrace the uncertainty than to run from it.
Could Watson be a liability? It’s certainly possible, and his massive contract will restrict what this team can do in terms of building. Cooper has one year left on his deal, and with Nick Chubb set to return, it at least has to be considered that the former could disappoint in 2024 after ending last season with a bang.
The fact that 29.9% of Cooper’s receiving yards for the season came in his final two regular-season games alone fuels the boom/bust concern that fantasy managers look to avoid when discussing locked-in starters.
KEEP READING: Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Value Chart
That makes this the perfect buying window. There aren’t question marks like that on most of the top 20 receivers, thus making Cooper’s asking price a reasonable one. While he could trend downward, the upside case is nothing short of elite, and you’re going to have to inherit some risk at some point to make a run at your league championship.
We’ve seen high-end talents like A.J. Brown and Stefon Diggs post monster numbers once they joined forces with difference-making quarterbacks. And while Watson has struggled of late, his upside, combined with the usage Cooper has absorbed in their time together, is more than enough to have me singing an optimistic tune for as long as he’s in town.
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