The age curve for the WR position isn’t as prohibitive as it is for running backs, but the Cooper Kupp dynasty fantasy football discussion is one of decline. There is no debating the impressive nature of Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua’s rookie season — is he ready to be the alpha receiver in this offense?
This is the exact type of conversation that makes dynasty leagues great. There are undoubtedly various opinions of Kupp within your league, making him a hot button player that could easily swing leagues in 2024 — for better or worse!
Cooper Kupp’s Dynasty Outlook
We are just two seasons removed from one of the most dominant WR seasons in fantasy football history (2021: 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns) authored by Kupp, but life can come at dynasty managers fast, and he is considered by most positioned to be the second option in this passing game entering 2024.
Who would you prefer to have on your roster for fantasy football in 2024?#Rams WR Cooper Kupp or Puka Nacua?
(Via @nfl) pic.twitter.com/buT09j2cgo
— PFN Fantasy (@PFNFantasy) January 25, 2024
The concerns are well-founded in some regards and not in others. The pro-Kupp crowd will point to him missing the first month of the season and blame that for inconsistencies that simply weren’t in his profile entering the season.
- Games 1-2: 7.5 catches, 133.0 yards, and one touchdown
- Games 3-7: 2.8 catches, 25.4 yards, and zero touchdowns
- Games 8-10: 7.3 catches, 88.3 yards, and a touchdown in every game
Skeptics of Kupp will note that not all players see production suddenly fall off a cliff the way Stefon Diggs did mid-season and that up-and-down production like this is the first step of decline. His ability to earn targets took a step back in 2023, and while a large part of that can be attributed to Nacua’s presence, there was some writing on the wall in 2022 before he got injured.
MORE: 2024 Dynasty Mock Draft
Targets per route run:
- 2021: 30.6%
- 2022: 29.1%
- 2023: 24.1%
For reference, that 2023 rate ranks in the Jayden Reed/Diontae Johnson neighborhood. There is nothing wrong with those receivers, but that’s not the class that Kupp managers want their ace receiver to be a part of, especially with his best days behind him. Where does he settle in the dynasty rankings?
Kyle Soppe’s Top 25 Dynasty WR Rankings
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) DJ Moore | CHI
14) Nico Collins | HOU
15) Rashee Rice | KC
16) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND
17) Amari Cooper | CLE
18) Cooper Kupp | LAR
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 Kupp in Dynasty?
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There are two conversations to be had when it comes to Kupp. It’s reasonably clear that Nacua should be prioritized over him over the next five seasons, but I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that Nacua is Los Angeles’ WR1 in 2024.
TOP 12 2024 WR RANKINGS!@KyleSoppePFN has his top WR rankings for 2024 now available and these are 🔥🔥🔥
Who's missing? Who's too low?
Watch the full breakdown here ➡️ https://t.co/dsumfqVfwb pic.twitter.com/ydQRJeZb5H
— PFN Fantasy (@PFNFantasy) January 24, 2024
I dove into the case of Puka Nacua being ranked outside of my top 12 WRs for 2024, and a large part of that is my faith in Kupp. The age curve at the receiver position is a moving target, and a serious bounce-back campaign could well be in the cards:
Fantasy points (half-PPR) per catch in their age-31 season:
- Marques Colston: 2.50 points per catch (up 16% from age 30)
- Brandon Marshall: 2.61 points per catch (up 7.2% from age 30)
- Keenan Allen: 2.02 points per catch (up 2.5% from age 30)
These are cherry-picked examples, and it’s not to say that all 31-year-old receivers experience a bump in production — it’s simply a way to suggest that counting out Kupp is a bit premature for my liking.
After a season that underwhelmed by his lofty standards, married with the success of Nacua, Kupp is a reasonable buy now for teams that are positioned to make a run for glory this season, whereas I’d stay away in rebuilding situations.
Of course, a trade offer should not be made without doing your homework. If the Kupp manager still believes he is capable of elite fantasy production, the asking price is going to be too steep.
Remember — having success in dynasty is as much about evaluating your fellow managers as it is the players putting up the numbers!
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