As we close in toward the new season, the ever-changing NFL landscape has player fantasy values constantly on the move, with key events like free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft still to come. Whether you’re used to the dynasty platform or are still learning the rules, let’s dive into the latest dynasty fantasy football value of WR Amari Cooper.
Amari Cooper’s Dynasty Outlook and Value
Cooper is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. His route running is top-notch, but even someone of his skill set is reliant on QB play. That’s what let Cooper down in his first year with the Browns. Yet, this wasn’t a massive surprise, as we knew of Deshaun Watson’s suspension and the fact that Jacoby Brissett is a game manager, at best.
Cooper dominated the passing game for the Browns in 2022, recording a team-high 132 targets for the 12th-highest target share in the league at 25.6%, with the sixth-highest air-yard share at 38.4%. He set a career-high with nine touchdowns on 78 receptions with 1,160 yards as the overall WR10 while averaging 15.0 PPR/g (16th). Cooper was also 12th in red-zone and deep targets.
What is interesting is the season split, as Cooper was statistically better with Brissett. In his 10 games with Brissett, Cooper averaged 8.7 targets, 5.4 receptions, 77.5 yards, 0.7 touchdowns, and 16.1 PPR/g (14th) as the WR8. With Watson, who was clearly rusty, Cooper’s numbers dropped to 6.5 targets, 3.5 receptions, 61.3 yards, 0.3 TDs, and 12.5 PPR/g (28th).
MORE: Dynasty Rankings 2023 — Top Fantasy Options at Wide Receiver
I don’t see this following the same pattern in 2023. Cooper is a target hog and should see a full season with the best QB he has played with in his career, assuming Watson can be the player we saw before his suspension. At a minimum, Watson should be equal in talent to Dak Prescott but with a better deep ball.
Cooper and Watson are an interesting pair, as Cooper is at his best on schedule. But his in-play intelligence allows him to be cognizant of when his QB is out of pocket and work back to them and get open. He is an easy target with some of the best hands you could ask for in today’s game.
Amari Cooper’s Fantasy Ranking
Cooper has finished as a top-20 wide receiver with 1,000+ yards in six of his eight seasons, including four of the last five. He is 28 years old, but I’d expect at least two to three more seasons with minimal drop-off — if any at all. His game is not predicated on speed but instead on precision.
In PPR formats, Cooper comes in as the WR26 and the 53rd-overall-ranked player, which makes him a value based on what he will be on the field vs. his draft day/trade pricing. The disparity comes due to the multi-year nature of dynasty and Cooper being in the back half of his career. When it comes to Superflex formats, Cooper is the No. 68 overall player, as quarterbacks see an increase in value due to positional scarcity.
I would prefer Cooper on a championship-contending team, but I don’t mind him on a rebuilding one either, as you do need some consistency while younger players on your team develop. He’s ranked in the mid-20s in dynasty rankings before we include the 2023 class, but assuming health, he will be guaranteed to outperform his current price tag vastly.