With a lot of big-name wideouts, there's a contract issue to worry (slightly) about. Holdouts don't really happen much these days, but it's a minor consideration for someone who might prove stubborn and willing to pay some fines he'll recoup in a new contract. But a key Fantasy Index guy won't be a problem.
If you've been in any early drafts, you're aware we're higher on Amari Cooper than most. Early ADP data puts him just barely into the top 30 at the position in PPR leagues, behind guys like Christian Kirk rookie Malik Nabers, plus three (!) Texans wideouts.
It's hard to fully understand. Maybe a veteran wide receiver in the Browns offense just isn't sexy enough for some, or maybe there's the concern that Deshaun Watson won't stay healthy, or the team will emphasize the run or somesuch. And until yesterday, there was the contract concern with Cooper, too.
That one is at least over now, with the Browns giving Cooper a raise and apparently guaranteeing his salary for this season. Seems like a win-win for fantasy teams, too, since Cooper is not only paid and happy, but he's still in a contract year, so he'll be fully motivated to put up big numbers and cash in again next offseason.
While Cooper doesn't get the love of a lot of the league's biggest-name wideouts, he's performed at a level just short of the elite players at the position in his two years in Cleveland. Even with Watson missing the majority of those games, Cooper the last two years averages 5 catches for 75 yards, with just under half a touchdown per week. That works out about 15 PPR points per game. Among wide receivers to start at least 30 games those seasons, only seven have been better than he has.
| WRS PER GAME, 2022-2023 (30+ STARTS) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | St | No | Rec | TD | PPR |
| Tyreek Hill, Mia. | 33 | 7.2 | 106.3 | .64 | 21.8 |
| CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 34 | 7.1 | 91.4 | .69 | 20.8 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 32 | 7.0 | 83.6 | .50 | 18.8 |
| Stefon Diggs, Buff. | 33 | 6.5 | 79.2 | .59 | 18.0 |
| Davante Adams, L.V. | 34 | 6.0 | 78.2 | .65 | 17.7 |
| A.J. Brown, Phi. | 34 | 5.7 | 86.8 | .53 | 17.6 |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 32 | 4.9 | 74.3 | .59 | 15.9 |
| Amari Cooper, Cle. | 32 | 4.7 | 75.3 | .45 | 14.9 |
| Brandon Aiyuk, S.F. | 32 | 4.7 | 72.9 | .47 | 14.9 |
| Jaylen Waddle, Mia. | 31 | 4.7 | 76.5 | .39 | 14.8 |
| DeVonta Smith, Phi. | 33 | 5.3 | 68.5 | .42 | 14.7 |
| Michael Pittman, Ind. | 32 | 6.5 | 64.9 | .27 | 14.7 |
| DJ Moore, Chi. | 34 | 4.7 | 66.2 | .47 | 14.3 |
| Chris Olave, N.O. | 31 | 5.1 | 69.8 | .31 | 14.0 |
| DK Metcalf, Sea. | 33 | 4.7 | 65.5 | .42 | 13.8 |
| Chris Godwin, T.B. | 32 | 5.8 | 64.0 | .21 | 13.6 |
| Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 33 | 4.9 | 58.4 | .44 | 13.4 |
| Jakobi Meyers, L.V. | 30 | 4.6 | 53.7 | .54 | 13.3 |
| Garrett Wilson, NYJ | 32 | 5.4 | 65.2 | .22 | 13.2 |
| Terry McLaurin, Was. | 34 | 4.6 | 64.5 | .29 | 12.9 |
| Adam Thielen, Car. | 34 | 5.1 | 50.9 | .31 | 12.1 |
| Courtland Sutton, Den. | 31 | 4.0 | 51.6 | .39 | 11.5 |
| Jerry Jeudy, Den. | 31 | 3.9 | 55.8 | .26 | 11.2 |
| Diontae Johnson, Pitt. | 30 | 4.6 | 53.3 | .19 | 11.1 |
| George Pickens, Pitt. | 34 | 3.4 | 57.1 | .30 | 11.0 |
| Drake London, Atl. | 33 | 4.3 | 53.7 | .20 | 10.9 |
| Gabe Davis, Buff. | 32 | 2.9 | 49.4 | .45 | 10.5 |
| Curtis Samuel, Was. | 33 | 3.8 | 38.5 | .30 | 10.2 |
| Tyler Boyd, Cin. | 33 | 3.8 | 43.3 | .22 | 9.5 |
| Darius Slayton, NYG | 30 | 3.2 | 49.8 | .20 | 9.4 |
| K.J. Osborn, Min. | 33 | 3.3 | 36.1 | .24 | 8.4 |
| Robert Woods, Hou. | 31 | 3.0 | 30.7 | .10 | 6.7 |
| Alec Pierce, Ind. | 33 | 2.2 | 33.5 | .12 | 6.3 |
| Michael Gallup, Dall. | 31 | 2.4 | 27.2 | .19 | 6.2 |
| Chris Moore, Ten. | 30 | 2.2 | 29.4 | .07 | 5.7 |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling, K.C. | 33 | 1.9 | 30.4 | .09 | 5.5 |
| Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Ten. | 31 | 1.7 | 24.7 | .20 | 5.4 |
Again, that was with Watson playing only 12 of 34 games the last two seasons. Last year Cooper and Watson played 5 full games together, and Cooper averaged nearly a catch more per game (5.6), for 22 more yards (97), with 2 TDs in those contests.
Maybe Cleveland now has a better No. 2, having traded for Jerry Jeudy. The Browns seem to think so, giving Jeudy a three-year extension averaging over $19 million, that his NFL resume to this point doesn't really warrant.
But Cooper is the top guy. He's going to be on a lot of Index teams this year, and I think he'll work out pretty well. And no holdout worries at this point.
--Andy Richardson