Cooper Kupp is a starting wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams. A third-generation NFL player and grandson of Saints’ Hall of Famer Jake Kupp, Cooper was a two-sport star at Davis High School in Yakima, Washington. He earned First Team All-State honors as a defensive back and honorable mention as a receiver. Despite setting high school scoring records, he garnered only two scholarship offers and chose to play at Eastern Washington University.
Redshirting in 2012, Cooper Kupp burst onto the college scene as a 2013 freshman, putting up 93 receptions, 1,691 yards and 21 scores, and winning the Jerry Rice Award as the most outstanding freshman in the FCS. Kupp went on to win the 2015 Walter Payton Award as the most outstanding offensive player in the FCS, and was a 4-time First Team All-American and 2-time Academic All-American. He left EWU as the all-time FCS leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns.
Kupp possesses top-tier agility but just a 24th-percentile 4.62 40-time and modest workout metrics otherwise. His profile was buoyed by his college stats and a strong Senior Bowl performance, however, and the Rams selected Kupp in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. As a rookie, Kupp wasted no time making his presence felt, posting four catches for 76 yards and a score in Week 1.
Established as the Rams’ starting slot receiver, Kupp started the 2018 season on fire, averaging 8 targets, 6 catches and a score in the first five weeks. In Week 6, though, he suffered a knee injury and missed the next two games. When he returned, he suffered a torn ACL which cost him the rest of the year. Kupp returned in 2019 and performed as if he’d never left, posting four 100-yard games in the first five weeks and a 220-yard outburst in Week 8. He finished the year No. 11 in receiving yards and No. 5 or better in red zone targets, yards after catch, and touchdowns. Prior to the 2020 season, the Rams signed Kupp to a 3-year contract extension.
In 2021, now receiving passes from Matthew Stafford, opportunity spiked and Kupp posted a season for the ages. Leading the league in many opportunity, productivity and efficiency metrics, Kupp would go on to win the Triple Crown of receiving, leading the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and touchdowns (19). He earned First Team All Pro honors, and was a WR1 in 15 of 17 weeks. It all came together for the Rams, and they were Super Bowl LVI champs.
Kupp started the 2022 season on fire, averaging 22 fantasy points per game and finishing his shortened nine-game season with 75 receptions for 812 yards. He suffered a high ankle sprain though that cut his season short. In 2023, Kupp was once again hampered by injuries not making his debut until week 5 of the 2023 season. Following his return he only finished as a top 30 fantasy receiver in five of twelve games.
Going into 2024 Kupp is at a crossroads. While he is one of the best receivers in the league, he has struggled to stay healthy, and Puka Nacua could be the new WR1 in Los Angeles. Nonetheless, he will be paired with Matthew Stafford once again who he has an excellent rapport with. Consider him a top 20 receiver going into 2024 with a wide range of outcomes.
