Cooper Kupp

Tory Horton made the most of his post bye week opportunity in the absence of the injured Cooper Kupp. Horton wasted little time by connecting with Sam Darnold on 2 touchdowns. 

Horton had a 4-48-2 line while star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba went 8-129 on 9 targets. Heading into Monday Night Football, Horton is the WR7 on the week paired with JSN who is the WR6. This 6-7 combination cannot be stopped! It is looking like Horton will have a significant role in the offense regardless of Kupp’s status.

Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)

Cooper Kupp, already nursing a heel injury, was added to the Seahawks injury report late in the week with a hamstring flare-up during practice. According to a source close to the situation, Seattle (5-2) will be without its No. 2 wideout.

The move has not yet been officially announced, so fantasy managers may be closely monitoring the injury reports. However, the game is this week’s “Sunday Night Football” entry, so last-minute replacements would have to come from that game or Monday night’s.

In his stead, rookie wide receiver Tory Horton will see his role increase to WR2 for the game, which is taking heavy bets on the o46.5 as sharps anticipate a shootout with Jayden Daniels and the Commanders. Horton stands to reap the benefits, as does tight end AJ Barner in this depleted pass-catching room.

Author: Samwise (@BuyAndSellYou)

Cooper Kupp is moving on from the Los Angeles Rams to play for the Seattle Seahawks. The free agent wideout has signed a deal with the Seahawks for 3 years and $45 million. 

Much will be made about what impact this has on Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Njigba was the WR-9 in 2024. He logged 100 receptions, 1,130 receiving yards, and was No.12 in targets with 137. Cooper Kupp is at the stage where he is going to need to be moved around the formation with favorability towards the slot role. This poses a problem for JSN as he was No.1 in slot snaps last season with 701. 

This is also a head-scratching move as Kupp will be 32 when the 2025 season starts. From an efficiency standpoint last season, Kupp was 60th in fantasy points per target at 1.75 and 65th in expected points added at +23.5. While Matthew Stafford can support multiple alpha weapons in Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp with optimism towards Stafford supporting Nacua and Davante Adams in 2024, Sam Darnold does not inspire the same level of confidence in supporting both JSN and Cooper Kupp. 

As this move is puzzling from a redundancy standpoint at the wide receiver position, it also brings questions about the stage in which the Seahawks are as far as team building towards being a winning team. Adding an aging, oft injured receiver who will be 32 is not ideal. The Rams have won the ‘sign a 32-year-old’ sweepstakes while the Seahawks are running in place. 

The Rams and Seahawks are seemingly headed in different directions. While real NFL circumstances are to be noted, take advantage of any dip in JSN’s dynasty stock and best ball ADP by scooping him up anywhere you can!

Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)

With the addition of Davante Adams, it is very clear that Cooper Kupp is not part of the Rams future. He was already placed on the trading block but now with the league new year soon upon us, he may be released instead. There isn’t quite a great gauge on teams interested in Kupp but him being released, the number of suitors should increase. Kupp finished 2024 with 67 receptions and 710 receiving yards in addition to 6 touchdowns.

Kupp unfortunately looked like a shell of himself towards the end of the season, at times completely disappearing. He did have three one-hundred-yard games and could be a valuable talent and mentor to any team that signs him.