Fantasy Index

header banner img
OUR FANTASY BASEBALL MAGAZINE IS BACK! PRE-ORDER NOW
Win here.

Around the NFL

Amari Cooper

Browns landing in

Amari Cooper is being traded to Cleveland, but I’m not crazy about the fit. I don’t expect he’ll put up top-20 receiving numbers in that offense.

Cooper at least will be their top pass catcher. He’s a proven, solid receiver, and the Browns don’t have much else. They’re trying to trade Jarvis Landry, and I expect he’ll be released if they can’t deal him. Donovan Peoples-Jones (who has some downfield ability) probably will be their other starter, with perhaps speedy Anthony Schwartz developing enough to serve as their third option.

With Cooper having a big salary, the deal involves only late-round picks. The Browns are giving up fifth- and sixth-round choices, but they're also getting a a sixth-round pick back. Assuming Cooper passes his physical, the Cowboys get to unload his contract.

Cooper has been good at times, but I don’t think he’s a truly elite pass catcher. He’s not, in my opinion, one of the top dozen players at his position. The Cowboys felt he was overpaid, and we’re going to release him if they couldn’t deal him.

The Browns don’t look like the team that will bring him to life. At least as they are currently constructed. They’ve got Baker Mayfield at quarterback, and he’s been unable to progress beyond being a lesser starter. They also have Kevin Stefanski dialing up the plays, and his preference is to emphasize the run, with the wide receivers not seeing a ton of action.

Last year, Dallas’ wide receivers combined to catch 255 passes – 4th-most in the league. Cleveland’s wide receivers, on the other hand, caught a league-low 141 balls. The previous year, they ranked 30th in wide receiver receptions. Part of that can be attributed to Mayfield (just ask Odell Beckham’s dad), but they also simply don’t use their wide receivers much.

Cooper will be slotted modestly on my board. I expect he’ll be selected a few rounds before I would be considering him.

RECEPTIONS BY WIDE RECEIVERS
TeamNoYardsAvgTD
LA Rams2863,96413.932
Buffalo2843,29911.622
Tampa Bay2823,50312.426
Dallas2553,34713.125
LA Chargers2523,17112.622
Arizona2503,07312.320
Pittsburgh2502,74711.012
Kansas City2442,82011.620
Minnesota2403,18113.329
Green Bay2403,08612.927
Cincinnati2363,55115.025
Jacksonville2282,50711.09
Las Vegas2232,88913.016
NY Jets2222,64911.914
Baltimore2162,42011.210
Miami2072,24410.814
Houston2032,46312.115
Detroit2032,32611.513
Carolina1962,25711.510
Tennessee1942,43512.613
New England1932,39612.412
Washington1842,21812.110
Seattle1812,54714.124
San Francisco1812,77715.317
NY Giants1802,16312.05
Indianapolis1772,18412.316
Chicago1762,26912.99
Denver1712,25713.28
Atlanta1591,73610.99
New Orleans1552,14113.816
Philadelphia1491,99313.411
Cleveland1411,87313.37

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index