The Oakland Raiders have been raving about No. 4 overall pick Amari Cooper since they drafted him and this week against the Cincinnati Bengals he'll finally be able to show off his stuff. Not only is his presence a huge boon for second-year quarterback Derek Carr, but fantasy football owners around the world are also high on the dynamic young receiver. Fortunately for them, he's expected to deliver a quality performance this Sunday.
"Cooper," ESPN Fantasy analyst Jim McCormick wrote when asked which rookie will have the biggest Week 1 impact. "I'm guessing the tight point spread we see for the slightly favored Bengals is off, and the game flow could see the Raiders down early, pushing the passing game to the front burner (even as Oakland would likely prefer to pound the ground and eat up the clock). I'm also placing stock in Cooper's massive preseason target share as an indicator he could be among the league's upper echelon in such usage. Even if this isn't the boldest call, it's undoubtedly the most fertile fantasy situation among incoming professional freshman."
In the three preseason games Cooper appeared in, he was targeted 15 times and caught eight passes for 124 yards. He showcased excellent routed running ability and appeared as comfortable as a long-term vet. He and Carr have been working together throughout the offseason to develop chemistry, and it should start paying off this Sunday.
The Bengals ranked 16th in receiving yards allowed per game (250.8) last season and 24th in receptions (344), boding well for Cooper's fantasy stock in his NFL debut. Overall, Cooper is a solid flex play with WR2 upside at the moment.
