3. Cooper Kupp: This is the 12th year I’ve been able to release this project. The fun thing about it is it’s never the same. Yes, some names have been on here consistently, but you get those few who come out of nowhere and never saw coming. Seven names have been revealed and there’s three left to share. This guy is a special football player and showed how good he is. He wowed me last season. Cooper Kupp has claimed the third spot and checks in as my number one wide receiver entering the 2022 season.
So, let me get this out the way before I say anything else. After the Rams acquired Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions, I said one thing they needed to do after that was get a true number one receiver. I’m talking about that guy that’s the reliable option. Over a year later, I’m still eating humble pie because Cooper truly silenced me. I noticed how savvy he is. Cooper is also deceptive. One thing people are beginning to notice more about him is his route running and he’s one of the best. I wouldn’t be mad if anyone said Stefon Diggs is the best route runner or Davante Adams. Just make sure Cooper is also mentioned in that conversation. He’s not the biggest guy nor is he the fastest. This is a receiver who can beat you with pure intellect. Cooper knows how to position himself to make the best possible play. How he’s able to get so wide open is amazing. I like how he runs the entire route tree. How he moves after the catch is what pops out to me. It could be the shortest route and he could turn into a 60-yard gain. The Rams use him in so many ways. They’ll line him up wide on the perimeter or in the slot where he’s known to do his most damage. But they can also line him up in the backfield and he’s consistent. Cooper is an extremely versatile weapon with good hands, solid breakaway speed can beat man or zone coverage and he can block. I think of how big-time he was in the playoffs, especially in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers sent an all-out blitz which meant there’s nobody in the secondary to cover. Cooper was one-on-one and Stafford found him deep down the field for a huge play that put the Rams in field goal position.
I remember seeing what Randy Moss did in 2007 when he caught the most touchdowns in a single season. Five years later in 2012, Calvin Johnson recorded the most receiving yards with 1,964 yards. Cooper became the first wide receiver since Steve Smith Sr to win the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown in the NFL is when a player leads the league in three major statistical categories. He led the league in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. Cooper won the Offensive Player of the Year for his historic season and also capped off the year with a Super Bowl title.
