Cooper

Kupp

Kupp’s second 100-yard game since returning three weeks ago also doubled his season touchdown total. Naturally, he was once again out-produced by Puka Nacua, but this was the best Kupp has looked post-injury. His 10 targets did lead the team. Nacua also picked up some sort of mid-section injury, though he played through it. Nacua has a higher weekly ceiling, but Kupp isn’t exactly lacking upside, while his floor remains quite high. He’ll find himself on the WR1/2 borderline for a tough Week 12 matchup with the Eagles.

Kupp’s seven looks paled in comparison to the 14 of Puka Nacua, with the talented second-year receiver now finally healthy after multiple injury scares with his knee. Even so, Kupp made numerous key catches to move the football as quarterback Matthew Stafford’s preferred intermediate target. The Rams struggled in the red zone and were held out of the end zone for only the second time with Stafford under center, capping Kupp’s fantasy upside in the process. Kupp will look to get back in the scoring column in Week 11 when the Rams travel to face the Patriots.

Kupp saved a quiet Week 8 box score with a touchdown. His stat line didn’t need saving this week as he was able to dominate LA’s targets and top 100 yards for the first time since Week 1. Kupp’s lofty target total could be written off as the product of Puka Nacua getting ejected at the end of the first half, but Kupp had nine targets to Nacua’s four before the second-year wideout was tossed. The more likely explanation is that Nacua is still working through his knee injury and his opportunities were limited. If Nacua isn’t at full strength for LA’s Week 10 matchup with Miami, Kupp will jump him in the fantasy rankings in route to a WR1 projection.

Paraphrasing in-house Rams reporter Stu Jackson, McVay “also said that there’s a lot of speculation, and certain things he’s seen circulating are not true and have been addressed.” That’s ... mostly a denial. In his own words, McVay was a little more emphatic. “I’m really glad to have Cooper Kupp back with us. And that’s what I expect to stay that way.” “Expect” is doing a little work there, but now on a two-game winning streak and on better footing in the down NFC West, the Rams will probably stand pat. They have 12 more days to think about it.

Active for the first time since Week 2, Kupp found himself once again competing for looks with Puka Nacua, who himself was active for the first time since Week 1. The Rams treated Nacua like more of a game-day decision, but it was Nacua who looked more ready for prime time, though both wideouts seemed to resume their typical roles. One of Kupp’s missed connections was a drop, while he committed a costly mental mistake when he went out of bounds late in the fourth quarter to stop the clock before the Rams punted the ball back to the Vikes. Kupp’s score was a seven-yarder where he worked free in the end zone for a scrambling Matthew Stafford. Although Nacua’s 106 yards will get the Week 8 headlines, Kupp is again a weekly must-start heading into Week 9 against the Seahawks. We might spend some time debating whether he should be a WR1 or WR2, but it doesn’t really matter.

Kupp will finally return after missing four games with the ankle injury he suffered in Week 2. Puka Nacua is listed as questionable, though he will likely be held out for at least one more week. Kupp totaled an absurd 21 targets in Week 1 and turned that into 14 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown before going down with an ankle injury the following week. He will dominate the targets in his first game back and should be treated as a fantasy WR1 despite returning for a tough matchup versus Minnesota’s stingy defense.

Kupp began practicing last week out of the Rams’ bye, but was held out of Week 7. He begins this week listed as a full participant for both Monday and Tuesday, indicating that Kupp should be good to go for the Rams’ Thursday game against the Vikings. Despite trade rumors, fantasy managers should expect Kupp to ease back into his slot role for Week 8 and fire him up as a fantasy WR2.

The full quote: “If the Rams are willing to take on the salary I’ve heard they’re willing to do, they are definitely open to trading Cooper Kupp so we’ll see if they’ll be able to get a deal done.” Kupp has missed all but two games this season, but had a monster 21-target performance in Week 1. He turns 32 next offseason. The Rams, 2-4 and with some older players, could position themselves as a trade deadline seller if they’re able to get high picks in return.

“That’ll be something that as we’re putting it together and really diving into it, we’ll have a better feel for,” McVay said. “But definitely excited to have him back.” Kupp will all-but-assuredly make his return against Minnesota after missing the past month-plus with his ankle injury. Even in limited action, the 31-year-old is capable of putting up fantasy-relevant numbers, although the Minnesota defense is a formidable — but not unbeatable — first game back. There’s risk in playing Kupp on Thursday, but that risk comes with significant reward. Make sure you check the reports in the coming days.

The report comes from the Rams’ ESPN beat reporter Sarah Barshop. Kupp practiced in a limited capacity all week but the team played this conservatively and kept him inactive against the Raiders. Fantasy managers should expect him to handle a high-volume, WR1-worthy role right out of the gate.