Riley

Cooper

Cooper was not targeted before going down. His status should be updated at coach Andy Reid’s Monday press conference. Cooper will likely be doubtful for Week 4 against the 49ers.

Both players are big, physical receivers, best used in situational roles. Cooper may have more pure talent, but he’s shown a penchant for dropping passes and not fighting for the ball in traffic. The Eagles are unlikely to keep both on the roster this year.

Tonight will mark Cooper’s third straight start. In his first two chances, he’s racked up 16 targets from fellow backup Vince Young and compiled eight catches for 146 yards with a touchdown. Tonight, however, the lanky Cooper won’t have a height advantage on the Seahawks’ oversized corners. He’s our No. 41 fantasy option at the wideout spot.

When DeSean Jackson was suspended last week, Steve Smith started. But Cooper is Maclin’s direct backup and therefore would get the first crack. However, we suspect Smith and Jason Avant would also see plenty of reps, making this a hairy fantasy situation. Note that Cooper has zero catches on the season.

Cooper’s 10 targets were five more than any other Eagles player, but this was a subpar performance overall. He lost at least forty yards on a pair of back-breaking drops, including one that led to an interception in the red zone. Cooper is a WR3 possibility if Jeremy Maclin (hamstring) can’t return for Week 14, but he’s proving that he’s not a starting caliber NFL receiver.

Barring a setback, of course. The Eagles desperately need both players back after replacements Vince Young and Riley Cooper contributed heavily to the disappointing loss at Seattle. There’s no concern whatsoever about the Eagles shutting Vick or Maclin down now that the season is lost. Young and Cooper can be dropped in redraft leagues.

With Jeremy Maclin’s hamstring holding up, Cooper barely played. Even when DeSean Jackson went out with an elbow injury, Jason Avant was with Maclin in two-wide sets. Cooper is safe to drop in all formats.

Cooper drew a team-high 12 targets from fill-in quarterback Vince Young, and did most of his damage over the middle despite starting at split end. He made a costly mistake in the third quarter, however, failing to challenge Giants CB Aaron Ross on a ball he intercepted in the end zone. Cooper is worth an own in PPR leagues for as long as Maclin is out, but the numbers he put up tonight are his ceiling.

With Jeremy Maclin (shoulder) out, Riley Cooper got a chance to flash his big-play upside. That left Smith as an innocent bystander, playing the same number of snaps as Chad Hall. Cooper is the clear “handcuff” to Maclin here.

A clean sweep of national and local writers expect Vick to sit out this week, so that leaves Maclin looking at more of a “week to week” timeline. Riley Cooper is expected to start opposite DeSean Jackson, though it’s worth noting that Steve Smith edged him in snaps last week 60 to 23. Neither receiver will be a recommended WR3 option against the Giants.