6 LA Rams who need to put up huge games in Week 2 vs the Arizona Cardinals

(2) - WR Cooper Kupp

While I am no fan of the LA Rams overworking veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp early in the season while awaiting the return of WR Puka Nacua, I'm not oblivious to the fact that Matthew Stafford simply loves to throw to Kupp. Need proof? Stafford targeted Kupp 21 times in Week 1. Of that number, Kupp caught 14 passes for 110 yards and one touchdown.

Throughout his record-setting 2021 NFL season, Kupp was never targeted more frequently than 15 times.

So what more can we ask of Kupp in Week 2, after single-handedly accounting for a third of the team's offense in Week 1? Work smarter, not harder. Yes, you read that correctly. Cooper Kupp needs to work smarter, not harder.

When the Buffalo Bills played the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, the Bills receivers averaged 12.9 yards per catch. In Week 1, Kupp averaged 7.9 yards per catch. Of course, the Rams were forced to collapse the football field with two backup offensive tackles in the game and the mounting pressure on Matthew Stafford to get the ball away. But the Rams should be in better shape in Week 2 (let's hope).

The Rams best use of Kupp is not just to make a catch, but to catch and put up yards after the catch. In 2021, Kupp averaged 13.4 yards per catch, nearly double that of what he averaged in Week 1.

Kupp cannot and SHOULD NOT be a high volume target in this offense. His value is not in taking so many hits per game. Rather, he has the moves to create separation and put up more yards per game. With Nacua out, the Rams have to get other targets involved. But at the same time, the team merely needs to refine the way they use Kupp in this offense.

Stop the short hitches. Restore intermediate and deep routes to Kupp. Let other receivers do the high volume work. Only in that way can this team ensure that Kupp will be on his feet when the NFL Playoffs roll around.