What can LA Rams fans expect from WR Cooper Kupp playing on TNF?

What can fans expect from Cooper Kupp on TNF?

While the strategy for any NFL player who is a target of trade negotiations is frequently to sit that player until those negotiations are exhausted, that is not what is happening with Cooper Kupp. Does that mean that the NFL rumors are false? Not exactly.

With Kupp's recent high-ankle sprain injury, the Rams almost certainly intend to feature Kupp in a full-range display of his strengths, potential, and production on the football field. That means that he could see plenty of targets (25+ targets would not surprise me in the least), and perhaps a handful of jet sweeps in this game.

Cooper Kupp's Week 1 line on the box score listed him as catching 14 of 21 passes thrown his way for 110 yards and one touchdown. He also ran with the football twice for 10 yards. That was against the Detroit Lions, a fierce rival to the Minnesota Vikings. But with his return, I expect to see similar if not even better numbers from Kupp in Week 8. The reason is two-fold.

For starters, the Rams have all the incentive in the world to put every bit of Cooper Kupp on full display. Even in a regular week, Kupp is bound to be Matthew Stafford's favorite target. Now imagine the carnage that Stafford to Kupp can cause when the team has every incentive to feature Kupp on Thursday Night Football in front of a nationally televised audience.

For the players, the motivation is more bittersweet. Since the game is under the uncertain fog of a possible trade of Kupp to some other team, you can bet that QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp are already making plans to go out in style. If this game is to be their swansong, they are almost certainly planning to give the NFL a show that nobody will forget for years.

If I had the option, I would start Cooper Kupp on every Fantasy Football team I ran this season. But since he is not on my teams, all I can do is sit back and cheer him on.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article.

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