Fantasy Football Pulse Check: Was Amari Cooper the key to Bills’ passing game?

Amari Cooper scored a TD in his first game as a Bill, delivering a solid fantasy football performance in Week 7. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

The NFL blessed us with two blockbuster trades this week — Davante Adams and Amari Cooper. The Adams trade felt like a long time coming — and at the aggressive urging of Aaron Rodgers. However, the Cooper trade filled a much-needed hole for the Buffalo Bills. Rather than a trade to continue stacking offensive talent, the Bills had a clear void in a struggling receiving corps and this was a move that could reshape the Bills offense moving forward.

The Bills entered 2024 with mixed expectations for their new-look receiving corps. With the loss of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, the Bills made additions in free agency and drafted Keon Coleman. While there’s been mild glimmers of hope, it’s been tough sledding thus far.

In addition to providing a much-needed offensive boost for the Bills, Cooper’s addition offers the upside and opportunity he’s been lacking all season with Deshaun Watson. Cooper’s 2024 had been a disaster aside from one boom game in Week 3 where he finished as the overall WR4 with two touchdowns. His next-best finish was WR44, where he had just eight fantasy points.

While Cooper has been a boom-bust wide receiver by nature, that level of production was well below expectations and — for the most part — outside of his control. Connecting with Josh Allen would be an immediate increase in his usage.

Heading into Week 7, every Bills’ pass-catcher was averaging less than 10 fantasy points per game in half PPR. Khalil Shakir led the way, averaging 9.5 fantasy points per game. The target share was flat in the receiving corps, with Shakir receiving 21 targets in five games (one less than all other pass-catchers), Coleman with 20, Mack Hollins with 19 and Curtis Samuel with 17. Many predicted that the lack of reliability in the receiving corps would make Dalton Kincaid the target lead — and thus far that had…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-10-21 01:31:03

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