In 2021, Cooper Kupp posted one of the best seasons a wide receiver could have ever had. He was the undisputed WR1 in fantasy football—a 25.9 ppg season had Kupp as a consensus top-two pick for 2022. Kupp started 2022 strong. He was the WR1 in ppg after nine weeks. With a week 10 injury, his season had ended. Even with the injury, Kupp was once again WR1 in ppg.
A 1900-plus-yard season is hard to come by. I did find three receivers that are similar in ADP to where Kupp went in 2021 fantasy drafts. At first, looking at the team’s pass attempts made me think that it was a NEED to have a team with a ton of passing volume. That was true in the 2021 Los Angeles Rams, but not the 2022 version. The Rams were 10th in pass attempts in 2021 and 23rd in 2022. Kupp still finished as the WR1 in ppg.
Then, I looked at the three receivers and the weapons around them. Two of the three have formidable teammates around them but still have solidified themselves as alpha WR1s. Cooper Kupp was the WR18 in ADP (46.0) in 2021. These three receivers are WR19, WR16, and WR23.
Who can be Cooper Kupp in 2023 and carry teams to greatness?
Keenan Allen, WR19, ADP 43.8
Keenan Allen got hurt in back-to-back seasons (2015 & 2016) and people never forgave him. Every year since then, Allen has been a WR1. Minus for the 2018 season where Allen was the WR13 in ppg, but averaged 17.2 ppg. With just ten games due to injury in 2022, Allen still was the WR11 on 16.4 ppg.
To be fair, the entire Chargers offense dealt with injuries, especially to the receiving core. Now, Justin Herbert gets an upgrade as offensive coordinator in Kellen Moore. Moore has a fantastic mind for play calling and the Chargers just finished second in pass attempts per game in 2022. Moore will look to add more fire to an offense that also added rookie receiver Quentin Johnson in the NFL draft.
Jeff Bell (4WhomJBellTolls) said it best. “Keenan Allen = Ceedee Lamb. In Kellen Moore’s offense.” Lamb finished as the WR5 in total points and the WR7 in ppg. The difference is Lamb was labeled as the WR7 in ADP last year. He was not mispriced like Cooper Kupp in 2021 and now Keenan Allen in 2023. Allen is being drafted as a WR2 with four consecutive WR1 finishes in ppg.
All in all, Keenan Allen is tied to the most pass-happy quarterback in the NFL and is one of, if not the best value for all wide receivers in 2023. Draft him as a WR2 and watch as he crushes his WR19 ADP by 12-plus spots.
Calvin Ridley, WR16, ADP 35.5
Once again, another wide receiver that is mispriced just like Cooper Kupp from his legendary season. Yes, I know there is a crowd out there. The “Ridley has not played football in two years” people. The Jacksonville Jaguars just had Kirk finish as WR20 in ppg and WR11 in total points. Why trade for Calvin Ridley? Oh, because he is that good and has a legit top-five upside in fantasy football.
Ridley was the WR4 in total points and ppg. Two years from game action and it seems Ridley has not missed a step. With him being the talk about Jaguars camp, a connection has been established with Trevor Lawrence. Ridley has had five drives with Lawrence this pre-season. The numbers will make you draft Ridley in the second round and feel extremely confident.
Ridley had a 100% route participation. The only Jaguar’s receiver to do so. He also had a 31% target share, six percent higher than Christian Kirk. Ridley had a 39% air yard share and an ADOT of 12.4. Cooper Kupp had a 31.5% target share in his 2021 season. Calvin Ridley at WR16 has the best shot from any WR2 based on ADP to finish as a top-five receiver in fantasy football in 2023.
Christian Watson, WR23, ADP 56.5
The upside is what we all want in fantasy football. There might not be a player with a bigger upside than Christian Watson in 2023. Watson came alive in the second half of the 2022 season. The WR9 in total points and ppg, Watson had eight touchdowns from week 10-13 and the damage was done.
Now, tons of fantasy managers cannot get over what upside this can turn into with Jordan Love now as the full-time quarterback. Watson really started to play in week 10 with injuries not allowing him to play in less than 50% of the snaps in just five games from weeks one to nine.
Watson was fourth in total touchdowns by a receiver and scored them all from week ten and beyond. Now, just imagine a full 17 games with Jordan Love and Christian Watson receiving the looks and playing time he did in the second half of the season. Watson is the WR23 with the upside of leading the NFL in touchdowns by a receiver.
Top 12 in YPRR (yards per route run) 2.40. Also, number three in fantasy points per route run and number one in fantasy points per target. Christian Watson not being drafted as a top-15 receiver is a discount everyone should look to draft in their fantasy drafts.
Watson is unlikely to have 1900-plus yards like Cooper Kupp, but a season of around 1000 yards and over 12 touchdowns is very likely. A season with 1000 yards, 70 catches, and 12 touchdowns would have had him as the WR11 in 2022 in total points.
For more great rankings and analysis, make sure to check out our 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit!
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