Fantasy Football Player Notes

What else is there to say about Cooper Kupp's historic 2021 campaign? The guy was essentially lapping the other wide receivers, finishing No. 1 overall in points per game, receiving yards (1,947) and target share (31%) with over 200 targets total in 21 games played.

New quarterback Matthew Stafford elevated Kupp back inside the top-5 fantasy WRs - as he previously was in 2019. Stafford's arrival in L.A. was the code to cracking Kupp's untapped potential especially with touchdowns.

After catching just three the year prior, Kupp led the league with 16 TD scores - a feat that has happened only six times since 2007.

However, regression will also certainly hit Kupp's production in 2022, just because it's near impossible for him to repeat his once-in-a-lifetime production. Of the five WRs that caught at least 16 touchdowns, they averaged just 6.6 TDs the following season. Only two (Davante Adams, Randy Moss) were able to haul in double-digit scores.

Before Robert Woods hit the IR, he was the WR17 in half-PPR scoring per game. Van Jefferson saw elite usage playing on every down as the No. 3 receiver but didn't follow up his playing time with any worthwhile production. Jefferson was WR35 overall on the season and outside the top 40 in points per game despite a top-tier 86% route participation.

The likely scenario for Allen Robinson is that he steps up into the No. 2 role behind Cooper Kupp and operates the way Woods started the year and/or by how Odell Beckham Jr. ended the season.

Down the playoff stretch, Beckham Jr. averaged a 19% target share and 12.4 fantasy points per game from Week 12 through the divisional round (fantasy WR2).

Weapons are the name of the game with Stafford, who finished the season 11th in fantasy points per game (20.4) on the back of 41 passing touchdowns. Forty-plus TDs is no easy feat and should not be overlooked by fantasy drafters in 2022, especially because it was Stafford's first season in Sean McVay's offense.

When Tyler Higbee came back from the COVID list he commanded at least 40 receiving yards along with of targets totals of 6, 9, 6,4 and 6. All in all, he averaged a 19% target share over the last four weeks after struggling to earn any worthwhile target share as afterthought in the Rams passing attack.

Considering Higbee is always on the field in LA's one-TE offense - 93% route participation the Divisonal round, 76% during 2021 - he will have productive outings in the confines of a high-powered offense.

He should be good to go by Week 1, barring any setbacks from his knee surgery.

Van Jefferson Jr. didn't necessarily take off during his second season, but he earned the trust of the coaching staff to earn a near every-down role - unhead at the position for a No. 3 wide receiver.

Jefferson finished 20th in route participation (86%) and should maintain that high-end usage heading into the 2022 season. In that role last season, Jefferson finished as WR35 overall on the season and outside the top 40 in points per game.

The Rams vertical threat is the rare WR handcuff that would see his production spike should an injury occur to either Cooper Kupp or Allen Robinson.

Harris had what amounted to a redshirt season with the Rams in 2021. The uber-athletic developmental prospect could eventually blossom into a star, but it might take time.