Former Eastern Washington star Cooper Kupp leads NFL rookie receivers in catches, yards
The NFL season is young, but if they were to pick an NFL Rookie Wide Receiver of the Year right now, it would be Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams.
The former Eastern Washington All-American has been the “best week-to-week option in this class,” ESPN’s Michael Rothstein wrote Tuesday.
Through four weeks, Kupp’s numbers are impressive and easily the best among NFL rookies: 14 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns.
Going into Sunday’s home game against the Seattle Seahawks, the Rams are 3-1 thanks mostly to an improved offense under rookie coach Sean McVay and led by quarterback Jared Goff.
In the offseason, the Rams picked up Sammy Watkins (14 catches for 211 yards) via trade, Robert Woods (12 catches, 186 yards) in free agency and Kupp in the third round of the draft. They also have speedster Tavon Austin, while running back Todd Gurley (20 catches, 234 yards) is heavily involved in the passing game.
“What I like about the offense is I know I’ll always have a receiver open,” Goff said during fall camp.
A week ago, Kupp was coming off a season-low two catches for 17 yards in a win at San Francisco. He rebounded in Dallas with a rookie-leading five catches for 60 yards, plus his second touchdown of the year.
Part of the success is Kupp’s early synergy with Goff during fall camp.
“He’s a great player,” Goff said after an exhibition win over the Raiders. “He made a couple really good catches, contested catches, that were big-time for us and moved the chains.”
That kind of trust has mean more throws in Kupp’s direction. Out of 90 routes run, he’s been targeted 21 times.
Kupp, the seventh wideout picked in the draft, has company at the top of the rookie wide receiver charts. Former USC star JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was picked sixth by the Steelers, has eight catches for 102 yards.
Kupp’s biggest competition could be the 49ers’ Trent Taylor, who has 11 catches for 93 yards.
Chicago running back Tarik Cohen leads all rookies with 24 catches. Carolina running back Christian McCaffrey tops all rookies in receiving yards, with 206.