Cooper Kupp can’t continue with this volume of targets

Matthew Stafford threw Cooper Kupp’s way 21 times versus Lions

Fantasy football owners were ecstatic to see Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp pick up where they left the 2021 season off now that Kupp has a clean bill of health after battling the injury bug the last couple of seasons. Kupp was targeted 21 times on Sunday night for the Los Angeles Rams against the Detroit Lions, catching 14 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. His longest reception was for 21 yards and he also added another 10 yards on the ground on two rushing attempts.

It’s probably fair to say that Kupp’s productive evening was at least in part the result of Puka Nacua leaving the game in the first half with a knee injury. Still, Stafford was looking Kupp’s way early and often—and by my count he had four targets on the game’s opening drive.

No matter how long Nacua is out with injury, it’s simply not sustainable for Kupp to be targeted at this volume and something must give.

If Kupp were to continue on this pace over 17 games, he’d accumulate over 350 targets on the 2024 season. In his triple crown season in 2021 he was targeted 191 times. Marvin Harrison holds the record for most targets in a single season with 205 back in 2022.

The Rams need Stafford to distribute the football to others. On a fourth-and-four attempt early in the game, Stafford stared down Kupp on a hitch route only for the receiver to be blanketed by Carlton Davis. There’s also the injury impact to Kupp seeing the football this often, and it’d be difficult to hold up for the entire season if he’s the clear focal point of the offense—especially after he’s been injured most of the last two years.

Los Angeles has capable playmakers at receiver. They just need to put them in situations to be successful.

Tyler Johnson surprised everyone by catching a short pass, stopping on a dime, and then running for a total gain of 63 yards. This play set up a Josh Karty field goal and helped the Rams find a spark offensively. You’d also like to see Demarcus Robinson and/or Jordan Whittington be involved more often. Robinson was targeted seven times, catching four passes for 42 yards. Tutu Atwell won’t be a factor in the passing game if the offensive line can’t hold up long enough to push the ball down the field.

While it was positive to see Cooper Kupp healthy and once again being the focal point of the Rams offense, it’s not sustainable from either scheme or utilization perspective for Kupp to be targeted at this volume. Something has to give on the Rams offense, and LA needs to develop contingency plans if Nacua is out for an extended period of time.