NFL
12 Players to Avoid in Fantasy Football Drafts This Year
While everyone wants to know who will be the next big sleeper in fantasy football, it's just as important to find out which players we should be avoiding.

Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders

By AJ Weinberg

From a talent perspective, Amari Cooper has it all. He also had a solidly productive rookie year, finishing the season as a serviceable WR2 in most leagues.

So, why do I not like him?

My issues with Cooper are less concerns with his abilities to produce, but rather the cost you must pay to acquire him. He has a late second-round ADP in both standard and PPR leagues, meaning he has to have a significantly stronger season than last year to even meet his draft day cost.

While a foot injury curbed his production heavily over the final month of the season, his touchdown production -- or lack thereof -- is somewhat concerning for a wideout with his lofty draft position. Returning Oakland Raiders' receiver Michael Crabtree out-targeted Cooper in the red zone 15 to 7 last year. For comparison, receivers with similar average draft positions -- Brandon Marshall, Demaryius Thomas, and Mike Evans -- all saw 19-plus red zone looks last season.

Moreover, given the Raiders moves on defense and the offensive line this offseason, we should probably expect the team to be more run-heavy than they were a year ago, where they ranked ninth in drop-back-to-run ratio.

Cooper is an elite option in dynasty or keeper formats, but for now, he's being selected too high in redraft based on down-the-road potential.

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