Bottom Line

Cooper had a stellar 12-game stretch to open the season but fell off once QB Deshaun Watson returned from suspension in Week 13. Watson’s poor individual performance to close 2022 casts clouds over all Browns pass-catchers entering this upcoming season.

There’s no doubt that Cooper will once again be the #1 target in this Browns’ passing attack, but he faces a bit more target competition with the arrival of WR Elijah Moore.

Cooper is best viewed as a low-end WR2 with upside.

What We Learned Last Year

• Cooper joined the Browns following an offseason trade from the Cowboys. The former 1st-round pick immediately walked into this offense and became an impactful player, finishing as the WR10 in PPR with 14.5 points per game.
• He logged six top-12 weekly finishes in 2022, with two others within the top-24 among WRs.
  • Only one of Cooper’s top-12 finishes came in the six games that QB Deshaun Watson started from Week 13 on.
  • During that period, he also logged a WR31 finish (Week 16) but was otherwise outside of the top 40 with Watson.
• To his credit, Cooper performed significantly better when Jacoby Brissett was the Browns’ starting QB last season:
  • Week 1 - Week 12 (w/ Brissett): 5.2 receptions/game, 72 receiving yards/game, 7 receiving TDs, WR14 overall in PPR (16.1 points per game)
  • Week 13 - Week 18 (w/ Watson): 3.5 receptions/game, 61.3 receiving yards/game, 2 receiving TDs, WR38 overall in PPR (11.3 points per game)
• Cooper led the Browns in targets (133), target share (26.2%), air yards share (38.7%), and Weighted Opportunity Rating.
• Among 34 WRs who saw 100+ targets last season, Cooper ranked:
  • 12th in PFF receiving grade
  • 12th in yards per route run (2.06)
  • 16th in receiving yards (1,160)

What to Expect in 2023

• Despite the additions of 3rd-round rookie WR Cedric Tillman and veteran WR Elijah Moore via trade from the Jets, Cooper remains the Browns’ No. 1 WR in 2023.
• The Browns’ offense finished last year 22nd in pass rate, though they should improve upon that somewhat now that Watson has reacclimated himself to the NFL game after nearly two seasons away from the sport.
• Cooper’s fantasy value will depend on whether or not Watson regains his pre-hiatus form as a passer. As such, we’re treating Cooper as a low-end WR2 with some upside for more if everything breaks right for this offense in 2023.