Why fantasy players who started Browns WR Amari Cooper have something to celebrate
Fantasy football players who started Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper Sunday are probably rejoicing.
In a 36-22 victory against the Houston Texans (8-7), the 29-year-old wideout broke the franchise record for receiving yards in a game — previously held by Josh Gordon — with 265 yards on 11 receptions.
He also had two receiving TDs and finished with 51 fantasy points in PPR leagues, per ESPN Fantasy.
"He was pretty special," Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said of the star pass-catcher's performance, via WKRK-FM in Cleveland. "He's one of the best I've ever been around. He's a savant."
The Dallas Cowboys dealt Cooper to Cleveland for a fifth-round draft pick in 2022. Clearly, it was one of the smartest moves the Browns have made in recent memory.
Per Jake Trotter of ESPN, he's the first Browns WR to have two straight seasons with 1,000 receiving yards and joins Pro Hall of Famer Terrell Owens as the only other player to have 200-receiving-yard games with three different franchises.
Meanwhile, the Browns (10-5) have won three straight games and are closer to securing a playoff berth. The New York Times simulator notes Cleveland has more than a 99% chance to make the postseason. Per Tankathon, the Browns have the league's 20th-most difficult remaining schedule.
It's likely that Cleveland will clinch its third playoff berth since it returned the NFL in 1999, and Cooper will keep having exceptional performances, helping the Browns win more games.
In nine seasons, Cooper has never earned an All-Pro nod. This season, he certainly has a strong case. Cleveland has started four different QBs, but his production hasn't tapered off, which proves he's an elite player.
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