Arrow-right Camera
Subscribe now
Eastern Washington University Football

Hype continues to grow for Los Angeles Rams rookie Cooper Kupp

Cooper Kupp celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Oakland Raiders last weekend. (Ben Margot / ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Cooper Kupp fans can stop complaining that he’s underappreciated by the rest of the world.

After two standout preseason games with the Los Angeles Rams, the former Eastern Washington wide receiver is getting all kinds of love from teammates and the national media.

In fact, he belongs on your fantasy team, said Peter Schrager, senior national writer for FoxSports.com.

Schrager made some noise this week by predicting that Kupp will go off for 100 receptions this year.

Schrager didn’t offer a lot to back that up apart from Kupp’s big numbers at Eastern Washington, his chemistry with Rams quarterback Jared Goff and Schrager’s gut feeling.

“I’m doubling down on Cooper Kupp,” he said.

Of the 24 wide receivers with at least nine passes thrown their way in exhibition play, none has a higher rating (the passer rating for quarterbacks throwing to that receiver) than Kupp.

It’s a small sample size, but Kupp’s rating is 143.8 following his six-catch, 70-yard outing last week against the Oakland Raiders.

Kupp also ranks second in yards per route run, at 3.18, among wideouts who’ve played at least 30 snaps.

At least one of the Rams saw this coming – a former Montana player.

“I told him a week ago: Rookie of the Year. That should be his goal, in my mind,” cornerback Trumaine Johnson said on the team’s official website.

“I knew coming in he had great route running, he could come in right now and compete, and start,” said Johnson, a six-year NFL veteran who never faced Kupp in college.

Even with No. 1 receiver Sammy Watkins on the field, Kupp has often been Goff’s first look. He’s looked comfortable in tight coverage and finding space.

“He’s a great player,” Goff said after the Oakland game. “He made a couple really good catches, contested catches, that were big-time for us and moved the chains.”

Kupp’s expectations haven’t changed – they’ve always been high.

“I expect myself on the field to perform and to perform well,” he said this week as the Rams prepared for Saturday’s exhibition game against San Diego.