Cooper Kupp’s 2025 Fantasy Preview: A New Home, New Questions, and a Reserved Ceiling
Last season’s early flash and a brutal injury left Kupp with a tale of a league-winner who couldn’t sustain the pace. In Week 1 of 2024, he drew plenty of attention, racking up 21 targets and finishing with 14 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. But an ankle injury soon sidelined him, sending him to injured reserve after just one game. He and Puka Nacua both returned later, yet Kupp’s production never fully recovered, averaging 4.6 catches for 56 yards per game the rest of the season and failing to top 30 receiving yards in four of his final five regular-season games.
What changed: The Rams moved on from the veteran after the season, and Kupp landed with Seattle on a three-year, $45 million deal. That crossover sets up a matchup against his old club twice a year, but it also places him in a Seahawks offense that shifted from a pass-heavy approach under Ryan Grubb to a more run-first philosophy under Klint Kubiak, who was brought in to reshape the offense.
2025 Outlook: The big question for Kupp is his role and deployment. He still has natural impact, especially as a slot receiver, where he posted 1.9 yards per route run and drew targets on 26 percent of his routes from the slot. His numbers dipped when lined up outside the formation (1.5 yards per route run and 22 percent target share). A key factor is Seattle’s roster move: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the young first-round wideout, led last year’s receivers in slot catches and yardage. If Seattle wants to keep Smith-Njigba at his natural position, Kupp could be forced to the outside, which could cap his fantasy upside.
Projected numbers from Spotlight Sports Group (for 2025): 69 receptions on 111 targets, 789 yards, 5 touchdowns. That yields about 179 PPR points, with around 144 HPPR and 109 NPPR scores. In other words, a solid, reliable veteran with a modest ceiling, contingent on where he lines up and how Seattle’s offense evolves around him.
What this means for fantasy managers:
– Slot vs outside: If Kupp works from the slot, his value could approach mid-range WR2 status, especially in PPR formats. If he’s predominantly outside with limited target share, the upside slides toward a high-end WR3.
– Teammate impact: JSN’s slot prowess could siphon targets away from Kupp in certain alignments. Monitor training camp reports and early-season usage to gauge how Seattle plans to deploy both players.
– Injury risk: After an IR stint in 2024, health remains a variable. His Week-to-week reliability will influence weekly start decisions.
– Format matters: PPR leagues will reward any reliable slot-focused play, while standard leagues might temper expectations if Kupp is parked outside and sees fewer high-percentage targets.
Bottom line: Cooper Kupp enters 2025 with a clear veteran floor and a nuanced ceiling. His fantasy value will hinge on his exact alignment in Seattle’s offense and how aggressively the Seahawks lean into a run-first identity while balancing targets for Kupp and the rest of the receiving corps. For managers drafting with flexible rosters and a willingness to tolerate some week-to-week variance, Kupp offers a compelling back-end WR2 with upside if the role aligns more to the slot.
Additional thoughts and value adds:
– Draft strategy: If you can secure Kupp in the late second or early third round in deeper leagues, he provides a steady baseline with potential spike weeks in favorable matchups. In shallower leagues, you may prefer higher-upside targets with clearer target shares.
– Stacking considerations: Look for Seahawks stacks that connect with Geno Smith and JSN when Kupp’s role is likely to be more outside, maximizing weekly point opportunities through high-grade pass games.
– Monitoring cues: Be attentive to Seattle’s early-season game plan and injury reports. Any signs of Kupp being used primarily as a slot option could be a selling point for a higher ceiling, while a continued outside alignment could push him into a more conservative, floor-focused role.
Summary: Cooper Kupp’s 2025 fantasy outlook blends past success with new surroundings and roster dynamics. The key to unlocking his value will be identifying where he lines up and how efficiently Seattle uses him in a potentially more balanced offense. With careful monitoring and smart draft placement, Kupp can be a stabilizing presence on fantasy rosters and still offer meaningful upside in the right weeks.