Faust
MVP
A few rumours and speculation about Amari Cooper as a target for the Steelers to potentially sign him:
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WR Amari Cooper, LV (8 Viewers)
- Thread starter Faust
- Start date
MAC_32
Footballguy
About minus 4 months ago
MAC_32
Footballguy
Loved what he did for the Browns through 2 mostly painful seasons, and the end to 2023 was a lot of fun. He's never handled divorces well though.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Yeah he basically won me a title in 2023. My team was absolutely buried that playoff weekend before his 230 yard game against Denver.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
What do you mean what the heck? The Bills released him in January and he's been a free agent since.
greenmountaingoat
Footballguy
I dropped him for Oliver yesterday. Thought he would have caught on somewhere by now.
Alex P Keaton
Footballguy
Yeah, every year we have to re-learn this lesson for some reason
Lansdowne
Footballguy
I’m trying to think of the last example of a WR in his 30s — whose production fell off a cliff so bad that nobody wanted to sign him until after the season started for that very reason — who actually paid off for fantasy purposes. And I’m drawing a blank.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Prodigal son and all.
Wonder if that is a slight indictment on where Thronton and Bech are as rookies, or just more that Carroll and co. aren't rebuilding, they are win now? Also Meyers apparently requested a trade, and is in the last year of his deal.
Another outside threat is good news for Jeanty.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Everything I’ve read / heard locally about Bech is he was struggling to take the WR4 spot. That’s before Cooper.
I think Gino will cook like he did in 2022. Even last year, Gino was 12th in pff grade at 83. Now, best receiving TEs, very good receiving RB, Jakobi is above average, and secret weapon Thornton. Plus Cooper. Chip will use the run to open up the pass.
Coach will turn 74 on September 15, 2025. He wants to win now.
Coach will turn 74 on September 15, 2025. He wants to win now.
massraider
Footballguy
At 30 years old, he doesn't need to play 95% of snaps with this team either. I really like this move. Bech ain't ready. Looks OK, but Thornton blew by him (ha) from day 1 of camp. You don't want to count on Bech as a WR3
Bech feels like he may be a slot-only type.
massraider
Footballguy
Remains to be seen if he's capable of helping at all. Bech as 4th guy sounds better.
gump
Footballguy
Decent spot and better feeling to me than drafting a stiff like Wandale…at least to start the season w some upside potential at a position of strength on my roster.
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
16th rd of a 16 teamer this evening. Why not?
FarFromHome
Footballguy
Pick 193 in League Uno. With those starting requirements might get a spot start or 2 out of him. Maybe package him with Ollie Gordon for DeAndre Swift. Who knows. Might hit up Bed Bath and Beyond if I got time.
skol asylum
Footballguy
Worth any FAAB investment?
skol asylum
Footballguy
Thought the same but I just wonder with Meyers pushing himself out the door he may have alot of target opportunity.
jtd13
Footballguy
You are probably right, and he definitely didn't impress. A small part of me wonders how much that had to do with the broken hand shortly after getting there. But still not a big enough part of me for me to keep him over the RB flyers on my roster in the one dynasty league where I have him (Hunter and Monangai in this case).
Ilov80s
Footballguy
He is going late enough where it can't really hurt you to take him but you're right that it's probably better to get an upside handcuff back. The other problem with Cooper is he just signed. So if you draft him, you kind of have to be willing to commit a few weeks to him or otherwise what's the point? He is likely going to need 3-4 weeks to get back into football shape, learn the playbook, establish chemistry, earn coaches trust, etc. Do you really want to hold on to him waiting and seeing for all of September?
FarFromHome
Footballguy
So your saying theirs a chance? Ha ha. I have one share and he is my wr6. Seems about the right about to invest. I expect nothing, but not a whole bunch of mouths to feed in Oakland.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
The slimmest of slim but I ask, name me a WR who took a big dip in production and efficiency in their late career and then popped back to their old form? I am sure there are one or two. Jerry Rice, Randy Moss. When it goes, it goes.
jtd13
Footballguy
Because I can't help but provide an exception when someone asks a question like that, I remember similar things being said about Brandin Cooks coming from the rams. Although he wasn't as late career as Cooper is now.
Maybe Stefon Diggs from his late season collapse as a Bill counts. But the exceptions prove the rule. Usually when guys look like they are done, they are done.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Did Diggs bounce back? His last year with the Bills he had 1100/8. Last year with the Texans he played 8 games and was on pace for 1,054/6.
As for Cooks, I get what you are saying but he was 26 when he had his down year. That is smack dab in the peak age window for receivers so while he did bounce back, I am not sure if it's quite the same. But I do appreciate the counterpoints.
FarFromHome
Footballguy
Thousands of examples. I just can't name any. I'll let my fans answer that for me. Bwahahah
Your right though. Odds aren't good. Did you see when Tesla launched a rocket in the air then actually caught it like something out of Star Trek? Amazing stuff does happen. Cooper is basically that rocket. Or someone you drop for a 3rd defense. Ha ha
socrates
Footballguy
DeAndre Hopkins had two down seasons in Arizona in his age 29 and age 30 seasons, then he bounced back in Tennessee the following season (age 31 season) to post 75 rec., 1,057 yds and 7 TDs. Sure, he had those down seasons while battling through injuries, but you could make the same argument about Cooper last season.
FarFromHome
Footballguy
I saw the Adam Thielen thread and my immediate reaction is this dude is just about done. Then i panicked because I wondered what's the difference between him and Cooper. Luckily Cooper is 4 years younger. Took a deep breath in relief. Coopers just 31. That kinda surprised me.
I'm not gonna argue Cooper gets back to his peak form, but I do think WAY too much weight is being given to what happened in Buffalo. As to the question of late career WRs who did pop back to their old form:
Larry Fitzgerald had 3 straight seasons under 1000 yards (2012-2014) before having 3 straight 100 catch seasons (2015-2017) he was 32 then.
Steve Smith was on pace for the 3rd best season of his career for the Ravens in 2015 at age 35, before suffering a season ending injury.
Going in the way back machine here, but Henry Ellard (one of the most underrated WRs in history in my opinion) had the 2nd best season of his career at age 33 with Washington.
Anquan Boldin had 2 straight 1000+ yard seasons with SF (2013-2014) after not having one in any of the previous 3 seasons with the Ravens.
Brandon Marshall had the best year of his career for the Jets in 2015 at age 31 with Fitzmagic. Had him on a few teams that year.
Keenan McCardell had the 2nd best seasons of his career with the 2003 Bucs. Going from 670-6 to 1174-8 at age 33.
Muhsin Muhammed went from 3 straight seasons under 1000 yards to leading the league in yards and TDs in 2004, at age 31.
Joey Galloway had 3 straight 1000+ yard seasons in TB (2005-2007) after his last previous 1,000 yard season being in 1998.
Terry Glenn had 2 straight 1000+ yard seasons in Dallas (2005-2006) after being left for dead with his last previous one being in 1999.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Yeah I think injuries are part of getting old and players slowing down, not an excuse.
osubuckeyeman
Footballguy
There is a lot of bias about what happened last season in Buffalo, but the issue for me is coming late. I have to wonder what kind of shape Coop is in and getting up to speed right before week one. It will be interesting to see how he adapts. I think by week six, we will know how this all will play out for Coop. If Meyers gets traded, and I do not think that will happen, but if it does, then having Coop might not be bad. I think he was hurt in Buffalo, and people think about his age more than they should. I think the injury and the trade during the season played a more significant role in what happened for Coop in 2024.
socrates
Footballguy
These are excellent points. I had high hopes for Cooper when he went to Buffalo last season. Very disappointing, hurt or not, mid-season trade or not. Every player eventually reaches an age when they are less effective. There is at least a non-zero chance that is the case with Cooper, but I am not going to automatically assume he has hit the age wall based solely on such limited data. I would take Amari Cooper at the right discount, and if he is on your waiver wire, that may be the right discount.
taylormeetstheismann
Footballguy
Quick search with incomplete and possibly incorrect data from Google…
Examples of NFL wide receivers who scored touchdowns at age 32+
Jerry Rice: The NFL's all-time receiving touchdown leader scored many of his 197 career receiving touchdowns after turning 32.
Marvin Harrison: In 2004, at age 32, he scored 15 touchdowns for the Indianapolis Colts.
Terrell Owens: He had multiple seasons with double-digit touchdowns after turning 32, including 15 touchdowns in 2007 for the Cowboys at age 34.
Larry Fitzgerald: He scored receiving touchdowns late in his career, including nine in 2015 at age 32.
Steve Smith Sr.: He continued to be a productive scorer into his late 30s, including five touchdowns in his final season at age 37.
Anquan Boldin: He scored 8 touchdowns for the Detroit Lions in 2016 at age 36.
Reggie Wayne: The veteran Colts receiver was 34 when he scored five touchdowns in 2013.
Plus…
Most Touchdowns By A Wide Receiver In A Season At Age 32 | StatMuse
Marvin Harrison has scored the most receiving touchdowns by a 32-year-old wide receiver in a season, with 15 touchdowns in 2004.
I also think people are not putting enough stock on what happened to him BEFORE he was sent to Buffalo. As in the Browns tried to trade him before the season ever started in a deal for Aiyuk. I recall him tweeting or saying something to the extent of he'd be ok with that.
Just doubt he ever really wanted to be in Cleveland, especially after they tried to trade him or just was not into his situation in Buffalo and kind of mentally checked out. It's human nature.
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Ilov80s
Footballguy
I definitely think a WR can play well after the age of 30. I just feel like when we see the efficiency drop, production drop and the injures hit at that age, the players don't bounce back.
Quick search with incomplete and possibly incorrect data from Google…
Examples of NFL wide receivers who scored touchdowns at age 32+
Jerry Rice: The NFL's all-time receiving touchdown leader scored many of his 197 career receiving touchdowns after turning 32.
Marvin Harrison: In 2004, at age 32, he scored 15 touchdowns for the Indianapolis Colts.
Terrell Owens: He had multiple seasons with double-digit touchdowns after turning 32, including 15 touchdowns in 2007 for the Cowboys at age 34.
Larry Fitzgerald: He scored receiving touchdowns late in his career, including nine in 2015 at age 32.
Steve Smith Sr.: He continued to be a productive scorer into his late 30s, including five touchdowns in his final season at age 37.
Anquan Boldin: He scored 8 touchdowns for the Detroit Lions in 2016 at age 36.
Reggie Wayne: The veteran Colts receiver was 34 when he scored five touchdowns in 2013.
Plus…
Most Touchdowns By A Wide Receiver In A Season At Age 32 | StatMuse
Marvin Harrison has scored the most receiving touchdowns by a 32-year-old wide receiver in a season, with 15 touchdowns in 2004.www.statmuse.com
Harrison was a monster from age 27-34. There were no bad years there. He missed 2 games over that whole stretch. Truly elite stuff but his age 35 season was garbage and his career was over. He never bounced back. He was elite for 8 years and then it was a wrap.
Like Harrison, TO his his stride at age 27 and was a stud every year until a slight step down in 08, 09 and 10. He never had a bad season in there but he trailed off a bit at the end. His numbers were low in his age 32 season but that's just because he missed a lot of games. The games he did play in, he was dominating on pace for 1500 yards and 12+ TDS.
Fitzgerald is a good example because he had a few rough years in Arizona ages 29-31 and then his 32,33,34 seasons were good again.
Steve Smith did look like he was cooked at 31 and then ended up having 3 more good 1000 yard seasons. That's a good example.
Boldin's play dropped off a bit when he was 27 and never got back to where it was his first 3 years in the league. He remained a player with a good floor but his ceiling wasn't there anymore.
Once Reggie Wayne got going at age 26, he was great every season until he turned 35 when he just didn't have it anymore.
So it does seem like Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Smith were able to dip in their 30s and then bounce back to deliver seasons resembling their prime. That's a pretty special group of players we are talking about.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
The injury thing goes hand in hand with the age. Older players are more likely to get hurt, take longer to recover, have less room to lose some capacity due to injury, etc.
