Fantasy Football Outlook: Dalton Schultz, Brandin Cooks, Christian Watson, Amari Cooper

Every week we’ll bring you The Primer, a deep dive into every fantasy-relevant player from every NFL game of the week. You can find the full weekly fantasy football Primer here. Below we dive into a few notable players ahead of this weekend’s games.

Fantasy Football Outlook

Amari Cooper: Cooper has had a 22.9% target share, a 43.2% air-yard share, 2.42 YPRR, and a 30% first-read share. Since Week 5, the Steelers have the second-highest rate of single-high (69.7%). Against single-high, Cooper’s numbers have jumped across the board with a 24.4% target share, a 43.6% air-yard share, 2.84 YPRR, and a 31.5% first-read share. The big concern for Cooper is Joey Porter Jr.. Porter Jr. didn’t shadow last week, but he has followed receivers on at least 50% of their routes twice this season, holding Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins to 46 and 26 receiving yards (zero touchdowns). If Porter Jr. doesn’t shadow, Cooper will run about 74% of his routes against Porter Jr. (32% catch rate and 48.1 passer rating) and Patrick Peterson (60.5% catch rate and 107.1 passer rating). Week 11 Positional Value: WR3

Christian Watson: Watson was limited (shoulder) in practice on Wednesday. Since Week 5, Watson has led the Packers with a 17.2% target share, a 36.7% air-yard share, and a 21.4% first-read share. He has produced a saddening 1.56 YPRR and eight end zone targets with zero touchdowns. Watson ranks 23rd among 85 qualifying receivers in open score, so this hasn’t been a Watson problem but a Love issue. Watson has been banged up along the way as well. If Love can pull it together this week, Watson could have a fantastic day. The Chargers have allowed the ninth-highest PPR points per target and the fourth-most receiving touchdowns to boundary receivers this season. Week 11 Positional Value: WR3

Brandin Cooks: Since Week 6, Cooks is the only wide receiver outside of Lamb with above a 60% route run rate. Over the last four games, Cooks has had a 13.2% target share, a 17.2% air-yard share, 2.05 YPRR, and a 15.7% first-read share. Since Week 6, the Panthers have had the third-highest rate of single-high (66.9%). Against single-high over the last four weeks, Cooks has had a 15.7% target share, a 20.3% air-yard share, 2.85 YPRR, and a 19% first-read share. Cooks should cook again in Week 11. Since Week 5, the Panthers have allowed the ninth-highest PPR points per target to outside wide receivers. Week 11 Positional Value: WR3

Dalton Schultz: Schultz was limited on Wednesday (hamstring). Schultz is the TE7 in fantasy, ranking sixth in red zone targets. Among 51 qualifying tight ends, he is 13th in target share (16.6%), ninth in YPRR (1.80), first in end zone targets (eight), and 15th in first-read share (16.7%). Since Week 6, the Cardinals have had the fourth-highest rate of two high (57.7%). Against two high, he has had a 22.2% target share, 2.04 YPRR, and a 23.1% first-read share. Among 34 qualifying tight ends, he ranks fourth in fantasy points per route run against two high. Arizona has allowed the 11th-highest yards per reception to tight ends. Week 11 Positional Value: TE1