Who Should I Start? Amari Cooper or Christian Kirk

Saturday, May 3, 1:18 PM

Veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper is one of the top free agents still available after the NFL draft last week, and NFL.com's Kevin Patra suggests that reuniting with the Dallas Cowboys could be the best fit for him. The five-time Pro Bowler is coming off the worst year of his career in 2024 with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills, combining for 44 catches, 547 yards and four touchdowns in 14 total games. He had just 297 yards and two TDs in eight regular-season games with the Bills and averaged just 6.8 yards per catch in three playoff games. The 30-year-old might not be a No. 1 wideout anymore, but he could still have value, and a return to the receiver-needy Cowboys could spark a resurgence. In addition to Dallas, Patra thinks the Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets and Bills could be potential landing spots for the former first-rounder.

Wednesday, July 9, 3:34 PM

Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk was dealt from the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars for a late-round NFL Draft pick this offseason. The 28-year-old had a fantastic first season with Jacksonville in 2022, but injuries and offensive woes limited his production in 2023 and 2024. Last year, he tallied just 27 receptions for 379 yards and one score in eight games while Brian Thomas Jr. took over the WR1 role. Now in Houston, he is seemingly competing with rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel for the WR2 job behind Nico Collins. ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime believes Kirk might be the favorite to win that job. "The best way to step into the No. 2 or No. 3 role is building chemistry with CJ.. Stroud," Bien-Aime wrote. "And Kirk looked like a potential safety blanket for the third-year signal-caller." While this is promising for Kirk's fantasy prospects, the veteran has eclipsed 800 yards in just two of his seven NFL campaigns, and Houston's acquisitions of Higgins and Noel could suggest they were not comfortable with Kirk in the clear WR2 role. That said, his cost in drafts outside the top 50 WRs makes him an interesting dart throw in all formats.