Who Should I Start? Cooper Kupp or George Pickens

Monday, October 21, 6:36 PM

The Los Angeles Rams listed wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) as a full participant on Monday's estimated practice report ahead of their Week 8 game this Thursday night against the Minnesota Vikings. The Rams fully expect Kupp to play on Thursday night for the first time since spraining his ankle in Week 2, but head coach Sean McVay said that Kupp's workload in his first game back is "to be determined." It will likely depend on good the 31-year-old veteran wideout looks over the next couple of days in practice. And even then, Kupp will carry a decent amount of risk in his first game back. Before his injury, Kupp was looking more like the version of himself that won Offensive Player of the Year in 2021, catching 18 of his 27 targets for 147 yards and a touchdown. With Puka Nacua (knee) still on Injured Reserve, too, Kupp should be heavily targeted whenever he is on the field.

Monday, October 21, 12:30 AM

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens hauled in five receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown on nine targets in a 37-15 victory over the New York Jets. With Russell Wilson starting at quarterback, Pickens was consistently given opportunities downfield. He came down with multiple highlight-reel grabs and found pay dirt for the first time this season on an 11-yard fade route near the end of the second quarter. While Pickens was clearly the favorite target of Justin Fields, his skillset seems to better align with Wilson's strengths, which include stretching the field vertically. The 23-year-old should find himself back in fantasy WR2 territory next week in a bout with the New York Giants.