Who Should I Start? Cooper Kupp or Keon Coleman

Friday, September 5, 2:13 PM

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp is checking in as a flex option in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. Kupp is coming off a season with the Rams that began very auspiciously but finished horrendously. Kupp was a clear-cut WR1 over the first half of the season, but he was completely phased out of the offense towards the end. He only earned nine targets over his final three games, and he moved on from the Rams this offseason. Kupp did not show any signs of slowing down when he was given opportunities in 2024. This is certainly not the same player who took the league by storm in 2021, but Kupp should present solid value out of the slot in Seattle. He is going to be where quarterback Sam Darnold needs him to be at all times. San Francisco presents a tough matchup in Week 1, but they will need to focus their energy on stopping wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Kupp's role in the slot is more immune to tough matchups than outside wide receivers, giving him flex value with solid WR2 upside in Week 1.

Friday, September 5, 1:32 PM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (groin) enters his second NFL season as a breakout candidate. The 2024 second-round pick only caught 29 of 57 targets in 13 games last season, but he averaged 19.2 yards per grab and found the end zone four times. Coleman's stock appeared to be on the rise before he suffered a wrist injury in Week 9. He sat out for over a month as a result, and he was a non-factor upon his return. Despite ending 2024 on a sour note, Coleman has drawn rave reviews this summer for his performance in practice. It's anyone's guess if that will translate in the regular season, which begins Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder has been limited in practice with a groin injury, but it shouldn't prevent him from playing. While Coleman may still carry too much risk for fantasy managers to trust this week, it'll be a positive sign if he's productive against an imposing Baltimore secondary.