Who Should I Start? Cooper Kupp or Marquise Brown

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.

Thursday, September 4, 2:47 PM

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown (ankle) practiced in full on Thursday and has been officially removed from the team's injury report. Brown, who managed only two games in 2024 due to injury, will look to bounce back after posting just nine receptions for 91 yards a year ago. Now healthy, the Chiefs expect Brown to pair with rookie Xavier Worthy as their top outside threats in Patrick Mahomes' offense. While the seventh-year veteran has flashed upside in the past, he owns only one career 1,000-yard season and has struggled to stay consistent. Fantasy managers should view Brown as a late-round flier with speculative upside in deeper formats, especially if he can stay healthy and carve out a steady role as Kansas City's vertical weapon.