Darius Cooper
Cooper has gone from a depth receiver to the Eagles' most-used wideout over the last two games, but his target volume is still small and his fantasy value depends on whether that snap share becomes targets.
Role
Per the Liberty Line snap-count recap (Oct 13), he played 85% of offensive snaps in the 19-17 loss to Jacksonville, the most of any Eagles receiver, and led the team with 71 receiving yards on three targets. Bleeding Green Nation's Week 4 recap (Oct 5) has him outsnapping Makai Lemon as WR2 against the Rams, with a team-high seven targets, and he also plays on special teams. Other receivers in the mix are DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Lemon, Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore. A RotoWire snap table I saw is undated and shows Wicks 81%, Smith 70%, Lemon 67% and Cooper 41%, so it likely predates his recent rise. I have not read a current depth chart. PFF's season line (undated, probably before Week 5's game) shows 13 targets, 7 catches, 130 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The snaps are real and the production comes on few touches. He has scored in recent games, including two red-zone touchdowns against the Rams, and posted 71 yards on three targets against Jacksonville. Eagles blogs say he should be fed more, and one says the staff barely looked his way despite the efficiency. If Smith or the tight ends miss time, he is the beneficiary.
The targets are not following the snaps: three against Jacksonville after seven against the Rams, which came with Smith and Goedert out. RotoWire's note after the Rams game said he was unlikely to have much fantasy appeal once Smith returned. RotoWire's preseason view was that a No. 5 receiver role was likely his ceiling. Much of his output is touchdown-driven and efficiency-driven (4 touchdowns on 7 catches), which tends not to hold up. The offense's line and backfield have also been depleted, so the situation is unstable.
Where analysts split
Whether his snap lead turns into a steady target share. Eagles-focused writers say the team should feed him, while RotoWire's earlier read treated his big Rams game as a product of Smith's absence. The available coverage does not settle whether the staff plans to raise his target volume.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
Others at WR
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