Amari Cooper: There have been a lot of deals involving wide receivers in the NFL this season. Many big names found new homes before the trade deadline. The Buffalo Bills got Amari Cooper as part of a trade that was supposed to give Josh Allen a true No. 1 receiver.
Cooper is still getting acclimated to the system in Buffalo. Since joining the team two weeks ago, he has yet to play more than half the snaps in a single game. He’ll remain in the Chargers lineup while he learns the scheme and gets to know Allen.
It’s possible the Bills let Cooper go for the first time in Week 9 and finally let him play all 16 snaps. But Cooper suffered a wrist injury, so his comeback may have to be postponed.
Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, defensive ends and kickers were graded in the NFL for Week 9.
Will Amari Cooper play this week? Cooper, a wide receiver for the Bills, won’t play against the Dolphins because he’s injured.
Cooper injured his hand last week. He played even though it hurt. This week, though, he wasn’t able to do as much in practice. He wasn’t able to fully participate in any of the three practices the Bills held before Sunday’s game. There’s some doubt about Cooper’s claim that he’s injured because he hasn’t been able to fully participate.
The team and people close to the NFL haven’t yet commented on whether Cooper will be able to play this week. It could be that Cooper can play, but because he’s injured, the team could limit the number of snaps he can take, as they have in the past. As soon as we know more about Cooper’s availability and likely deployment, there will be a new post here. So please check back regularly.
Bills WR roster: Who is the replacement for Amari Cooper?
We already know how the Bills will play without Cooper, as they’ve already played six games without him this season. The coaches will likely use a mix of receivers, with Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins and maybe even Curtis Samuel (pectoral muscle).
Josh Allen will likely rely on Coleman and Shakir this week against the Dolphins if Cooper doesn’t play. Shakir is a reliable receiver and Coleman has developed into a strong playmaker in recent weeks. They’ll likely be two of Buffalo’s most important tools if Cooper is out.
Week 9: ADVICE FOR MANAGING YOUR SQUAD
Check Stock Watch for trade tips, “Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em,” “Sleepers” and “Busts”
Expectations for Amari Cooper for Week 9
Cooper performed well in his first game with the team, earning a WR14 rating despite only being used on less than 40% of plays. Last week, he only played half of the snaps. It was no surprise that he struggled in a limited role, scoring just 1.3 PPR points.
With injuries and not knowing how the offense is running, Cooper may have to play a smaller role again. It’s not safe to use Cooper on fantasy teams until it’s clear he’s playing full-time soccer. Our WR rankings have him at WR32. Teams that are short on players or have other receivers injured can use him.