The end of July means we’re in primetime fantasy drafting season. Whether you’re participating in a redraft format or are embarking on year one of a dynasty league journey, you’ll soon be faced with a decision. You’ll have an allotted amount of time to select between a pool of players around the same range in fantasy projections. You may see Cooper Kupp, Stefon Diggs, and DK Metcalf as the best candidates when you’re on the clock. Here’s a deep dive into what each option brings to the table.
Cooper Kupp
ADP: 43 | WR22
Cooper Kupp has the greatest range of outcomes out of these three candidates. Three seasons ago, the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year logged one of the greatest wide receiver seasons in NFL history. His 1,947 receiving yards was 17 short of the single-season record, set by Calvin Johnson in 2012. The Rams wide receiver’s 191 targets also ranks ninth most all time.
Kupp’s rapport with Stafford took little to no time to establish, and the 10.1 targets per game, since his new signal caller arrived, proves there’s a reliable connection. Health is the key factor when taking somebody like Kupp. The 31-year-old only played in 14+ games in three of his seven seasons so far, but out of those three seasons, he surpassed 1,000 yards twice.
Stefon Diggs
ADP: 34 | WR17
Stefon Diggs is the only of these three options who will have a new team this season, as the 10-year NFL veteran is headed to Houston. When it comes to consistency, Diggs is far ahead of the other two options on this list. After taking until his fourth season to crack the 1,000-yard barrier, the four-time Pro Bowler has achieved that feat every year since.
A year ago around this time, many may have been worried about how Diggs would fare with a rookie QB in CJ Stroud. A 4,108 passing yard season later, and there’s an argument this could be one of the better tandems in the league. Stroud’s 8.2 yards per attempt ranked third amongst quarterbacks who played at least half of the season, proving the second-year signal caller can push the ball down the field effectively.
If Houston’s offense operates anything like it did last year, Diggs will be joining a group that throws the rock at a much higher rate. While the Bills threw it just 53.5% of the time last year (27th), Houston threw it up on 59.1% of plays (12th).
DK Metcalf
ADP: 41 | WR21
DK Metcalf is the youngest of these three options, and he has proven to be prolific despite a quarterback change a pair of years ago. With three 1,000-yard seasons in five tries (and the two “failures” being of the 900-yard variety), Metcalf is reliable, electric and a monster of a human being.
The 6-foot-4, 235 lb receiver enters his fifth year of play in an offense that lives and dies by the passing game. Clocking in with passing plays 61.6% of the time, picking Metcalf guarantees one thing: he will see volume.
The Seahawks’ primary option has garnered 100+ targets in each year and encases one of the highest floors in the league because of it.
So, Who’s It Going To Be?
Any of these options (for the right price) can be solid, top-20 contributors for your fantasy football team.
When it comes to the best option for this season, I’m giving DK Metcalf the nod for a couple of reasons.
For one, Metcalf is the youngest out of these three receivers by a relatively steep margin. Turning 27 years old in December, Seattle’s top weapon is four years younger than Diggs and has four and a half years of youth on Kupp.
When looking at Kupp, one peek at his resume would indicate he has the highest ceiling. However, missing 13 games in the last two seasons combined with newfound target competition in Puka Nacua makes Kupp the riskiest player on this list.
Diggs may be entering a prolific offense run by one of the league’s youngest superstars in Stroud, but he has the most target competition of any candidate. Nico Collins flirted with 1,300 receiving yards in a career-best season last year, Tank Dell averaged greater than 60 receiving yards per game through 11 contests and Dalton Schultz was wedged between the two in targets with 88.
There’s no denying that Diggs should be the primary target, but there’s too much talent at the same position to give him the nod.
Metcalf’s youth, involvement on a high-flying passing offense and elevated floor throughout his five-year career all make him the wisest option of the three.
