Amari Cooper was considered the best receiver in this draft. But now we'll find out if he'll be the best rookie Fantasy receiver this season.
Cooper was drafted at No. 4 overall by the Raiders. Oakland had a need at receiver, and Cooper was a star at Alabama. But this fit for Cooper feels a little like what happened in 2014 when the Bills drafted Sammy Watkins in the same spot.
And now we'll find out what second-year quarterback Derek Carr is made of.
Watkins had an inconsistent rookie season, and a big reason why was the poor quarterback play from EJ Manuel and Kyle Orton. He finished with decent stats of 65 catches, 982 yards and six touchdowns, but he was well behind Odell Beckham, Mike Evans and Kelvin Benjamin in terms of production.
It won't be a surprise to see Cooper have a similar season -- unless Carr steps up in his second year. Carr had mediocre talent around him as a rookie last year with James Jones and Mychal Rivera his top targets, and he wasn't a great Fantasy quarterback.
Cooper, who had 124 catches, 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns last year for Alabama, instantly makes Carr better. But Fantasy owners will be anxious to see if Carr does the same for Cooper.
I'll likely rank Cooper as a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver, and you should plan on drafting him as early as Round 6 in most re-draft leagues. In dynasty drafts, Cooper is easily worth a first-round selection.
