The Dynasty Trading Post: Cooper Kupp, Adam Thielen

Photo: USA Today Sports

Welcome to the dynasty trading post, where optimizing strategy, roster construction, format, and player value oscillations are examined weekly in example and completed dynasty trades.

This week, we will analyze Cooper Kupp and Adam Thielen as dynasty buys for contending teams.

*All trades are Superflex unless stated otherwise*

WR Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

Theme of the Week: Seek Elite

With Puka Nacua's hot start to his career in the absence of Cooper Kupp, the question mark would be how the two would co-exist. The gravitation pull of Kupp has not waivered since his return two games ago, with a ridiculous 3.86 YPRR (yards-per-route-run) while seeing a target on 32% of his routes. Only Tyreek Hill is hitting 3.00 YPRR and 0.30 TPRR thresholds this season. Cooper also hit the marks in his historic 2021 season. Kupp is WR3 in expected PPG and is actually below his expectation for touchdowns. The density of future WR1 seasons with Kupp's mid-career profile is outstanding with recent names like Davante Adams, Keenan Allen, and DeAndre Hopkins among active players. Also, Antonio Brown, Reggie Wayne, and Marvin Harrison are among the notable retired names. Investing in Kupp is more than a 2023 bet on the upside as 1-2 more elite seasons is the median expected outcome from this profile. Elite players stay elite and bend age curves more than merely good players at their peak.

Here are a few key Kupp trades this week with him as a buy recommendation:

• Kupp for Trey Palmer, 2024 1st
• Kupp for Darnell Mooney, Luke Musgrave, 2024 1st
• Kupp for Tyjae Spears, Nico Collins
• Kupp, 2024 3rd for Jayden Reed, 2024 2nd, 2024 2nd

Giving a future 1st is a very common inclusion for Kupp deals. If a contender and adding an auto-start elite producer like Kupp, giving a 1st is palatable if already exhausting wielding the 1st in an attempt to upgrade at quarterback in Superflex. If it is a 1QB format, using your 1st for Kupp is an easy decision.