Cooper Kupp Off to Good Start in Witness Protection

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

Jaxon Smith-Njigba won't be drawing 56.5% target shares every week, but the target distribution was certainly notable.

Just 10 of Darnold's pass attempts went toward anyone besides JSN, with Kupp tying Kenneth Walker for second on the team in targets. The other three went to TEs AJ Barner (two) and Elijah Arroyo (one).

It was Seattle's first game with Darnold and OC Klint Kubiak. And it came against a San Francisco defense that's likely to prove at least pretty good, especially with DC Robert Saleh back from his Jets sabbatical.

But we're not expecting the season to get a whole lot better for Kupp. His Week 1 usage and production highlighted the limitations.

Seattle expects to lean much more on the run than it did last year. Indeed, the opener finished with 26 rushing attempts vs. just 23 passes -- in a game the Seahawks led for only brief stretches.

Darnold needs to prove he can succeed outside of last year's Minnesota offense. And Smith-Njigba appears on track to rank among the season leaders in target share.

Even Kupp's three targets included one drop and a fourth-quarter reception on which he came up a yard short of converting a third down.

Kupp looks like a limited veteran in a low-ceiling situation. Don't expect big fantasy help from him going forward.