The Dallas Cowboys are likely to release wide receiver Amari Cooper by the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. on March 16, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
In a move likely made to cut costs — with Cooper owed $20 million on the fifth day of the new year — Dallas will lose its leading receiver since 2018. For fantasy football keeper league managers, that leaves 2020 first-round pick CeeDee Lamb as the only player in the Cowboys receiving corp worth holding on to.
At least for now.
Lamb’s rise the last two years makes Cooper expendable. Since entering the league, his 2,037 yards are more than Cooper’s 1,979 in that span. He only has two fewer touchdowns than Cooper with 11. Last season, he led Dallas in receiving for the first time, averaging 68.9 yards per game to Cooper’s 57.7.
Cowboys are “likely” to release WR Amari Copper by the start of the new league year, per league sources.
Cooper is due $20 million in fully guaranteed money on the fifth day of the new league year, March 20.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2022
Releasing Cooper will leave Dallas without four of their top five players in receiving yards from 2021. Wide receivers Michael Gallup and Cedrick Wilson and tight end Dalton Schultz are all due to be free agents.
The possibility remains open that they re-sign one or more of them back, which only improves their fantasy value with Cooper out of the picture. Until then, managers have to play the waiting game to see where each lands before deciding who besides Lamb is worth hanging onto.
