Amari Cooper trade: Fantasy football implications following Browns-Bills trade

The Bills have acquired the WR1. We break down what it means for fantasy football.

The Cleveland Browns are having a disaster of a season, and on Tuesday they began tearing things down. The team traded wide receiver Amari Cooper and a 2025 sixth round pick to the Buffalo Bills for a 2025 third round pick and a 2026 seventh round pick. When Cooper finishes his physical, the deal will become official.

Cooper was leading the Browns in receiving with 24 receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns. He joins a Bills squad that has WR Khalil Shakir leading the team with 249 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 20 receptions. Tight end Dalton Kincaid leads the team with 21 receptions.

Amari Cooper fantasy football implications

Cooper gives the Bills a replacement for the departed Stefon Diggs. The Browns passing attack has been a mess with Deshaun Watson, and so Cooper gets a massive upgrade. He’s been a top 30 wide receiver with Watson, but now likely vaults into top 20 status with a ceiling of top ten.

Given the deal is happening on Tuesday, it seems likely we’ll see Diggs in uniform this weekend against the Tennessee Titans. Even with limited time looking at the playbook, he’s a solid start right out of the gate.

Bills fantasy football implications

Shakir had emerged as a WR3 this season, but struggled on Monday in his return from an ankle injury. Prior to the ankle injury, he had four straight double digit fantasy performances. He’s still got some deeper flex value, but look for him to be available in more leagues now that Cooper will be taking looks away.

Dalton Kincaid ranks 11th among tight ends in PPR leagues. He might take a modest hit, but he remains a low end TE1. And maybe the addition of Cooper opens more opportunities for him with defenses getting stretched out.

Browns fantasy football implications

Jerry Jeudy will see some improvement in his fantasy possibilities now that Cooper is no longer around. He remains a WR3 at best, but he very well might see some additional looks. The bigger question for him is what the eventual return of Nick Chubb could mean for the offense. An improved ground game could open the door a bit more for the offense.