Wide Receiver Amari Cooper
By Kyle Martin
Raiders.com
Coming into last year, a young wide receiver from the University of Alabama garnered a lot of attention as draft night approached, and when the fourth pick came in, the Oakland Raiders selected Amari Cooper.
Cooper built an impressive resume during his time at Alabama and his addition to the Silver and Black caused a lot of buzz, and in his rookie season didn't disappoint, flashing star potential. He finished the 2016 campaign with 72 receptions, 1,070 yards, and six touchdowns. Towards the end of the season, Cooper dealt with a foot injury that prevented him from possibly increasing those totals.
Cooper's numbers are solid, no doubt about it, and the *NFL Network's Fantasy Football Live *recently unveiled him as number 29 on the Fantasy Live Top 50 Players list. The Fantasy Live team is certainly expecting an "Allen Robinson type of break out year," according to Adam Rank. The expectations for Cooper to surpass last year's stats are high and with his skill set, athleticism, and football IQ he should have no problem building on an impressive rookie season.
Training camp is around the corner and Cooper seems to have a good indication of what needs to be done in his second season. "Yeah, I'm a lot more comfortable," Cooper said. "I feel like I have a great feel of what it's like to be a pro. I like my progress so far."
Being comfortable is essential when competing at the highest level. Amari Cooper and Derek Carr – aka AC/DC – are both making the effort to grow together and continue progressing. When asked to describe his chemistry with Carr, Cooper kept it simple and to the point, "Yeah, it's comfort," he said. "I know with every route that I run, I know where Derek wants to go with the ball. I know how he wants to throw it."
In his second season in offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave's scheme, the opportunities are there for Cooper to excel and continue his development as an important piece in the Raiders future.
