2018 Oakland Raiders: Early Team MVP Award predictions

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OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 19: Amari Cooper #89 of the Oakland Raiders makes a catch against the Kansas City Chiefs during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 19, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

3. Amari Cooper

To say the 2017 season was rough one for Amari Cooper would be an understatement, as he seemed to never get himself going. A lock for 1,000 yards through his first two seasons in the league, Cooper had his worst season as a pro in 2017, catching only 48 balls for under 700 yards.

To put that in perspective, Cooper’s rookie was incredible, as he caught over 70 balls for 1,070 yards. In 2016, the year the team went 12-4, Cooper improved on those numbers, hauling in 83 balls for 1,153 yards. He was targeted over 130 times in each of those two season, but failed to be targeted 100 times in 2017.

Cooper also had to deal with some nagging injuries last season, as he appeared in a career-low 14 games. He did set a career-high in touchdowns, with seven, though two came in his best game of the season.

In fact, if you take out his 11-catch, 210 yard performance against Kansas City, his season looks even worse.

All of that is out the window in 2018, as there is a new offensive coordinator in town, and a stronger cast of wideouts behind him on the depth chart. He should get back to being a 1,000-yard receiver in 2018, and I am predicting he puts together his best season as a pro.

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