Amon-Ra St. Brown or Cooper Kupp Week 1 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Fantasy football projections for WRs ahead of SNF clash 

Amon-Ra St. Brown and Cooper Kupp were on vastly different career paths in 2021. While Kupp was establishing himself as a potential superstar, setting records and helping the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bow, Brown was just begininng his career with the then-floundering Detroit Lions.

That all changed between 2022 and 2023. Kupp was one of many injury casualties during the Rams' massive hangover and fell down the pecking order even after he was healthy and available again. St. Brown, meanwhile, has broken out, helping the Lions become one of the most promising teams in the NFC, at least.

The two players clash for the second time on Sunday night, so whom should a wise fantasy footballer pick?

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Is Cooper Kupp a good fantasy football pick in Week 1?

New Orleans Saints v Los Angeles Rams - Source: Getty

In 2022, the year of the Rams' Super Bowl hangover, Cooper Kupp played and started only nine games, the fewest since he was a sophomore. Meanwhile, he played and started 12 in 2023.

However, he was surprisingly better in the earlier season, catching 75 passes for 812 yards and six touchdowns. In 2023, he dipped to only 59 for 737 and five, as then-rookie Puka Nacua shattered records and estabilshed himself as a potential superstar.

Those stats also put him at the level of Tutu Atwell (57 for 781 and four), and given his age and injury history, one would think that Kupp may be on his way out.

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Is Amon-Ra St. Brown a good fantasy football pick in Week 1?

NFC Championship - Detroit Lions v San Francisco 49ers - Source: Getty

On the other side, there's Amon-Ra St. Brown. He was already good as a rookie, nearing 1,000 yards in nine starts.

However, the Lions were a work in progress at the time, seeking its footing under the two men who brought him to the fold - coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes - and they finished 3-13-1.

Since then, though, everything has gone excellently. In 2022, St. Brown hit 100 catches and 1,000 yards and became a Pro Bowler for the first time, helping the team finish 9-8, just missing the playoffs via head-to-head tiebreak with the Seattle Seahawks.

In 2023, he hit 1,500 yards and double digit touchdowns and became an All-Pro, clinching the first division title in the first conference title game appearance of his career.

That puts St. Brown in very strong position to become a fantasy favorite, but one step has to be done to ensure it...

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Whom should I start between Cooper Kupp and Amon-Ra St. Brown in Week 1?

Cooper Kupp vs Amon-Ra St. Brown: Whom to fantasy pick?

There's no doubt here: Sportskeeda's Start/Sit Optimizer is siding with the younger Lion, who blows out his older, more seasoned foe.

Detroit has a chance to finally have its first champion in the four major sports leagues since the Red Wings dynasty, and chances are Amon-Ra St. Brown will be a key contributor to that.