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Raiders WR Amari Cooper ‘Not Really Pleased’ With Performance In First Four Games

Ryan Ward News NFL
USA Today

USA Today

A few rookies in the NFL can make an impact immediately after making the jump from the college ranks. It doesn’t matter if they were the first overall pick or the tenth, it can be extremely difficult to live up to expectations and show their potential right out of the gate.

Wide receiver Amari Cooper has done just that in the first four games of his rookie campaign with the Oakland Raiders. The team is sporting a 2-2 record with Cooper being a major reason for the Raiders’ success as of late.

Although Cooper has turned a lot of heads early in his NFL career, the rookie isn’t satisfied with his performance thus far. Cooper is on a record-setting pace, but he still wants to be better, via NFL writer Jerry McDonald:

“I’m not really pleased with my first four games,” Cooper said Tuesday. “There’s always room for improvement. It’s why I’m here today. It’s why I’m here tomorrow. To get better.”

According to Marc Sessler of NFL.com, Cooper is on pace to challenge Anquan Boldin’s rookie record:

The fourth overall pick is on pace for 96 catches and 1,356 yards through the air, placing Cooper within striking distance of Anquan Boldin’s rookie receiving record of 1,377 yards from 2003.

As of right now, according to Bovada, Cooper is sitting behind Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota in the odds to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year:

Odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year

Marcus Mariota (TEN) 5/2 (+250)
Amari Cooper (OAK) 3/1 (+300)
Todd Gurley (STL) 3/1 (+300)
Melvin Gordon (SD) 15/2 (+750)
TJ Yeldon (JAX) 12/1 (+1200)
Tyler Lockett (SEA) 12/1 (+1200)
Karlos Williams (BUF) 12/1 (+1200)
Jameis Winston (TB) 14/1 (+1400)
Duke Johnson (CIN) 15/1 (+1500)
Ameer Abdullah (DET) 20/1 (+2000)
David Johnson (ARI) 20/1 (+2000)
Matt Jones (WAS) 20/1 (+2000)

With Cooper and quarterback Derek Carr already on the same page, the Raiders have an opportunity to make an impression this season. It is still way too early to tell whether this team can compete for a playoff spot in the AFC, but they’ve played much better than expected thus far making many believe Oakland could be a force to be reckoned with.

In four games this season, Cooper has racked up 339 receiving yards on 24 receptions to go along with two touchdowns for the Raiders.

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