Amari Cooper’s much-anticipated reunion with the Raiders proved short-lived. The veteran wideout signed a one-year deal in late August to return to the franchise that drafted him, bringing a decade of experience and over 10,000 career receiving yards back to Las Vegas. The move came as a surprise boost to a thin Raiders receiving corps and was announced just hours after reports surfaced that receiver Jakobi Meyers had requested a trade over stalled contract talks. However, on the eve of the 2025 season, Cooper abruptly opted out of his contract and informed the team he intends to retire.
At 31, he told the Raiders he no longer has the desire to play, ending his comeback bid before it began. It’s a stunning turn for the five-time Pro Bowler, who as recently as 2023 put up a 1,250-yard season in Cleveland and showed he still had juice left. Now, instead of mentoring a new generation of Raider receivers, Cooper leaves Las Vegas without ever suiting up in silver and black this year.
Cooper’s exit; Meyers’ limbo
Cooper’s brief return wasn’t the only offseason drama for the Raiders’ pass-catchers. Jakobi Meyers, the Raiders’ top wide receiver, entered the final year of his contract seeking an extension after a career-best 2024 with 87 receptions, 1,027 yards, and 4 touchdowns. When talks with the new front office led by GM John Spytek went nowhere, Meyers tried to force the issue by requesting a trade in late August. The timing put Las Vegas in a bind just weeks before Week 1, but the team’s response was swift and blunt. The Raiders refused to trade Meyers, flat-out rejecting his request and making clear they had no plans to deal him. Denied his exit, Meyers had a choice: cause a distraction or get back to work. To his credit, he’s been all business in practice, with coaches praising him as a consummate professional amid the dispute. Rather than hold out, Meyers rejoined his teammates and shifted focus to proving his worth the best way he can: “going to work,” as he put it.
Meyers is playing out the final year of a three-year, $33 million deal and making just over $10 million this season, a bargain for a 1,000-yard receiver. He knows a big 2025 will either earn him the payday he seeks in Las Vegas or attract suitors elsewhere. With Cooper now off the roster and Davante Adams traded away last season, Meyers is locked in as the clear No. 1 wideout for the Silver and Black. The trade drama has fizzled into a non-story. Las Vegas said no, and that was that. Meyers now channels the frustration into production on Sundays, with a chance to set the tone immediately in Week 1.
Jakobi Meyers Week 1 fantasy outlook
All the offseason twists actually elevate Jakobi Meyers’ fantasy value, making him a must-start in Week 1, especially in PPR formats. In the season opener at New England, Meyers faces his former team with a prime opportunity to shine. With Amari Cooper gone and no Davante Adams, Meyers is Raiders WR1 by default. He and rookie Tre Tucker were the only Raider receivers over 500 yards last season, and behind him sit the tantalizing Dont’e Thornton and Jack Bech, both intriguing but unproven options. Under Pete Carroll’s system and with Geno Smith at quarterback, Meyers should dominate targets as the most trusted wideout. Expect a heavy workload like late 2024, when he averaged over nine targets per game after Adams’ departure.
Meyers simply catches everything. He was the only NFL receiver in 2024 to reach 85-plus targets with zero drops, catching 87 of 123 targets—an impressive 71 percent catch rate. Beyond volume, advanced metrics underscore his efficiency. In 2024, Meyers logged 1,281 air yards—a significant slice of his team’s passing offense—its target share stood at nearly 22 percent, and he had an average target depth around 9.9 yards. His route participation exceeded 94 percent, and over 85 percent of his targets were deemed catchable. He even outpaced the league in contested catches, demonstrating that this isn’t just volume—it’s reliable production. In 2023, he posted 71 receptions on 106 targets for 807 yards and eight touchdowns, establishing a strong baseline of consistent effectiveness before his breakout 2024.
Matchup against the Patriots
Facing New England gives him matchup appeal. Mike Vrabel’s defense is built on discipline and physicality but still allows volume in the short passing game. Last year the Patriots ranked first against primary WRs but were abysmal against secondary options—30th vs WR2s and 32nd vs “other” receivers. That tilt clearly favors Meyers, who may not draw elite corner Christian Gonzalez all game if Vrabel leans coverage toward rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Meyers’ intimate knowledge of New England’s system and revenge-game motivation only amplify his upside.
The Raiders enter Week 1 as underdogs, likely needing to throw to keep pace. New England’s defense was middle-of-the-pack against the pass in 2024, allowing around 220 yards per game, often by design conceding short completions—perfect gold in PPR. Meyers thrives in the short and intermediate game, exactly where the Patriots tend to concede yards. He’ll move the chains with high-percentage throws. If New England prioritizes stopping Ashton Jeanty on the ground or limiting Bowers, Meyers serves as the safety valve and volume machine for Geno Smith. The offseason narrative revolved around him, and Week 1 will too. He’s locked in for a strong start to 2025.
That projects to an opening line of 9 to 11 targets, 7 to 8 receptions, and roughly 75 to 85 yards. Factor in his efficiency and reliability—the projected catch rate aligns with his ~70 percent norm—and that estimate supports a safe 14–18 PPR points with touchdown upside. That lands him as a solid WR2 who clearly carries WR1 ceiling if the game script tilts toward passing.
