Fantasy Football

Kirk Cousins

QB - MIN

Height: 6-3

Weight: 202 lbs

Age: 34

College: Michigan State

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2022 Season Outlooks

It wasn't popular to draft Cousins in 2021, but what's unpopular is not always what's bad for you. Cousins finished as the QB9 with the 10th-most Fantasy points per game. He further leaned on his improving rapport with stud WR Justin Jefferson and even created big plays for lesser known prospects like K.J. Osborn. The Vikings are in the midst of a total rebuild on the defensive side of the ball after undergoing a philosophical change on offensive. Those two things combined project to lead to a lot more volume for Cousins and the entire passing game. He's one of the safer QB options if you choose to skip out on the first couple of tiers.

Cousins has finished as a QB1 in 3 of his 4 seasons in Minnesota. That type of upside remains for 2022. We like the hiring of HC Kevin O’Connell and the return of TE Irv Smith, who missed all of last season. The QB landscape continues to deepen with each passing year, though. And with minimal contributions on the ground, Cousins will need to remain highly efficient in his age 34 season. At bottom, Cousins should remain a strong matchup-based play — especially for as long as the Jefferson-Thielen duo can stay healthy.

Cousins has proven to be the ultimate QB2 in recent years, having failed to post a top-10 fantasy campaign since 2017, but having also delivered six top-12 campaigns over the last seven seasons. Cousins does his damage with his arm, having finished no lower than ninth in passing TDs each of the last five seasons. He's also been top 10 in passing yards six of the last seven seasons. The Minnesota offense will look different with new coach Kevin O'Connell calling the shots, but that may actually lead to more passing volume for Cousins. The 34-year-old doesn't offer much with his legs (career high of 179 rush yards), but he's been playing at a high level for years and has Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook in his arsenal. Cousins is a strong QB2.

Kirk Cousins continues to be that middle range quarterback that fantasy football is afraid to draft as a QB1. Cousins has finished as a top 11 quarterback in six of the last seven seasons coming off a QB9 performance last season. With Justin Jefferson as his top target it is hard to write off Cousins upside and his floor he looks like he is locked in once again as a top 12 type of quarterback for 2022. In 16 games in 2021 Cousins threw for 4,221 passing yards along with 33 touchdowns and only threw seven interceptions. He doesn't give you much on the ground but he has scored at least one rushing touchdown in each of the last seven seasons. Cousins has all the weapons to succeed in Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook K.J. Osborn, and Irv Smith Jr.