By the numbers: Amari Cooper's incredible impact with Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys made a potential season-altering splash in late October, trading a first-round pick to the Oakland Raiders for wide receiver Amari Cooper.
Though the deal was highly criticized when it occurred, it's proven to be a great move for the Cowboys - a team that was devoid of offensive weapons aside from star running back Ezekiel Elliott prior to the trade.
Cooper has transformed Dallas' offense and helped vault the team into first place in the NFC East. Here's a look at the wideout's impact with his new club through six games:
Leading a turnaround
| Cowboys Team Stats | Without Cooper | With Cooper |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 3-4 | 5-1 |
| Yards per game | 320 | 386.3 |
| Points per game | 20 | 22.7 |
| Average time of possession | 30:26 | 34:37 |
| 3rd-down efficiency | 31.9% | 49.4% |
| Passing yards per game | 202.4 | 285.7 |
| Passing yards per attempt | 6.9 | 8.1 |
| Completion percentage | 62.1% | 74.1% |
| Passer rating | 87.4 | 105.9 |
Cooper's influence on the Cowboys' team statistics is eye-popping at first glance. Riding a five-game win streak, Jason Garrett's squad is averaging 66.3 more yards per game and nearly three more points per game since acquiring the former first-round pick.
Dallas' overall efficiency is what stands out most, as Cooper's presence is allowing the offense to sustain drives and control the pace of games. Since the trade, the Cowboys rank second in third-down efficiency and have won the time of possession battle in five of six games. The team possessed the ball more than their opponents in just two of seven outings prior to Cooper's arrival. Control the clock and feed your top players - Dallas' formula for victory.
Quarterback Dak Prescott is perhaps the happiest man on Dallas' sideline after receiving his new weapon. Prescott ranks fourth in the NFL in passing yards, first in completion percentage, and eighth in passer rating since No. 19 joined the blue and white. The two displayed instant chemistry, as Dak has earned an incredible 150.0 passer rating when targeting his top wideout.
Though his overall rushing efficiency hasn't increased over the last six weeks, Elliott leads the league with 643 yards rushing since Dallas traded for Cooper. The pass-catcher's downfield presence has allowed Elliott's underneath routes to open up as well, leading to 40 receptions over that span.
Cooper's resurgence
| With Raiders | With Cowboys | |
|---|---|---|
| Targets | 32 | 53 |
| Receptions | 22 | 40 |
| Receiving Yards | 280 | 642 |
| Touchdowns | 1 | 6 |
| Yards per reception | 12.7 | 16.1 |
Cooper looks like a new player in Dallas. The rejuvenated receiver ranks seventh in the NFL in receptions, first in receiving yards, and first (in a tie with Davante Adams) with six touchdowns since joining the Cowboys.
Having played in six games for each team, the difference in production is staggering. The Raiders' offense never resembled that of a juggernaut in 2018, but Jon Gruden and Co. simply didn't feature their star playmaker often enough.
Garrett and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan are learning from Oakland's mistakes, however, and its reaped instant rewards for them both. Prior to Dallas' bye week, both Garrett and Linehan were thought to be on the hot seat. Enter Cooper, a five-game winning streak, and those rumors are a distant memory.
It's amazing what one talented player can do to an offense.