Fantasy Upside
Given his size and speed, Jared Cook is a mismatch against linebackers and safeties in coverage. He remains a key part of the Rams' offense as a move tight end and even saw time as a receiving option out of the backfield in preseason. He's quietly had a good camp and if Kenny Britt and Brian Quick can parlay the success they've had in preseason into great regular seasons, things will open up even more for Cook in the passing game.
Fantasy Downside
Cook has teased fantasy owners since his second year in the league and yet, the highest he's climbed in the rankings is TE11 (2014). He tends to struggle when defenses jam him at the line and despite his size and athleticism, he has issues generating separation on a consistent basis. He also plays for a run-first team and will likely be behind Britt, Quick and/or Tavon Austin for targets this season.
Bottom Line
If Cook was going to emerge as a legit TE1, it was going to be last year when the Rams installed the spread offense. But they struggled to find consistency in the first few weeks of the season and by Week 6, they went back to Jeff Fisher's ground-and-pound approach once RB Zac Stacy emerged as a featured back. The Rams will remain a run-first offense, which will limit Cook's opportunities in the passing game (a passing game that is now without starting quarterback Sam Bradford). There will once again be weeks when Cook goes off (such as Week 1 last year), but his production is largely predicated on the matchup. His fantasy potential remains no more than a TE2.
