Week 3 vs. Houston Texans
The Patriots are double-digit home favorites against the Texans and have the highest Vegas implied team total for the second week in a row at 29 points. Can Cooks finally get on the same page with Tom Brady? That remains to be seen. Outside receivers have not been consistent fantasy options on a weekly basis since Randy Moss. Just 4 targets last week and 5 receptions on the season and no touchdowns. That will change eventually, but when? That's the point, it's looking like a weekly guessing game with so many options for Tom Brady. The Texans are ranked third-best in our aFPA vs. PPR WRs. Consider Cooks a boom-or-bust WR2 yet again this week.
Week 2 at New Orleans Saints
The Patriots have the highest implied total in Vegas for Week 2, despite playing on the road, with an absurd implied total of 31 points. You're going to want to start most Patriots in Week 2. That includes Brandin Cooks against his former team, in a good ole' fashioned #oldteamtheorem narrative. Cooks is a top-10 WR option in all formats this week, with top-five upside.
Week 1 vs. Chiefs
Julian Edelman is out for the year, which should mean at least a minor uptick in targets being funneled to Cooks. Kansas City was middle of the road in our aFPA vs. WRs last season, but with Cooks' weekly volume still to be determined, we have him ranked in the WR2 tier this week. You're obviously starting him, but you'll need a long touchdown to reach his ceiling. Against the Chiefs last year in New Orleans, Cooks posted a line of 7-58-1 on 9 targets.
Fantasy Upside
Brandin Cooks goes from Drew Brees to Tom Brady in an offseason trade. Somewhere, Kenny Britt is asking, "What do I have to do to get to play with a good quarterback?" Meanwhile, Cooks has two straight 1,100-yard seasons with 8 touchdowns in 2015 and nine in 2016, good enough to be a WR1 in all formats last year. That makes his upside at least that high with Tom Brady now as his quarterback.
Fantasy Downside
The Patriots passing offense has a lot of options, and Cooks could be more of a boom-or-bust candidate each week if he doesn't get the consistent targets he received in New Orleans. Cooks had 117 targets last year. The last outside receiver to get that many targets in New England was Brandon LaFell in 2014. Conditions could also be a factor for Cooks, as he goes from at least half of his games on a fast dome turf to New England.
2017 Bottom Line
Our projections for Cooks put him nowhere near his WR1 finish from a year ago. Obviously, if Rob Gronkowski or Julian Edelman get injured, that could change things. However, with so many options for Tom Brady, an ADP of round three for Cooks is a little rich. He will need a high percentage of his fantasy points to come from touchdowns to give owners a good return on investment.
Week 17 at Atlanta
Brandin Cooks caught 5-of-9 targets for 98 yards in the Saints' Week 16 win over the Buccaneers and now has 284 yards receiving in his last two games. Whether he draws the atlethic but penalty-prone Robert Alford in coverage or the inexperienced Jalen Collins, Cooks is a WR1 when the Saints travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons in Week 17. In what should be a shootout at the Georgia Dome (the over/under is sitting at a whopping 56.5 points), Cooks ranks as our WR8 for Sunday.
Week 16 vs. Tampa Bay
Brandin Cooks exploded for 186 yards and two touchdowns on seven-of-eight targets in the Saints' Week 15 win over the Cardinals. Cooks owners had to be asking where this type of performance was over the last few weeks. He scored on a 65-yard strike after turning safety D.J. Swearinger around, and then ran away from defensive back Tyrann Mathieu for a 45-yard score just before halftime. Even head coach Sean Payton was wondering why the Cardinals didn't use Patrick Peterson on Cooks until after halftime. View the veteran receiver as a WR2 when the Saints host the Bucs on Saturday. He ranks as our WR11 for Week 16.
Week 15 at Arizona
Brandin Cooks caught five-of-10 targets for 61 yards in the Saints' Week 14 loss to the Bucs. Drew Brees and the entire New Orleans offense struggled against a resurgent Tampa Bay defense. It was a disappointing day for owners of Cooks, who was held below 100 yards receiving in seven straight games. Even with rookie Michael Thomas out with a foot injury, Cooks couldn't lit up the stats sheet. Things won't get any easier for Cooks and the Saints on Sunday when they travel to Arizona to take on Patrick Peterson and the Cardinals defense. Cooks ranks as our WR22 for Week 15 and should be viewed as a low-end WR2.
Week 14 at Tampa Bay
Brandin Cooks caught seven-of-nine targets for 73 yards in the Saints' Week 13 loss to the Lions and also added one run for four yards. He saw most of his targets in the second half with the Saints playing catch-up and running out of time. Cooks has clearly taken a backseat to Michael Thomas in New Orleans' passing game but he could see a major bump in production if Thomas misses Sunday's game in Tampa due to a foot injury. For now, Cooks ranks as our WR25 and should be considered a risky FLEX play. If Thomas misses practice on Friday, however, Cooks will be a legit WR2 for Week 14.
Week 13 vs. Detroit
Brandin Cooks failed to draw a target in the Saints’ Week 12 win over the Rams. Mind you, this was a game in which New Orleans posted a 49 on the scoreboard, so Cooks’ goose egg is mind-boggling. Sean Payton chalked up Cooks’ vanishing act to the Rams’ coverages, but that excuse doesn’t hold much water. It’s not like Gregg Williams is the only defensive coordinator that knows how dangerous Cooks is in the Saints’ passing game. Brees just didn’t look his way, which was most likely an aberration. The frustrated receiver should bounce back when the Saints host the Lions on Sunday. Cooks ranks as our WR20 for Week 13 and should be viewed as a WR2.
Week 12 vs. Los Angeles
Brandin Cooks caught seven-of-eight targets for 42 yards in the Saints' Week 11 loss to the Panthers. With Carolina doing a great job taking away New Orleans' deep passing game, Cooks matched a season-high in receptions but his yardage were his third fewest in 2016. He should rebound on Sunday when the Saints host the Rams, who own fantasy's No. 18 defense against wide receivers. Ranked as our WR12 for Week 12, view Cooks as a low-end WR1.
