Week 5 at Seattle Seahawks
Brandin Cooks has scored double-digit fantasy points in each of the past three weeks, and his season total ranks him as the WR27 overall. Cooks' snap rate has remained fairly consistent at around 90%, though his target rate of 10.8% is the lowest among the Rams' top trio of wide receivers. Cooks remains the primary deep threat from the Rams, which is reflected by his aDOT of 13 yards, almost twice teammate Cooper Kupp's 7.4 aDOT.
Cooks faces a challenge in Week 5 against the Seahawks secondary, who have allowed the sixth-lowest aFPA to wide receivers at 29.8. Cooks has lined up most often on the left side of the offensive formation, which should equate to regular coverage by cornerback Trey Flowers, who's struggled so far in 2019. If the Rams can hold the Seahawks' pass rush at bay, Cooks would benefit greatly. He should be safe as a strong WR2 this week, with WR1 upside if he and Goff can connect on some deeper routes.
Week 4 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brandin Cooks' 2019 fantasy stock continues to rise, as he's moved from the WR38 last week to the WR29 currently. Cooks exploited a difficult matchup against the Browns to the tune of eight receptions for 112 yards and added eight rushing yards as a bonus. Cooks has lined up on 93% of the Rams' offensive snaps, and he tied teammate Cooper Kupp with 12 targets in Week 3.
All of the Buccaneers' cornerbacks clocked 40-yard dash speeds above 4.50, a long way from Cooks' 4.33 mark, so Cooks should have multiple matchup opportunities to exploit. Cooks' aDOT of 13.8 is 29th among all wide receivers with at least 5 targets, and he should see he share of deep targets in this matchup. Cooks is a start as a low-end WR1 for Week 4.
Week 3 at Cleveland Browns
Brandin Cooks is currently the second-highest scoring Rams wide receiver behind Cooper Kupp, but unfortunately, that translates to the fantasy WR38 overall. Cooks has the highest aDOT on the team at 16.6 yards, which is also tied for the 10th-highest among all wide receivers with at least 5 targets. This makes him the most likely participant in splash plays, but they're also routes that take longer to develop. If Goff continues to see frequent pressure this season, Cooks' usage could be disproportionately affected.
Cooks will see primary coverage from Greedy Williams in Week 2, who has both the speed to match Cooks and a significant size advantage. The Browns have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers through Week 2, a stat to be taken with a grain of salt given that they've faced the Titans and Jets wide receivers, but they remain a strong secondary. Cooks is more of a WR2 than a WR1 this week.
Week 2 vs. New Orleans Saints
Brandon Cooks' Week 1 performance was one of the stranger aspects of the Rams' passing attack that was its own brand of strange against the Panthers. Cooks finished as the not-so-nice WR69 in 0.5 PPR formats, with a 4.9 point total that would have been his second-worst of the 2018 season. Looking at the final 30-27 final score in favor of the Rams, you'd probably assume success from the passing attack, but only six of Los Angeles' 30 points were a result of a receiving score, and it was to tight end Tyler Higbee.
Cooks lined up for 92% of the Rams' offensive snaps against the Panthers in Week 1, after playing 95% of the snaps in 2018. Last year, Cooks had an 11.4% target rate and averaged seven targets per game; in Week 1, Cooks had an 8.5% target rate and six targets. Cooks will face the Saints secondary in Week 2, who allowed the fourth-most passing yardage in 2018, but projects to see primary coverage from Marshon Lattimore. Cooks spends about 30% of his snaps in the slot, where he will avoid Lattimore, and last year managed 114 yards and a touchdown in this same matchup. He's a good bet for WR1 numbers, so you can slot him into your lineup with confidence.
Week 1 at Carolina Panthers
After a series of trades that sent Brandin Cooks to three different teams from 2016 to 2018, he's settled in with the Rams. Entering his second season with the team, Cooks projects as a fringe WR1 after finishing as the WR13 last season. He'll compete for targets with Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, but the Rams play more 11 personnel than any other NFL team, which means all three receivers should continue to see plenty of snaps.
Brandin Cooks was the Rams' most-targeted wide reciever in the red zone, and this Week 1 matchup with Carolina projects to be a high-scoring game. Cooks should see plenty of coverage from sophomore cornerback Donte Jackson, who can actually match Cooks' 4.33 speed with 4.32 speed of his own. Cooks should still see enough target volume to be startable as a high-end WR2.
Fantasy Upside
Among the Rams' top three wide receivers, Brandin Cooks was the most frequently targeted in the red zone in 2018, and had by far the highest red zone catch percentage at 88.24%. He also had the highest depth of target out of the three, and despite having played for three different teams in each of the last three seasons, he hasn't had fewer than 100 targets or 1,000 yards receiving since 2014.
Fantasy Downside
A healthy Cooper Kupp could reduce some of the target volume that Cooks received in 2018. Cooks disappointed owners during the fantasy playoffs in 2018, failing to score or cross 60 yards receving in Weeks 13-16 against the Bears, Eagles, and Cardinals.
2019 Bottom Line
Cooks is properly valued at his current ADP. Our projections make him the WR16 in .5 PPR leagues, and he's being drafted as the WR14 in the early fourth round. His five touchdowns on the season were his fewest in four years, and any positive touchdown variance could easily vault him into a top 12 finish at the position.
Week 19 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Brandin Cooks caught five-of-nine targets for 62 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams’ Week 17 win over the 49ers. He finished the 2018 season with 163 fantasy points, which placed him as WR13 and No. 34 in all of fantasy. The Rams will host a Cowboys defense that ranks eighth against fantasy receivers in 2018 but Cooks remains an integral part in Sean McVay’s passing game. Ranked as our WR9 for the Divisional Round, Cooks is worth a flier in DFS play this week. He’s projected to score 15.3 fantasy points in PPR formats.
Week 17 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Brandin Cooks caught all three of his targets for 35 yards in the Rams’ Week 16 win over the Cardinals. Cooks was held in check by Patrick Peterson and has now gone six games without a touchdown. The good news is that he did score against the 49ers earlier this season when he caught four passes for 64 yards. Cooks will face San Francisco at home on Sunday and is in the WR2 mix as our WR13 for Week 17. With the Rams needing another victory to lock up a first-round bye, it’s safe to fire up Cooks in all formats.
Week 16 at Arizona Cardinals
Brandin Cooks caught six-of-seven targets for 59 yards in the Rams’ Week 15 loss to the Eagles. Jared Goff has brought down the entire L.A. passing game with his poor performances in each of the team’s last three games. Cooks was held to just 22 yards versus the Bears in Week 14 and saw fewer targets than both Robert Woods and Josh Reynolds versus the Eagles. Despite the rough two-game stretch, Cooks remains a WR2 for Sunday’s matchup with the Cardinals. He ranks as our WR15.
Week 15 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Brandin Cooks caught three-of-seven targets for 22 yards in the Rams’ Week 14 loss to the Bears. Jared Goff threw for just 180 yards and looked miserable playing in the frigid Chicago weather. That said, Cooks also struggled to get open against Prince Amukamara and the only L.A. position player that had a decent fantasy night was Robert Woods. That said, both Cooks and Goff should rebound on Sunday when the Rams host an Eagles defense that ranks No. 25 against fantasy receivers this season. Ranked as our WR12, view Cooks as a low-end WR1 for Week 15.
