Photo via RamsWire
My last two blog posts were about being cautious in dealing with injuries and fading players, so to balance out the chi, I bring you an undervalued player that can help bolster your Weekly floor and even provide upside.
Brandin Cooks, WR Dallas Cowboys, ECR 94, ADP 94, WR41
I'm sorry, but the disrespect on what Brandin Cooks brings to the table is outrageous. Brandin Cooks, a guy who's been in the league since 2014 with 5 different teams. A guy who's adapted to different Quarterback play and coaching consistently throughout his career, while delivering Top-30 WR performances. A guy that has put up 1,000+ yard seasons in 6 of 9 of those seasons. A guy that is available, missing only 8 games out of his last 130 or 94% (excludes a 10 game Rookie season in 2014). For him to be ranked below guys like Treylon Burks and Jahan Dotson, it just irks me. Especially now that he's off the Houston Texans, and back with an above average QB and Offense in Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott missed 5 games early in 2022, so looking at his last full year of football in 2021, he had 596 Attempts, or 37 passes per game. With his 68.8% completion rate, we're looking at a potential "pool" of 26 receptions per game.
With the Cowboys losing Dalton Schultz in Free Agency to the Houston Texans, the Dallas pass catchers are CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Michael Gallup, Tony Pollard, and new starting TE Jake Ferguson. CeeDee will get his, and we all know Pollard is swinging out of the backfield like a missile. We've seen Michael Gallup now in 5 NFL Seasons with the Cowboys, and unfortunately he hasn't been able to consistently stay on the field, and generate production like he did in 2019 with his Career highs in Receptions, Yards, and Touchdown with a 66 / 1,107 / 6 line.
Brandin Cooks would need to average 3.8 Receptions/game to track towards his 65 Receptions = 1,000+ yard stat line that has been his bread and butter throughout his career. Completely reasonable, and in a more high powered offense in Dallas there could be some touchdown upside, but penciling him in for 4-6 tuddies on the year is a safe bet. At the start of your Draft, add Brandin Cooks into your Queue, so when you inevitably "panic pick" when your favorite player just got selected 1 spot before your turn, you've got a consistent plug and play WR on your Roster. Top 36 WR for sure, would not be surprised if he ended Top 30.
Hot Take
Brandin Cooks finishes the 2023 Fantasy Season ahead of Atlanta Falcons WR1 Drake London, who is currently ranked WR26 - a full 15 spots ahead of Cooks. Yeah, I think it's safe to say I'm in on Cooks. Are you in or out?! Comment below!
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