Brandin

Cooks

Schefter notes that the Saints are attempting to sign Chris Olave to a contract extension. He has one year left on his rookie deal and the Saints aren’t likely to let him see free agency. Shaheed, on the other hand, is 27 years old and an impending free agent, making him a prime candidate for a rebuilding Saints to move at the trade deadline. Schefter mentioned the Steelers, Broncos, and Bills as teams aggressively pursuing wide receivers via trade. Schefter also mentioned Brandin Cooks as a trade candidate, though it’s hard to imagine much of a market for his services at this point in his career.

Cooks began his second tenure with the Saints operating as the team’s No. 3 wide receiver. He caught three passes for 26 yards, ranking fourth on the team in targets. Meanwhile, the newly acquired Devaughn Vele caught 1-of-2 passes for 13 yards. Neither Cooks nor Vele are going to be fantasy relevant heading into Week 2 against the 49ers.

Cooks re-joins the franchise that made him the No. 20 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Now 31, Cooks isn’t the explosive player he once was, and he’s coming off a season in which he posted career lows in catches (26), receiving yards (259), and YPR (10.0). Granted, he was limited to just 10 games last season, but it’s no secret that Cooks is on the back nine of his career. With Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed presumably locked in as the Saints’ top two receivers, Cooks’ role should be that of a WR3/WR4 in Kellen Moore’s offense next season. Outside of a dart throw in deeper leagues, it’s hard to imagine Cooks having much fantasy utility at this stage of his career.

Cooks also relayed that he is “expecting a good free agency...but I’m also open to returning to Dallas.” Now 31 years old and healthy after missing seven games in 2024, Cooks appears primed to contribute in a complementary capacity after serving as a primary option earlier in his career. He finished the quote by hinting that his relationship with the players in Dallas is good but added, “I would love to play for the Cowboys, at the same time they have to use me right. I don’t think they fully used my to my strengths.”

Cooks also had a carry for a loss of five yards, finishing Week 18 with four touches for 10 yards. He dealt with knee issues, missing seven games in 2024. Catching just 7-of-17 targets between Weeks 17 and 18, Cooks finishes the season with 26 catches for 259 yards and three scores. The 31-year-old is set to hit free agency in the offseason. Though he was once an electric producer, Cooks’ fantasy outlook will depend on his 2025 landing spot and will likely be a low-end fantasy producer.

The Cowboys got Cooks involved early in this one. The veteran receiver hauled in a 16-yard reception on the second play of the game and made a 22-yard catch on Dallas’ second drive. Unfortunately, he would catch only two passes for 14 yards for the remainder of the day despite leading the team with eight targets. Cooks will likely see a similar role in Week 18’s season finale against the Commanders.

Cooks saw minimal volume but did enough to finish second on the team in receiving behind alpha receiver CeeDee Lamb, who briefly departed after landing hard on his injured shoulder for the third time in the previous four games. This one felt more significant than the previous times as Lamb was used sparingly in the second half, something fantasy managers of either will want to track in the coming week of practice. The Cowboys travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in Week 17.

Cooks finished second on the team in targets, catches, and yards, but failed to find himself on the receiving end of any of Cooper Rush’s three touchdowns tosses. Those went to CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, and Jalen Brooks. Cooks has operated as the Cowboys’ No. 2 receiver since returning to the lineup in Week 13. Despite the notable role, his 34 yards today are a high-water mark since his return. He barely registers as a WR6 heading into his Week 16 date with the Bucs.

Cooks’ only reception went for a three-yard score in the third quarter to knot the game at 17. Quarterback Cooper Rush targeted a ridiculous 11 pass-catchers, leaving only CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson to see more than a modest four targets. Up next for Cooks and the Cowboys are the Panthers on the road in Week 15.

“He’s been a strong presence in the locker room but the production these past two seasons in Dallas have fallen well short of the expectation,” Yousuf writes. Cooks produced a 54/657/8 season in 2023, but has missed much of this year with a knee infection and has just a 12/107/2 line in five starts. Cooks is a free agent at the end of the season and, entering his age-32 season, is likely closer to not being a big part of an NFL offense ever again than he is of a rebound year in 2025.