Saints WR Brandin Cooks has been everything that was advertised and then some. The first-round draft pick from Oregon State has repeatedly flashed his dynamic speed in practices, in the scrimmage and in the preseason opener, when he embarrassed two St. Louis Rams defensive backs with a wicked stop-and-go move. Cooks has also caught almost every pass thrown his way, including some trickier back-shoulder throws and some balls he had to go up and get behind safeties and corners. And he has remained humble and hardworking, demonstrating that the hype isn't going to his head. Although you never want to put too much on any rookie's plate, Cooks really looks like a guy who will help fill that big-play void that started to show up for the Saints last season.

The Saints spread the ball around, but not only do they have to replace the departed Lance Moore, the team has to also replace the production of Darren Sproles in the receiving game. The two combined for 143 targets in 2013, so while we're expecting Kenny Stills to see a larger role, there are targets for the speedy Cooks as well. He has drawn rave reviews all summer and is looking like and as a result, his ADP is has climbed into the early 7th round.

Also improving daily appears to be rookie Saints receiver Brandin Cooks, who was one of the standout performers of the scrimmage Saturday. Cooks displayed the traits – speed, route-running versatility, sticky hands, agility and football IQ – that the Saints suspected they were getting when they moved up in the first round to take him with the No. 20 overall pick.

He showed the speed on a deep catch that saw him tackled a couple of yards from the goal line, and the agility when he caught a pass on the right sideline, juked a defender off the field and streaked to the end zone.

“He’s explosive and he’s a guy that, if you can get the ball to him in space, he has the chance to give you some run after the catch,” HC Sean Payton said. “And he did that. We’ve just got to keep working with him on a lot of the nuances and the specifics with the passing game. But it was good to see him make a few plays.

Cooks is ranked 44th on our WR list with teammate Kenny Stills right in front of him at 43rd. Right now, both project for 120 fantasy points this year, but Stills has an ADP of the 12th round to Cook's 10th. Stills was more of a boom-or-bust player in 2013 so it remains to be seen if he continues that trend, and if Cooks can be more consistent. In an offense like New Orleans, both certainly have their value but may also be competing for targets.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Kenny Stills returned to the practice fields for Friday afternoon's walk-through at the Greenbrier resort.

Stills participated in the walk-through, jogging through several plays. The walk-though is non-contact and is conducted at less than full speed.

Stills suffered an injury one week ago during the Saints' first practice of the season. Saints coach Sean Payton described it as a quadriceps injury.

This is an indication that his quad injury is not serious. Stills is one of our favorite sleepers. He figures to see a jump in snaps and targets after the Saints lost both Lance Moore and Darren Sproles, who saw a combined 143 targets last year. Stills should get at minimum the 5.5 T/G that Moore saw in the past three years, making him an intriguing WR3 with upside. The arrival of Brandin Cooks does take some of the wind out his sails, but that should only serve to keep his ADP at a reasonable level. Drew Brees had a QB rating of 139.3 when throwing to Stills, the highest in the league. He’s bound to improve as a second year receiver and is playing in one of the best pass offenses in the league. There’s a lot to like here.

Saints beat writer Mike Triplett tries to predict the Saints' RBBC:

It’s still too early in New Orleans Saints training camp to judge exactly how they plan to split the workload among their deep running back corps.

My best guess is that Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson will split carries pretty evenly in base packages and early downs, while Pierre Thomas lines up more with the nickel offenses (sort of the old Darren Sproles role). That would make sense, since Thomas is both the best pass-catcher and the best pass-protector of all the Saints’ running backs.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees offered some lofty praise of Thomas’ versatility Tuesday when asked if throwing the screen pass to Thomas is one of his favorite plays.

“Yes. He’s one of the best screen runners there is, ever,” Brees said. “He does such a great job of timing, setting up his blocks, just hitting those seams and hitting the sidewalk. He does a phenomenal job at it."

Brees went on to say that Thomas is the "best all-purpose back in the league." Thomas racked up 224 touches for 1,062 yards and five TDs as the lead back in the 2013 version of the Saints’ committee at running back. With Darren Sproles gone, Thomas’s catches aren’t likely to take much of a hit (though Travaris Cadet and Brandin Cooks should see some of Sproles’s work). The team has shown signs of moving to Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson more in the running game, so PT may have trouble pushing 150 carries again in 2014. Still, he’ll be a regular part of the rotation in a potent offense and should be a good value in the middle rounds. In PPR formats, he has finished in the top 30 in PPG in five of the last six seasons.

Wide receiver Kenny Stills pulled up lame on a pass route and had to leave the field. Payton said it was a right quadriceps injury that flared up on the play. Payton said Stills had similar tightness two weeks ago.

Stills figures to see a jump in snaps and targets after the Saints lost both Lance Moore and Darren Sproles, who saw a combined 143 targets last year. Stills should get at minimum the 5.5 T/G that Moore saw in the past three years, making him an intriguing WR3 with upside. The arrival of Brandin Cooks does take some of the wind out his sails, but that should only serve to keep his ADP at a reasonable level. Drew Brees had a QB rating of 139.3 when throwing to Stills, the highest in the league. He’s bound to improve as a second year receiver and is playing in one of the best pass offenses in the league. There’s a lot to like here. Hopefully the quad injury doesn't linger.

Drew Brees can certainly get used to New Orleans Saints first-round pick wide receiver Brandin Cooks terrorizing secondaries with his speed and ball skills.

Cooks came up with the play of the day as the Saints wrapped up their first full training camp practice Friday morning at the pristine facility at The Greenbrier. It probably won't be his last.

The wideout darted through the Saints secondary on a deep post pattern. Brees' pass was slightly behind Cooks, but Cooks displayed why he deserved a first-round selection as he adjusted to the approaching football by slowing down. Cooks then outleaped rookie safety Ty Zimmerman to haul in the reception.

The Saints spread the ball around, but not only do they have to replace the departed Lance Moore, the team has to also replace the production of Darren Sproles in the receiving game. The two combined for 143 targets in 2013, so while we're expecting Kenny Stills to see a larger role, there are targets for the speedy Cooks as well.

Saints beat writer Mike Triplett on rookie WR Brandin Cooks:

I usually consider myself a voice of reason when it comes to predicting the level of impact any rookie can have in the NFL.

But even my practical, sensible side believes Cooks can become the Saints' first offensive rookie of the year in nearly three decades, joining Rueben Mayes (1986) and George Rogers (1981).

Cooks was the 20th pick in the draft, and no other offensive weapon landed in a better place to immediately showcase his skill set. Even if Cooks is only the third or fourth option in New Orleans' versatile offense, you know coach Sean Payton will find a way to create mismatches for him and quarterback Drew Brees will find a way to exploit them.

I'm not necessarily predicting blockbuster numbers for Cooks, since the Saints spread the ball around so much. But even if he catches something like 70 passes for 800 yards, he'll be doing it for a Super Bowl contender. And he's likely to hit a lot of "home runs" on a variety of screens, reverses, deep balls and punt returns.

The Saints spread the ball around, but not only do they have to replace the departed Lance Moore, the team has to also replace the production of Darren Sproles in the receiving game. The two combined for 143 targets in 2013, so while we're expecting Kenny Stills to see a larger role, there are targets for the speedy Cooks as well.

Saints WR Brandin Cooks will spend two weeks working out with QB Drew Brees before training camp begins.

The Saints spread the ball around, but not only do they have to replace the departed Lance Moore, the team has to also replace the production of Darren Sproles in the receiving game. The two combined for 143 targets in 2013, so while we're expecting Kenny Stills to see a larger role, there are targets for the speedy Cooks as well.

Saints beat writer Brian Alle-Walsh predicted that top draft pick WR/PR Brandin Cooks will contend for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

The Saints spread the ball around, but not only do they have to replace the departed Lance Moore, the team has to also replace the production of Darren Sproles in the receiving game. The two combined for 143 targets in 2013, so while we're expecting Kenny Stills to see a larger role, there are targets for the speedy Cooks as well.