Week 11 vs. Oakland Raiders (game in Mexico City)
Atrapa la fiebre de la fantasía. That translates to "Catch the fantasy fever", as the Patriots and Raiders square off in Mexico. Chris Hogan is doubtful again this week, meaning Cooks should again see an uptick in targets. This is also a Raiders team that Cooks put up 6-143-2 against last season with the Saints. His ceiling is not that high in this offense, as Tom Brady spreads it around, but Cooks has 19 targets in his past two games, making him a solid WR2 in Week 11.
Week 10 at Denver Broncos
With Chris Hogan likely out, Brandin Cooks' targets should see an increase. It's not a great matchup, as Denver is third in our aFPA vs. WR rankings, but given the efficiency of the Patriots, Cooks is still a viable WR2 in Week 10.
Week 8 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Somewhat quietly, Brandin Cooks is a top-10 fantasy WR in all formats. He's a top-10 WR again in standard this week, but his lack of high volume targets and receptions pushes him down to a WR2 in PPR. The matchup is a good one, as the Chargers are ranked 20th in our aFPA vs. WR rankings. They are also just 20th overall in PPR points allowed to WRs. Start Cooks with confidence in the second-highest over/under of Week 8 between the Chargers and Patriots.
Week 7 vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Patriots have the highest implied total in Vegas this week, possibly foreshadowing a shootout. The Falcons are about league average in our aFPA vs. WR rankings and a respectable 11th in overall PPR points allowed to the position. Cooks has set a season-high in targets in back-to-back weeks, but it's important to note that with the Saints, he did not crack 50 yards or a touchdown in his last four games against the Falcons. Consider him a risky WR2 this week.
Week 6 at New York Jets
It's clear Chris Hogan is Tom Brady's primary WR target and not Brandin Cooks. This has continued Cooks' career trend of boom-or-bust fantasy weeks. Yes, he has a 30-point PPR week this season, but his other four weeks were less than 14 PPR points. Even with an outstanding matchup on paper, Cooks is in low-end WR2 status with Tom Brady content to spread the ball around.
Week 5 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brandin Cooks has yet to get more than seven targets in a game this season, leading to more of the same we've seen in his career, week-to-week fantasy inconsistency. You start him, though, because when he's on, he can be a weekly winner. Against Tampa Bay on Thursday Night, he's a WR2 in PPR again with upside. In two games with the Saints against the Bucs last year, Cooks did not score and averaged 12.95 PPR points. The Bucs are a great matchup too, ranked just 31st in our aFPA vs. PPR WRs. Despite it being a Thursday Night game, the Patriots have the highest implied total in Vegas for Week 5 at 30.75 points.
Week 4 vs. Carolina Panthers
The Patriots have the highest implied team total of Week 4 in Vegas with 29 points. Brandin Cooks found some chemistry with his new quarterback last week, and it was fantasy goodness. He put up a 5-131-2 line on 7 targets last week against Houston. He has another favorable matchup this week against a team with a solid front-seven but a questionable back end, evidenced by Drew Brees passing for 3 touchdowns in Carolina last week. The Panthers are middle-of-the-road in our aFPA vs. PPR WRs, but Cooks has a history against his former division rival, averaging 6.75-99.5-0.5 in his last four games against the Panthers. That makes him a potential WR1 in Week 4.
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.
