Week 9 vs Dolphins
Garbage time still counts in fantasy and that's where Davis Mills exploded and allowed Brandin Cooks to find the end zone against the Rams, his first touchdown since Week 2. It also means Cooks still has just one game with less than five catches in a game. That streak should continue against one of the worst defenses in the league in Miami. Maybe Cooks reaches 100 yards for third time this season? We'll see. He's a top 20 WR option this week.
Week 8 vs Rams
Brandin Cooks is probably counting down until Tyrod Taylor returns to the starting lineup. Cooks has had less than 50 yards in three of the last four games and hasn't scored since Week 2. With Taylor possibly returning this week, Cooks' outlook does get brighter. For now, he's still a flex option, but certainly, be wary of who Houston goes with at quarterback. Oh yeah, and he'll see plenty of Jalen Ramsey.
Week 7 at Cardinals
Even when the offense as a whole goes down, Brandin Cooks finds a way to come through for his fantasy owners. Week 6 marked Cooks' third game this season with nine catches and double-digit targets. He has at least 78 yards in four games this season. He's the classic case of talent overcoming scheme and supporting cast. Cooks is a strong WR2 this week even against the Cardinals.
Week 6 vs Colts
It's a little odd to see Davis Mills throw three touchdown passes and not one of them went to Brandin Cooks. But that was the case against the Patriots. It was Chris Moore, Chris Conley and Antony Auclair finding the end zone. But Cooks did still see the second-most targets in that game and played the third-most snaps on offense. He's still fine and he faces what's still a bit of a banged-up Colts defense. With four teams on a bye this week, Cooks moves into WR2 territory.
Week 5 vs Patriots
Week 4 was easily Brandin Cooks' worst outing of the season. But to be fair, Buffalo's defense is really good and the entire Texans offense was shut down in Week 4. This week, he could see plenty of J.C. Jackson, and the Patriots currently boast the league's fourth-best passing defense. Cooks' talent will always give him upside, but he can only go so far with this offense. Consider him a WR3 for the week.
Week 4 at Bills
Anthony Miller and Jordan Akins have been doing fine for the Texans, but Brandin Cooks is keeping this offense afloat. Even with a rookie QB thrust into action, Cooks still saw 11 targets from Davis and posted his second 100-yard game of the season. Cooks is the only player on this offense you can absolutely trust in your lineups week in and week out.
Week 3 vs Panthers
It's Brandin Cooks and then everyone else in the wide receiver room in Houston. Case in point: Cooks saw 14 targets in Week 2. No other player had more than two. Through two weeks, Cooks has 21 targets. The next highest number is six. Cooks is the man in this offense and should continue to be force-fed targets, especially now that Davis Mills is getting the start.
Week 2 at Browns
Brandin Cooks is well on his way to posting his sixth-career 1,000-yard season and he totaled 132 receiving yards in Week 1. He certainly is no Tyreek Hill, but wouldn't it be something if he could post even close to the numbers Hill did against the Browns in Week 1 (11/197/1)? Tyrod Taylor may have to force-feed Cooks the ball if Houston wants to hang in with the Browns in Week 2, so the upside is there as Flex or even a WR2.
Week 1 vs Jaguars
If there's at least one shining light in Houston's offense, it's Brandin Cooks. Despite having bounced around the league (Houston is Cooks' fourth team entering his eighth season), he still produces at a quality level, posting his fifth 1,000-yard season in 2020. Of course, that was with DeShaun Watson at quarterback. Now he has Tyrod Taylor. But with really no one else stepping up in the offense (and with Houston trading Randall Cobb and cutting Keke Coutee), Cooks will be the focal point of Houston's offense. His talent alone makes him a solid flex option against the Jaguars.
Fantasy Upside
Brandin Cooks is coming off his fifth season with more than 1,000 receiving yards. The receiver, who is playing on his fourth team in seven seasons, is well-positioned to succeed -- at least individually speaking. Besides Cooks, the Texans have 2020 fifth-round pick Isaiah Coulter and slot receivers Randall Cobb and Keke Coutee along with a handful of free-agent additions and incoming rookie Nico Collins, a promising prospect. So there's no mystery about Cooks' role (with Will Fuller moving on in free agency, Cooks is the clear-cut No. 1).
Fantasy Downside
Deshaun Watson's off-field issues and insistence he won't play for the team again leave plenty of questions about who Cooks' quarterback will be. Of course, the Watson uncertainty looms ominously for multiple Texans. But Cooks, who led the team in receptions with 81 and posted his fifth 1,000-yard season (1,150) in 2020 will likely bear the brunt. Without Watson, Cooks and the offense appear to be overmatched.
2021 Bottom Line
While the ongoing QB drama is clearly an issue, it should also drive Cooks' price down considerably. Even without Watson, Cooks is by far the most viable receiving play here. Expecting him to produce, even if Tyrod Taylor is his triggerman, isn't a reach.
