Week 2 vs. New Orleans Saints
Brandon Cooks' Week 1 performance was one of the stranger aspects of the Rams' passing attack that was its own brand of strange against the Panthers. Cooks finished as the not-so-nice WR69 in 0.5 PPR formats, with a 4.9 point total that would have been his second-worst of the 2018 season. Looking at the final 30-27 final score in favor of the Rams, you'd probably assume success from the passing attack, but only six of Los Angeles' 30 points were a result of a receiving score, and it was to tight end Tyler Higbee.
Cooks lined up for 92% of the Rams' offensive snaps against the Panthers in Week 1, after playing 95% of the snaps in 2018. Last year, Cooks had an 11.4% target rate and averaged seven targets per game; in Week 1, Cooks had an 8.5% target rate and six targets. Cooks will face the Saints secondary in Week 2, who allowed the fourth-most passing yardage in 2018, but projects to see primary coverage from Marshon Lattimore. Cooks spends about 30% of his snaps in the slot, where he will avoid Lattimore, and last year managed 114 yards and a touchdown in this same matchup. He's a good bet for WR1 numbers, so you can slot him into your lineup with confidence.
Week 1 at Carolina Panthers
After a series of trades that sent Brandin Cooks to three different teams from 2016 to 2018, he's settled in with the Rams. Entering his second season with the team, Cooks projects as a fringe WR1 after finishing as the WR13 last season. He'll compete for targets with Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, but the Rams play more 11 personnel than any other NFL team, which means all three receivers should continue to see plenty of snaps.
Brandin Cooks was the Rams' most-targeted wide reciever in the red zone, and this Week 1 matchup with Carolina projects to be a high-scoring game. Cooks should see plenty of coverage from sophomore cornerback Donte Jackson, who can actually match Cooks' 4.33 speed with 4.32 speed of his own. Cooks should still see enough target volume to be startable as a high-end WR2.
Fantasy Upside
Among the Rams' top three wide receivers, Brandin Cooks was the most frequently targeted in the red zone in 2018, and had by far the highest red zone catch percentage at 88.24%. He also had the highest depth of target out of the three, and despite having played for three different teams in each of the last three seasons, he hasn't had fewer than 100 targets or 1,000 yards receiving since 2014.
Fantasy Downside
A healthy Cooper Kupp could reduce some of the target volume that Cooks received in 2018. Cooks disappointed owners during the fantasy playoffs in 2018, failing to score or cross 60 yards receving in Weeks 13-16 against the Bears, Eagles, and Cardinals.
2019 Bottom Line
Cooks is properly valued at his current ADP. Our projections make him the WR16 in .5 PPR leagues, and he's being drafted as the WR14 in the early fourth round. His five touchdowns on the season were his fewest in four years, and any positive touchdown variance could easily vault him into a top 12 finish at the position.
Week 19 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Brandin Cooks caught five-of-nine targets for 62 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams’ Week 17 win over the 49ers. He finished the 2018 season with 163 fantasy points, which placed him as WR13 and No. 34 in all of fantasy. The Rams will host a Cowboys defense that ranks eighth against fantasy receivers in 2018 but Cooks remains an integral part in Sean McVay’s passing game. Ranked as our WR9 for the Divisional Round, Cooks is worth a flier in DFS play this week. He’s projected to score 15.3 fantasy points in PPR formats.
Week 17 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Brandin Cooks caught all three of his targets for 35 yards in the Rams’ Week 16 win over the Cardinals. Cooks was held in check by Patrick Peterson and has now gone six games without a touchdown. The good news is that he did score against the 49ers earlier this season when he caught four passes for 64 yards. Cooks will face San Francisco at home on Sunday and is in the WR2 mix as our WR13 for Week 17. With the Rams needing another victory to lock up a first-round bye, it’s safe to fire up Cooks in all formats.
Week 16 at Arizona Cardinals
Brandin Cooks caught six-of-seven targets for 59 yards in the Rams’ Week 15 loss to the Eagles. Jared Goff has brought down the entire L.A. passing game with his poor performances in each of the team’s last three games. Cooks was held to just 22 yards versus the Bears in Week 14 and saw fewer targets than both Robert Woods and Josh Reynolds versus the Eagles. Despite the rough two-game stretch, Cooks remains a WR2 for Sunday’s matchup with the Cardinals. He ranks as our WR15.
Week 15 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Brandin Cooks caught three-of-seven targets for 22 yards in the Rams’ Week 14 loss to the Bears. Jared Goff threw for just 180 yards and looked miserable playing in the frigid Chicago weather. That said, Cooks also struggled to get open against Prince Amukamara and the only L.A. position player that had a decent fantasy night was Robert Woods. That said, both Cooks and Goff should rebound on Sunday when the Rams host an Eagles defense that ranks No. 25 against fantasy receivers this season. Ranked as our WR12, view Cooks as a low-end WR1 for Week 15.
Week 14 at Chicago Bears
Brandin Cooks caught four-of-six targets for 62 yards in the Rams’ Week 13 win over the Lions. Jared Goff and the passing game struggled coming off the bye but Cooks did go over 1,000 yards receiving for the fourth time in his career. Despite a tough matchup on Sunday night in Chicago, view Cooks as a WR2 when the Rams visit the Bears. He ranks as our WR13 and needs to remain in your lineup.
Week 13 at Detroit Lions
Brandin Cooks caught eight-of-12 targets for 107 yards in the Rams’ 54-51 win over the Chiefs in Week 11. His 12 targets led the team, although Robert Woods still saw 11 looks with Cooper Kupp (knee) out. Cooks could have had a bigger night had he not had one pass knocked out of his hands on what would have been a 40-plus yard reception. Jared Goff also short-hopped Cooks on what could have been another big gain later in the game. Cooks has gone over 100 yards receiving in three straight games and ranks as our WR10 for Week 13. View Cooks as a WR1 when the Rams travel to Detroit this weekend.
Week 11 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Brandin Cooks caught 10-of-12 targets for 100 yards in the Rams’ Week 19 win over the Seahawks and also added a nine-yard rushing touchdown off a jet sweep. With Cooper Kupp out for the season with a torn ACL, Cooks could routinely see 10-plus targets every week now. The Rams host the Chiefs on Monday night and while Kansas City ranks a surprising eighth versus fantasy receivers this season, the betting total for that matchup is sitting at 63.5 points. That’s one of the highest over/unders you’ll ever see in an NFL game, making Cooks and some of his teammates must-starts. Ranked as our WR11 for Week 11, view Cooks as a low-end WR1 for Monday night.
