Week 6 vs. Ravens
Only five tight ends have run more routes than Jared Cook in 2021, who has 155 so far. He is 10th with 26 targets and tied for 13th with 17 receptions. He also sits 13th in receiving yards 210. But he has just one touchdown catch in 2021, and Week 5 saw him catch a single ball for 29 yards. It was his third game with less than 30 yards in five this year. Cook currently sits as the TE15, with just one top 12 showing on the year.
He may find things more to his liking in Week 6. The Ravens are currently 26th in aFPA to tight ends. The Ravens and Buccaneers are tied for the most receptions allowed to the position with 36 each, while only the Chiefs have given up more receiving yards than the 420 allowed by the Ravens. Cook is projected to be a low-end TE1 in Week 6, although he may be in line for an increased workload if Mike Williams misses the game or plays at less than full health.
Week 5 vs. Browns
Jared Cook notched his first Chargers touchdown against his old team the Raiders on Monday night, one of six receptions he caught for 70 yards on his way to a season-high 13.0 fantasy points. Through four weeks, Cook has been targeted 23 times for 16 receptions, 181 yards, and a score. He sits as the TE13 in Half-PPR formats.
Historically, the Browns have been quite weak against tight ends, but that particular trend seems to have been bucked somewhat in 2021. They're currently 12th in aFPA to the position, having given up just 13 receptions for 125 yards and two scores this season. Six of those receptions, along with 76 of the yards and both touchdowns came against Travis Kelce back in Week 1. Cook projects as a mid-level TE2 this week.
Week 4 vs. Raiders
Jared Cook has been playing his part for the Chargers this season without mega numbers to show for it. After three games, Cook is seventh among all tight ends with 16 targets, but he has just 10 receptions (14th) for 111 scoreless yards (11th) to show for it. As expected, he isn't making much noise in fantasy terms either, averaging just 7.0 fantasy points per game (TE21). The Raiders have been fairly middle of the road so far against tight ends, sitting 18th in aFPA to the position. The Raiders have allowed 17 receptions for 142 yards to tight ends after three weeks, but have yet to allow a touchdown.
Week 2 vs. Chiefs
Jared Cook has enjoyed a solid start to his Chargers career, although it could have been better. Cook has caught eight of his 13 targets for 84 yards in 2021, although he is yet to find the end zone. He did have a touchdown waved off by penalty last week, however. Cook may be asked to do some blocking this week as the Chargers look to protect Storm Norton at right tackle after he struggled against the Cowboys. But when trusted to run routes, Cook could be in line for a good week in Week 3. The Chiefs have allowed the second-most receiving yards to tight ends in the NFL through two weeks, and have been fairly generous to the position going back to last season. The Chiefs allowed the 6th most aFPA to tight ends a year ago. Indeed, over their last five regular-season games tight ends have averaged 5.6 receptions for 72 yards against the Chiefs.
Week 2 vs. Cowboys
Jared Cook enjoyed a productive debut for the Chargers in Week 1 against Washington, with peripherals that should stand him in good stead moving forward. He played on the 10th most passing plays among all tight ends (36) and ran a route on 31 of them (86.1%). Cook drew eight targets, reeling in five of them for five for 56 yards. He appears to be the clear No.3 option in the Chargers passing game, and this could see him deliver in a big way in Week 2. The Cowboys allowed Rob Gronkowski to catch eight of his nine targets for 90 yards and two touchdowns last week.
Week 1 vs. Washington
Week 1 should see Jared Cook make his Chargers debut after spending the last two seasons as a member of the New Orleans Saints. While not exactly overloaded with work in 2020, Cook was still able to post six top-12 weeks in half-PPR formats, thanks to his down-the-field work and nose for the endzone. Despite commanding the 21st most targets among all tight ends, Cook posted the seventh-most completed air yards while scoring seven touchdowns. Only five tight ends found the end zone more often last year. Cook's matchup is one that fantasy managers should certainly keep an eye on, as Washington was not as strong against tight ends last season as they were against wide receivers. They allowed the 20th most fantasy points to the position but adjusted for the schedule they actually coughed up the 11th most. Washington was just outside of the top ten in terms of blitz rate a year ago, so there may be some blocking to be done in Week 1. Although hopefully not too much, as Pro Football Focus graded Cook as the 129th best blocking tight end in the NFL in 2020.
Fantasy Upside
Jared Cook agreed to terms with Los Angeles on a one-year deal worth $6 million (with $4.5 million in fully guaranteed money) this offseason after spending the last two seasons with the Saints. Cook has played for five teams in his 12 years in the NFL, catching 505 passes for 6,673 yards and 41 touchdowns, carving out a very solid professional career. 2020 saw Cook post his lowest receptions and yardage totals since his one-year stint in Green Bay in 2016, lending some justification to the thought his best days might be behind him. Still, over the last four seasons, Cook has produced 8-plus yards per target and a better-than 60 percent catch completion rate. Beyond that, Cook will bring a veteran presence and professional experience to the Chargers, where he'll be expected to serve as second-year quarterback Justin Herbert's best friend as a pass-catcher and security blanket.
Fantasy Downside
Cook's advanced years -- he turned 34 in April -- and career-long inability to produce on a consistent week-to-week basis are of some concern.
2021 Bottom Line
Cook goes from one productive offense to another, landing with the NFL's sixth-best passing offense in 2020 and joining promising youngster Donald Parham Jr. to give the Chargers a strong pair of red-zone threats at the position. Adding to the positive vibe, Cook is plenty familiar with new coordinator Joe Lombardi's plans after working with him in New Orleans the last two seasons.
Week 17 vs Panthers
For only the second time this season, Jared Cook topped 80 yards in a game, the other time being back in Week 1. No Michael Thomas has allowed Cook to get back on track. He faces a Carolina team he scored a touchdown against back in Week 7 and sits just inside our top 12 tight ends for the final week.
Week 16 vs Vikings
Cook has gotten more involved in the offense in recent weeks, with 14 targets and two touchdowns over the last three weeks. Drew Brees has always had a solid connection with Cook. He'll need it again on Christmas. With the Brees-Cook potential connection, and Cook's recent uptick in production, Cook is a top-10 option at the position.
Week 15 vs Chiefs
Jared Cook has quietly gotten back involved in the offense with touchdowns in back-to-back games. The Chiefs also just allowed two touchdowns to Mike Gesicki in Week 14. Cook is still a low TE2 for this week, but another touchdown is not out of the question.
