Week 12 vs. Denver Broncos
The Broncos are 31st in aFPA vs. TEs this season, putting Cook in a good spot as offenses funnel targets away from the Broncos' stout corners. Cook had 8 targets in the first meeting between these two teams but didn't do much with them. Nevertheless, the matchup puts Cook in the TE1 discussion for Week 12. Denver has allowed a TE touchdown in four straight games and five of the past six games.
Week 11 vs. New England Patriots (game in Mexico City)
El esta cocinando. That's Spanish for, "He's cookin'." Jared Cook goes to Mexico off the bye week with three straight games of at least 50 yards and two of those went over the 100-yard mark. The Patriots are just 20th in our aFPA vs. TE rankings, which makes Cook a solid TE1 option in Week 11.
Week 9 at Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins rank just 23rd in our aFPA vs. TE rankings. Cook has two straight games with at least 50 yards. That's enough to put him on the low-end TE1 radar this week, as the position outside the elite has been a weekly nightmare in 2017. Hope for the best in Week 9.
Week 8 at Buffalo Bills
Cook is a streaming option this week, coming off a 100-yard effort, and the Bills are ranked 19th in our aFPA vs. TE rankings. Cook has been inconsistent with three straight games under eight PPR points before last week, but that's the TE position in general outside the top tier. There are worse options than Cook, but check our rankings to make sure you don't have a better one.
Week 7 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Despite Amari Cooper's struggles, Jared Cook hasn't scored or reached 50 yards in three straight weeks. Kansas City is also top-10 in our aFPA vs. TE rankings, and it's a short week for Oakland. Cook is not a TE1 in Week 7.
Week 6 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
This is the state of the tight end landscape outside the elite three TEs in 2017: Jared Cook is TE12 in PPR, despite not cracking 50 yards since Week 1, and only scoring 1 touchdown on the year. It's a bad matchup for him this week against the Chargers (second in aFPA vs. TEs), but there just aren't more TEs better in fantasy right now. Therefore, Cook is still in the TE1 mix this week in 12-team leagues.
Week 5 vs. Baltimore Ravens
Jared Cook is a TE1 option in 12-team leagues this week, and backup QB E.J. Manual may continue to look his way after the majority of his 8 targets last week (tied for the team high) came with Manual in the game. He also had 2 end zone targets. Cook's opponent this week, the Baltimore Ravens, rank 30th in our aFPA vs. TE rankings.
Week 4 at Denver Broncos
The Raiders are finding ways to get their tight end the ball this season. Cook should see more targets this week against a Denver unit ranked 24th in our aFPA vs. TE rankings, as teams tend to shy away from challenging the Broncos corners. Cook has two double-digit PPR weeks this season, and he could be in for a third. He's a solid TE1 this week.
Week 3 at Washington
The Raiders go cross-country, but it's on Sunday Night Football and the west to east trip issues should not be a factor due to the late kickoff. That's evidenced by Vegas assigning an implied team total second to only the Patriots this week for the silver and black. Washington is only 25th in our aFPA vs. TE rankings, and Cook has played extremely well in his career against Washington. Cook is shaping up to be a TE1 option this week.
Week 2 vs. New York Jets
The Raiders could not have hand-picked an easier home opener against the NFL's version of 'Trust the Process'. The Raiders have the second-highest implied team total in Vegas at 28.5 points. Plus, the Jets are 23rd in our aFPA vs. TEs. Jared Cook started the season with a 5-56-0 line. In Week 2, consider him a possible streaming tight end option.
