Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) is on the flex radar in deep leagues this week. Cooks does not have an injury designation, as he practiced fully on Friday and Saturday. He garnered seven targets in his first game back after an eight-week absence due to a knee injury. The veteran projects as the third option in the passing game with CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) and Jake Ferguson (concussion) also good to go for Monday. His volume is far from consistent, but the matchup against Cincinnati's soft secondary is too strong to ignore. With six teams on bye this week, Cooks is a viable flex option.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) logged a full practice on Friday, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Cooks opened the week as a limited participant, but seeing him already upgrade to full participation suggests he will not have an injury designation for Monday night's game. Cooks returned from his seven-game absence on Thanksgiving and caught three of his seven targets for 16 yards and a score. Cooks was sidelined due to a knee infection he suffered following a minor procedure. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during Saturday's practice, but he should be expected to suit up on Monday. Despite his modest output last weekend, fantasy managers should view him as a solid WR3, as he will likely operate as the No.2 wideout in the Dallas passing attack going forward.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) was listed as a limited practice participant due to rest purposes in the first practice of the week on Thursday. Cooks made his return to the field in the Thanksgiving Day win over the division-rival New York Giants last Thursday for the first time since Week 4 due to a knee infection that required surgery. It was a successful return, as the 31-year-old veteran found the end zone, albeit on three catches for only 16 yards. Dallas is likely just resting Cooks after his first game back last week, meaning he should be active this Sunday to face the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. The matchup against Cincy is an excellent one, although Cooks will remain a low-upside, touchdown-dependent WR5/flex for fantasy managers, especially with it looking like tight end Jake Ferguson will return from a two-game absence due to a concussion.
According to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas News, Dallas Cowboys wide receivers CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) and Brandin Cooks (knee) were not seen at practice on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to their initial status on the practice report on Thursday, as the Cowboys do not play until Monday evening. Lamb aggravated a previous shoulder injury during their Week 13 victory over the New York Giants, while Cooks returned from his seven-game absence this past weekend. Fantasy managers should not be overly concerned if both wideouts remain limited participants during the initial practice sessions of the week. Lamb should be viewed as a top-12 option on Monday evening, and Cooks as a lower-end flex facing a weak Cincinnati secondary.
The Athletic's Saad Yousuf does not believe that veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks will return to the team in 2025. Cooks is a strong presence in the locker room, but his production the last two seasons has fallen short of expectations as the No. 2 behind CeeDee Lamb. If the Cowboys also feel the same way about Cooks' future, they could give more playing time to rookie Ryan Flournoy and recent acquisition Jonathan Mingo for the rest of the season. Dallas sent a fourth-round draft pick to the Carolina Panthers for Mingo and might want to get a head start on evaluating him for their 2025 roster. The 31-year-old Cooks has six 1,000-yard seasons in his 11 NFL seasons, but he's slowed down the last two years in Dallas and has also played in only five games in 2024 due to injury. If the Cowboys move on from Cooks after this year, they could look to replace him with another veteran pass-catcher.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks found paydirt for the first time since Week 1 during the team's Thanksgiving win over the New York Giants. He hauled in three of his seven targets for 16 yards and a touchdown. This was his first game back after a seven-game absence and he tied his season-high in targets. Despite his lack of production, Cooks averages 6.5 targets per game this season. His next chance to capitalize on those targets will be against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) was activated from Injured Reserve on Wednesday and was also removed from the final Week 13 injury report, suggesting that he'll be active for the Thanksgiving game on Thursday versus the division-rival New York Giants. Cooks was limited on Monday and Tuesday before upgrading to full participation on Wednesday. The 31-year-old veteran pass-catcher needed surgery for a knee infection earlier this year and hasn't played since the first meeting against the Giants on Sept. 26, when he went for only one catch on four targets for 16 yards. Cooks' return is good news for Dallas' offense, but with quarterback Cooper Rush now running the show, he'll have even less fantasy appeal for the rest of 2024 and could operate as the No. 3 wideout on Thursday behind CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) has been activated off Injured Reserve ahead of their Thanksgiving showdown against the New York Giants on Thursday, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Cooks has been sidelined since he sustained a knee infection following a procedure after their Week 4 victory over the Giants. Before the injury, Cooks was deployed as the clear No. 2 wideout in the Dallas passing attack and averaged 4.8 targets per game. However, he was relatively unproductive from a fantasy perspective and averaged a mere 6.1 PPR points per game during this small stretch. Fantasy managers should monitor his status ahead of Thursday's game, as he could be limited if he returns Thursday. If he does suit up, he should be viewed as a low-end flex option, at best, in deeper leagues and a high-risk flex play in DFS formats.
CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks Limited Again On Tuesday
Dallas Cowboys wide receivers CeeDee Lamb (back, foot) and Brandin Cooks (knee) were both listed as limited on the team's estimated practice report on Tuesday. It was an estimation after Dallas held another walkthrough on Tuesday. Lamb was active in the Week 12 win over the division-rival Washington Commanders and was busy, catching 10 passes for 67 yards on 12 targets. The ceiling is lower for the 25-year-old now that quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) is out for the year, but Lamb remains a must-start in fantasy lineups for the Thanksgiving game against the division-rival New York Giants on Thursday. He had a 7-98-1 line against them on Sept. 26. Cooks must be activated from Injured Reserve to play on Thursday. The 31-year-old veteran hasn't played since Sept. 26 and won't be a recommended fantasy play if he returns against the G-Men on Turkey Day.
Dallas Cowboys wide receivers CeeDee Lamb (back, foot) and Brandin Cooks (knee) were both listed as limited on the team's estimated practice report on Monday. Lamb played through multiple injuries in the Week 12 win over the division-rival Washington Commanders and caught 10 passes for 67 yards on 12 targets. He may not practice much on a short week, but we'd be surprised if he's not available as a WR1 for fantasy managers for Thursday's annual Thanksgiving came this year against the division-rival New York Giants. According to executive vice president Stephen Jones, Cooks has a good chance to play on Thursday against the G-Men for the first time since being placed on Injured Reserve on Oct. 5. It will be a boost for Dallas' offense, but fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting much for Cooks, who will likely be an inconsistent deep threat with quarterback Cooper Rush running the offense.
Brandin Cooks
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Cowboys
