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There’s no question that the New Orleans Saints are a pass-first team. Even their running backs were racking up receptions. Rookie wide receiver Brandin Cooks will have a great career with Drew Brees under center and is a nice sleeper heading into the 2014 season.
Cooks dominated the Pac-12 during his junior year. He finished with 16 touchdowns and broke two Pac-12 single-season records with 128 receptions and 1,730 yards. His breakaway speed helped a lot. When you run run a 4.33 40, it’s easy to slip away from defenders and end up in open field.
As a member of the Saints, Cooks may be able get close to his record-breaking numbers. Brees throws the ball a ton. He had 2,635 pass attempts in the last four seasons combined. In each of the last three seasons, Brees threw for over 5,000 yards, including a then-record breaking 5,476 yards in 2011.
The Saints have a lot of options for Brees to throw to. Marques Colston and Jimmy Graham are Brees’ top-two options. Kenny Stills had a good rookie season last year with 32 receptions for 641 yards and five touchdowns. As a result of these numbers, and some moving pieces, Stills will be the No. 2 wide receiver.
As mentioned before, the running backs fair well on the Saints. Pierre Thomas was second in receptions with 77, two more than Colston. Darren Sproles, no longer on the team, had 232 receptions in three years with the Saints.
Cooks, right now, is slated as the No. 3 receiver, lining up in the slot. He has great speed to get open in the middle of the field. While he won’t get close to the 128 receptions he had last year, he has a chance to be another downfield threat for Brees and get close to 45 receptions.
Target him in the 11th or 12th round as your WR4. Cooks has a lot of upside to be worthwhile in standard leagues.
Bill Pivetz is a fantasy sports writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @BPiv_Sports.
