Player Spotlight: Chris Cooley (1 Viewer)

[Jason Wood]

2009 Player Spotlight Series

One of Footballguys best assets is our message board community. The Shark Pool is, in our view, the best place on the internet to discuss, debate and analyze all things fantasy football. In what's become an annual tradition, the Player Spotlight series is a key part of the preseason efforts. As many of you know, we consider the Player Spotlight threads the permanent record for analyzing the fantasy prospects of the player in question. Last year, we published more than 120 offensive spotlights covering the vast majority of expected skill position starters. This year will be no different.

Each week we will post a list of players to be discussed. Those threads will remain open for the entire preseason, and should be a central point to discussion expectations for the player in question. Importantly, analysis done in the first week of posting will be part of the permanent record in two ways. 1) At the end of the week, we will tally the projections into a consensus. 2) We will select a number of pull quotes from forum contributors who make a compelling statement or observation. Both the projections and pull quotes will be part of a published article on the main website.

Thread Topic: Chris Cooley, TE, Washington Redskins

Player Page Link: Chris Cooley Player Page

Each article will include:

Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member
Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads
FBG Projections
Consensus Member ProjectionsThe Rules

In order for this thread to provide maximum value, we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines:

Focus commentary on the player in question, and your expectations for said player
Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"
To be included in the final synopsis and consensus outlook, you MUST provide projections for the playerProjections should include (at a minimum):

For QBs: Attempts, Completions, Passing Yards, Passing TDs, Ints, Rush Yards, Rush TDs
For RBs: Rushes, Rushing Yards, Rush TDs, Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDs
For WRs & TEs: Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDsNow let's get on with the conversation! We look forward to your contributions and let me offer a personal thanks in anticipation of the great debate and analysis.

 

[rzrback77]

Chris Cooley looks like a nice guy to target as your starting TE in 09. He has finished 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th in the last four seasons. He has a current ADP of TE7 and 78 overall which slots in nicely with the above finishes. However, a review of his stats shows that in 08, his receptions jumped up by 17 over 07 to a career high of 83. I expect similar reception numbers in 09. The reason for his TE8 finish (the lowest since his rookie year) was that he only scored one TD, after averaging 7 per season for his career, including his rookie year. His TDs should bounce back and he could finish in the top five TEs in 09.

Chris Cooley 115 targets 80 catches 920 yards 11.5 ypc and 6 TDs

 

[millertyme1]

Above projection is not too far off from mine (have a handful less catches and bit less yards). Don't see any reason Cooley won't be a top 5-6 TE this year. I think he rebounds much like Witten did from his 1 TD a couple years ago.

 

[dgreen]

I expect Cooley to lead the team in receptions again this season. The question for the whole Redskins offense this year is how the 2nd year guys produce. Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, and Fred Davis will all certainly receive more playing time. However, I think Thomas and Kelly are more likely to impact ARE's and Moss' numbers than Cooley's. And, I don't see Fred Davis exploding onto the scene and stealing many opportunities from Cooley. In fact, the Redskins have been working a lot with Davis on his blocking, so I think that's going to be his focus this year. I think he might end up pass blocking in 2 TE sets.

Overall, I see Cooley's numbers staying fairly consistent with a return to his earlier TD production: 77-825-6.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

85 catches

850 yards

7 TDs

2 pictures of his own junk posted to his blog.

 

[dafelonious1]

When considering Chris Cooley this year most people will look at his 1 TD last year as a mark of shame. 1 TD? How can someone with 80+ catches have only 1 TD? Lets take a closer look.

1.Washington was depending on 3 rookies (Thomas, Kelly, Jones) to improve their anemic passing attack. It typically takes a player 2-3 years to catch up to NFL receiver standards. Expecting one of these rookies to hit the ground running was hoping for the best. Their natural progression this year should help reduce the amount of attention Cooley garners from opposing defenses.

2.Not only were the Redskins depending on rookies; they were breaking in a new offensive system. Installing a new system takes time and has growing pains. The fact that Cooley had 83 catches in this new system bodes well for the possibility of getting better this year. He did catch an eye popping 74% of his targets last year which is testament to his effectiveness in this new system.

3.The receivers that were on the team last year didnt compliment each other well. Santana Moss is strictly a deep threat and Randel El is a 3rd down/slot receiver. Once the Redskins got inside the red zone defenses didnt have to worry about anyone not named Cooley. The natural progression of Thomas who is 6'2'' and Kelly who is 6'4'' should help Cooley get less attention inside the red zone.

4.The most compelling case for Cooley is that he is a Santana Moss injury away from getting the lion's share of the targets. Cooley has been targeted 94,110,111 over the last 3 years. If Moss were to go down he could approach the Witten/Gonzalez taget range of 130-140 targets which could push his receptions to 90-95.

Cooley should be heavily involved in the redskins offense once again. He had previously been a red zone force with seasons of 6,7,6,8 TDs. He is in his prime just turning 27. I see a season of 88 rec 950 yards and 7 TDs that can be had for a much cheaper price, ADP 78. That kind of value wins championships. Im targeting Cooley in all of my leagues and you should too.

 

[jackdubl]

Obviously the 1 TD is his issue. And that one touchdown came on a WR option gimmick play from Randle El. That worries me--basically his career under this current coach/offensive coordinator is a zero touchdown season. I'm not sure how much of a TD revival that implies.

 

[brutha]

that's a good point. it could just be a hiccup or it could be a "Zorn thing" and his TDs are still low this year. it's reason to pause IMO.

 

[Titanium]

Obviously the 1 TD is his issue. And that one touchdown came on a WR option gimmick play from Randle El. That worries me--basically his career under this current coach/offensive coordinator is a zero touchdown season. I'm not sure how much of a TD revival that implies.

As a Cooley owner, this is my concern too. Most of the predictions here seem very optimistic to me. If Cooley meets these, then he's looking at a career year.Dafelonious1 makes a good argument for Cooley improving in TDs this year. Do any other homers know if their is any reason to believe this improvement is really likely. I can't find much info from camp to sway me one way or the other.

 

[dgreen]

Do any other homers know if their is any reason to believe this improvement is really likely. I can't find much info from camp to sway me one way or the other.

I've heard comments from Cooley that they've been working on red zone a lot in training camp and that he's playing a large in that so far. The team recognizes the correlation between their struggles in the red zone and their failure to involve Cooley in that area.Early reports were that the offense was getting pwned by the defense in training camp. Recent reports have the offense improving and a blogger wrote this:

The Redskins continue to go 11-on-11 and the offense has outplayed the defense. QB Jason Campbell and TE Chris Cooley have picked apart the defense.