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WR Brandin Cooks, NO (3 Viewers)

Ghost Rider said:
Cooks is too small to be a true number 1.  The emergence of Thomas will only help him in the long run, since that will make it easier for him to get loose deep, but like many diva WRs, he's pitching a fit.  It's one freaking game.  He averaged 7.5 targets in their first 10 games this season, which is a lot for a guy his size.  
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Plus the pass rush in the game against the Rams prevented them from rearing back for deep throws. 

Game script just didn't favor him that day - dude should be happy they won and show some big picture understanding. 

 
Hot Sauce Guy said:
There is no I in team. 

He drew coverage and the rest of the team benefitted. He should be happy with the W, the paycheck and the fact that his role that day was to help draw coverage away from Snead, Thomas and Coleman. 

I never like reading selfish quotes from players after a W.  squeaky wheel will likely get the grease today, but it's a bad look to complain about your role with a team after win. 

Maybe if they'd lost he would have a more valid point - like, "I needed to do more to contribute to this offense today, throw me the damn ball." kind of thing - I could get behind that. 

But after a win? Sounds like a me-first guy. I'm not saying he is or ain't, I'm just saying what it sounds like. 
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I understand where you're coming from but this has been building for some time. Cooks is becoming more of a decoy all the time in this offense. Plus they're not winning. They are 5-6 and he hasn't been targeted more than 9 times in a game this season. He gets treated like the teams #1 WR by opposing defenses (lots of  the best CB + over the top safety help) but it's becoming more clear that the Saints don't feel the same. Hard to blame the guy to much for speaking up because it's costing him millions of dollars in the FA market. I tend to side with players more than most on this kind of stuff though. If the Saints move on from Cooks this offseason their offense will suffer.

Can you imagine the if the Steelers were 5-6 while targeting Antonio Brown less than 7 times a game and then scored 49 points (playing a terrible team) not targeting him once.....do you think he would say anything?

 
Ghost Rider said:
Cooks is too small to be a true number 1.  
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Unfortunately I hate to agree with this but I'm starting to think he's to small to be a #1 WR as well. It's not just his stature alone though. I mean Steve Smith is the same size and in his prime he was a dominant #1. Steve Smith is a monster on the field though. Cooks has never shown that type of aggression on the field. The problem is Cooks doesn't play big enough consistently enough. Take the TD catch late in the Bronco's game. That's a big time catch. That's a #1 WR catch to win the game (well should have been) against the #1 pass D in the league. The problem is he doesn't do that consistently.

Michael Thomas is not a #1WR in this league though. He will be exposed next year, is my guess, when he starts getting the opposing D's #1 CB on him.

 
Cooks is basically the highest upside WR3 in the league. He just happens to be on the #1 offense in the NFL which pushes him up into WR2 territory. 

What sucks is he was a WR1 the last 7 games or so of the year last year and a lot of us thought he would build on that. He hasn't. 

 
Think I'm gonna switch him out for tyreek hill today.  So you're all welcome BC cooks is certain to go off if I do that!  

 
Milkman said:
Michael Thomas is not a #1WR in this league though. He will be exposed next year, is my guess, when he starts getting the opposing D's #1 CB on him.
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Care to unpack this?  What about his game is deficient?  I ask because his value is pretty high now, & if he finishes strong, he could command #1 WR value in a trade.  If he's gonna be exposed, selling him high is good strategy.

 
Ghost Rider said:
Cooks is too small to be a true number 1.  The emergence of Thomas will only help him in the long run, since that will make it easier for him to get loose deep, but like many diva WRs, he's pitching a fit.  It's one freaking game.  He averaged 7.5 targets in their first 10 games this season, which is a lot for a guy his size.  
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Same size as Antonio Brown. I just don't think he's good enough. He put up good numbers last year but the Saints struggled badly by Brees standards. That was a big red flag to me and I thought it was situation. I was quite disappointed actually as I was a pretty big fan. A lot of guys can put up numbers but can they make there team better while they do it? I've found a lot of the flash in the pan types don't.

 
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Bayhawks said:
Care to unpack this?  What about his game is deficient?  I ask because his value is pretty high now, & if he finishes strong, he could command #1 WR value in a trade.  If he's gonna be exposed, selling him high is good strategy.
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He's an average WR in a high volume offense. I'm not sure he fails but he's not special. He's average and very situation dependent. He's just working underneath routes against #2 and #3 CB with the best QB in the game basically throwing to him while teams double and triple cover Cooks. His situation is maybe the best in the league right now and it's not going to get better it could easily get worse imo, with all or a few of the following happening.

Aging elite QB who could fall off the cliff at any moment.

A #1 WR drawing coverage who could be traded this offseason.

Possibly a new coach next year.

Oh yeah if anybody is paying WR1 prices or even high end WR2 prices I'm very open to moving Thomas this offseason. He could be worth virtually nothing by week 8 next year if he's exposed.

 
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Bracie Smathers said:
Payton putting the kibosh on Rappaport's trade speculation.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/12/04/sean-payton-not-a-fan-of-brandin-cooks-trade-speculation/


Sean Payton not a fan of Brandin Cooks trade speculation


Posted by Josh Alper on December 4, 2016, 10:22 AM EST
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Of course he's going to say that. They are still fighting for a playoff spot and Cooks is a huge part of this offense. I'd argue he's still the second most valuable offensive player on the Saints. His speed opens up everything they do wit Snead/Thomas and the dump offs to the RB.

If I'm Cooks I close my mouth publically but behind closed doors I'm asking for a trade this offseason. He's better than the Saints think and needs to go to a team that will feature him in the passing game more. I'm not sure he's ever had 10+ targets in a game with the Saints. Go watch the play he makes for what should have been a game winning TD catch against Denver. Yeah lets throw it to that guy only 6 times a game so we can get it to Snead more. Yuck!

 
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Milkman said:
Of course he's going to say that. They are still fighting for a playoff spot and Cooks is a huge part of this offense. I'd argue he's still the second most valuable offensive player on the Saints. His speed opens up everything they do wit Snead/Thomas and the dump offs to the RB.

If I'm Cooks I close my mouth publically but behind closed doors I'm asking for a trade this offseason. He's better than the Saints think and needs to go to a team that will feature him in the passing game more. I'm not sure he's ever had 10+ targets in a game with the Saints. Go watch the pay he makes for what should have been a game winning TD catch against Denver. Yeah lets throw it to that guy 6 times a game so we can get it to Snead more. Yuck!
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He may be a decoy but on some of those throws it is all on Brees.

Brees, 'essentially', got rid of Kenny Stills due to reported 'personality' clashes so there is precedent of Drew giving a WR the cold shoulder.

Sure, the coverage was drawn Cooks direction but on a couple of plays Drew gave a look Brandon's way but threw underneath when he could have gotten more going deeper to Cooks so Cooks has it coming and going.  He is an effective decoy but I think that Brees made a conscious decision to not throw once in his direction last week.

I think that will change this week.

 
Bracie Smathers said:
He may be a decoy but on some of those throws it is all on Brees.

Brees, 'essentially', got rid of Kenny Stills due to reported 'personality' clashes so there is precedent of Drew giving a WR the cold shoulder.

Sure, the coverage was drawn Cooks direction but on a couple of plays Drew gave a look Brandon's way but threw underneath when he could have gotten more going deeper to Cooks so Cooks has it coming and going.  He is an effective decoy but I think that Brees made a conscious decision to not throw once in his direction last week.

I think that will change this week.
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So you think there is some sort of personal issues between the two? I saw brees look Cooks way and he seemed open and then Brees went somewhere else too. It was puzzling.  

Also Slay is on him this week so I'm not sure Cooks gets anymore targets then normal. He did burn Slay bad last year though if I remember right......

 
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Milkman said:
So you think there is some sort of personal issues between the two? I saw brees look Cooks way and he seemed open and then Brees went somewhere else too. It was puzzling.  
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It could have been a one-game anomaly but yeah, it looked personal to me on at least two or three of those throws.  

QBs like Brees don't take the cheap stuff underneath if they can make a big play over the top and that happened.

QBs are people and occasionally this happens where a quarterback gets pissed at a WR for whatever reason and won't throw his direction for a game to send a message but in this case, Cooks has acted like a decoy and it appears that Drew's cold shoulder on-top of his decoy work got Cooks angry enough to spout off and I have to say that IMHO Cooks has a legitimate gripe.

He was clearly open on a few throws and Brees had him clearly in his sights but waited a tic before dumping it off.  

That would and should make any WR worth his salt, angry.

 
Bracie Smathers said:
It could have been a one-game anomaly but yeah, it looked personal to me on at least two or three of those throws.  

QBs like Brees don't take the cheap stuff underneath if they can make a big play over the top and that happened.

QBs are people and occasionally this happens where a quarterback gets pissed at a WR for whatever reason and won't throw his direction for a game to send a message but in this case, Cooks has acted like a decoy and it appears that Drew's cold shoulder on-top of his decoy work got Cooks angry enough to spout off and I have to say that IMHO Cooks has a legitimate gripe.

He was clearly open on a few throws and Brees had him clearly in his sights but waited a tic before dumping it off.  

That would and should make any WR worth his salt, angry.
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Interesting. The thing is Cooks leaving would kill that offense unless they get another speedster the teams worry about covering deep.

 
Milkman said:
Interesting. The thing is Cooks leaving would kill that offense unless they get another speedster the teams worry about covering deep.
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I don't think it is that dramatic of a situation.

These things happen.

Cooks will get fed, feelings will get soothed, this will blow over IMHO.

 
Ugh. I can't believe I'm thinking of starting Kenny freakin Britt or waiver add Marquis Wilson over this guy who was suppose to be a lineup-lock. I'm going to try to move him in the offseason. He's basically DeSean Jackson 2.0 and I want more consistency from my starters.

 
Sebowski said:
Ugh. I can't believe I'm thinking of starting Kenny freakin Britt or waiver add Marquis Wilson over this guy who was suppose to be a lineup-lock. I'm going to try to move him in the offseason. He's basically DeSean Jackson 2.0 and I want more consistency from my starters.
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Yeah owning this guy sucks. No consistency. But you just know you sit him and that's probably the week he goes off with a huge game. :angry:

 
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JimmyJabroni said:
Yeah owning this guy sucks. No consistency. But you just know you sit him and that's probably the week he goes off with a huge game. :angry:
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He's on my bench for tyreek hill today.  I'm thinking he sees a lot of slay today.  And also I'm not sure that his squeaky wheel thing went over well in NO.  I can easily see him having a huge game but I can just as easily see him punk up a stinker again

i also can see this game being another weird low scoring defensive affair similar to the giants va saints earlier in the year.

Borh saints and Det defenses are vastly improved from early year woes. 

By contrast I see tyreek hill have much more involved in the chiefs offense as a primary playmaker and he seemingly has the higher floor and an equally high of not higher ceiling.  

 
Slay won't be locked on Cooks all game. This is a great matchup in a game that should be high scoring at home. Don't overthink this after one dud 

 
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Milkman said:
Last years line against Slay.

10-124-1

The problem isn't talent. It's usage.
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This def makes me want to use cooks.  But this year is different than last.  Last year cooks was their biggest play maker.  This year he's got a ton of competition and Brees spreads the ball too much.  Can't have 10 catches on 6 targets. With 6 targets tore essential looking for cooks to break one on a deep ball to return fantasy wr1 numbers.  Not that that can't happen today.  It can.  But if he doesn't then you're looking at 6 targets, 4 catches for 30-50 yards.  

 
Milkman said:
He's an average WR in a high volume offense. I'm not sure he fails but he's not special. He's average and very situation dependent. He's just working underneath routes against #2 and #3 CB with the best QB in the game basically throwing to him while teams double and triple cover Cooks. His situation is maybe the best in the league right now and it's not going to get better it could easily get worse imo, with all or a few of the following happening.

Aging elite QB who could fall off the cliff at any moment.

A #1 WR drawing coverage who could be traded this offseason.

Possibly a new coach next year.

Oh yeah if anybody is paying WR1 prices or even high end WR2 prices I'm very open to moving Thomas this offseason. He could be worth virtually nothing by week 8 next year if he's exposed.
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He's the new Colston.  Stick to your day job.

 
Funny, I drafted cooks this year BC I remembered w he and Jordan reed demolished my championship game hopes in week 16 last year.  The 2 of them combined for like 55 pts.  

Now I'm benching him in week 13 against the guy who beat me with him last year.  

 
Milkman said:
Last years line against Slay.

10-124-1

The problem isn't talent. It's usage.
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bad info here

He caught 1 or 2 balls versus Slay

This year Austin has shown more willingness to flip him last year not so much.

From the local recap last year:

Darius Slay deserves to be in the Pro Bowl.He now ranks as the league's second-best cornerback, per ProFootballFocus, despite drawing difficult one-on-one matchups since Rashean Mathis suffered a season-ending concussion in Week 7. Slay got the job done again Monday night with some sticky coverage on speedy wideout Brandin Cooks. Slay finished with two pass breakups, one of which saved a touchdown. Cooks did get Slay once, hauling in a pass at the goal line near the end of the first half -- but it took a remarkable, one-handed effort in tight coverage to do it. And that's the thing about Slay these days, is that it now takes the spectacular to do much of anything against him. You couldn't ask for more out of a corner.
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Milkman said:
I still contend it's not a talent problem but fair enough he smoked some other defenders.
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local beats thought it was gonna be Slay on Cooks Lawson on Snead Diggs (usually our slot CB) on Thomas

instead it's been Slay on Thomas Lawson on Cooks Diggs on Snead

Regardless none of them doing anything first half - I'm sure Brees & Co will get untracked in the 2nd

 
BobbyLayne said:
local beats thought it was gonna be Slay on Cooks Lawson on Snead Diggs (usually our slot CB) on Thomas

instead it's been Slay on Thomas Lawson on Cooks Diggs on Snead

Regardless none of them doing anything first half - I'm sure Brees & Co will get untracked in the 2nd
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Slay on Thomas all game? If so......

1 catch for 2 yards with the other teams #1 CB on him. Get used to that.

 
Going to SD wouldn't be all that great for Cooks imo. It's pretty crowded over there right now with Keenan and Tyrell. I've been hearing that Cooks and Brees actually aren't getting along real well right now. I don't have a link so take that fwiw but I see Cooks being dealt this offseason but not to SD.

 
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Milkman said:
Going to SD wouldn't be all that great for Cooks imo. It's pretty crowded over there right now with Keenan and Tyrell. I've been hearing that Cooks and Brees actually aren't getting along real well right now. I don't have a link so take that fwiw but I see Cooks being dealt this offseason but not to SD.
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Add in Inman too and yeah, SD is solid at WR.

If Cooks wants to live in San Diego but isn't playing for the Chargers, then maybe he should consider the next best option which is another team located in Southern California.... like say the one in Los Angeles. Cooks gives them a nice 1-2 punch with Britt. OR maybe a different team in California. The Niners, who badly need talent at WR.

Anyways, thoughts on Cooks this week? Thinking of benching him for Inman and Gabriel.

 
They already have a Cooks in LA and his name is Austin.
Cooks and Austin are the same, its just Cooks has Brees and Austin has trash.
Slowly hating Cooks of late. Score and stop dropping passes.
Cooks? I wont play him to save my life this week if I had to.
Starting JJ Nelson over him with unequivocal joy.

I have dreams and big plans of a trophy, and with his sucky play I wont get that.

 
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Cooks now has 70/1056/8 on 102 targets in his age 23 season. His usage is frustrating, but he is still a guy I am happy to be heavily invested in for dynasty. When he finally gets WR1 targets, look out. 

 
jtd13 said:
Cooks now has 70/1056/8 on 102 targets in his age 23 season. His usage is frustrating, but he is still a guy I am happy to be heavily invested in for dynasty. When he finally gets WR1 targets, look out. 
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Yeah I'm hoping for a trade. He's a WR1 but New Orleans doesn't view him like that so hopefully they trade him to a team that will build their offense around him.

 
jtd13 said:
Cooks now has 70/1056/8 on 102 targets in his age 23 season. His usage is frustrating, but he is still a guy I am happy to be heavily invested in for dynasty. When he finally gets WR1 targets, look out. 
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I am totally done with this fool.  Djax 2.0.  Absolutely killed my team most weeks.  Then when I bench him he goes off.  Worst type of player to own.  He was on my bench this week. He has sucked lately.  And Patrick Peterson.  And yada yada.    Djax flashbacks everywhere.  So painful lol.  

Thank goodness I won today without him.  But I was practically throwing stuff at my tv watching this fool go off today.  

I would only draft him as a wr4 if he fell to me next year.  Which pretty much means he won't be on any of my teams BC some other fool will bite on him.  

Too many mouths to feed in no.  

 
WheelsUp said:
They already have a Cooks in LA and his name is Austin.
Cooks and Austin are the same, its just Cooks has Brees and Austin has trash.
Slowly hating Cooks of late. Score and stop dropping passes.
Cooks? I wont play him to save my life this week if I had to.
Starting JJ Nelson over him with unequivocal joy.

I have dreams and big plans of a trophy, and with his sucky play I wont get that.
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Lol, Austin cant hold Cooks jock

 
rickyg said:
I am totally done with this fool.  Djax 2.0.  Absolutely killed my team most weeks.  Then when I bench him he goes off.  Worst type of player to own.  He was on my bench this week. He has sucked lately.  And Patrick Peterson.  And yada yada.    Djax flashbacks everywhere.  So painful lol.  

Thank goodness I won today without him.  But I was practically throwing stuff at my tv watching this fool go off today.  

I would only draft him as a wr4 if he fell to me next year.  Which pretty much means he won't be on any of my teams BC some other fool will bite on him.  

Too many mouths to feed in no.  
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I'm happy to have him, he pretty much won the game for me this week (TBD but looking good).  He's inconsistent as anything but as my #2 in a 32 team league, I'll take it. 

 
BigTex said:
FF
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Well I'm not dumping him that's for sure. I'm more talking about the Saints. I think they will look to move him this offseason. If i was to trade him I'd want WR1 return but this year the draft looks good so a high 1st and a WR prospect I like would probably do it but trade Cooks at your own risk. If he gets traded by the Saints to a team that features him more he will explode.

 
I like to have a WR like him in a start 3 WR league. When he goes off, you win the week. Pad him with two other steady eddies (who tend to come cheap) to hedge.

 
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