Jared Cook in Ideal Spot for Fantasy with Saints

Can Jared Cook finally fill the massive fantasy shoes left behind by Jimmy Graham in 2015?

Fantasy owners have been chasing after the Saints’ “Next Jimmy Graham” since 2015. After slugging through Coby Fleener, Josh Hill, and Ben Watson’s corpse, we finally have a real shot with new arrival Jared Cook.

In 2018, Cook set career highs in tgts (101), receptions (68), yards (896), and TDs (6) en route to a TE5 finish. Now in the perfect new home in New Orleans, Cook should have every shot at replicating, if not exceeding, these totals.

His “Surrounding Talent” score gets an obvious bump up now catching passes from an all-timer in Drew Brees. Equally important, Cook is now in an attack that lives in the Red Zone, where his 6’5″ frame and 39.5 vertical can be maximized. Plus, we know Sean Payton can scheme up creative usage for his size-speed mismatches. He’ll have plenty to work with in Cook, who hails from a spread attack and has long been more of a glorified WR, plus may have ran a 4.37 forty.

Meanwhile, Cook is unlikely to top 100 targets again, but this isn’t a crowded target share, either. Behind Alpha Hog Michael Thomas and the smooth Alvin Kamara, the Saints lack a consistent next option. Cook could easily slide into this No.3 role, again especially in the Red Zone.

Yes, Cook has been inconsistent throughout his career. Even in last year’s career-best, Cook still went under double digits in 9 of 16 games. His TE5 finish was buoyed heavily by a few monsters.

Still, this is a freakish athlete, playing in one of the league’s most explosive offenses, catching passes from a future HOFer, with a play caller who will know how to use him best. Cook’s ceiling is truly limitless, and he belongs inside everyone’s Top-7 TEs. He now sits at 61 overall, over 150 spots higher, with this ideal landing spot.

Author

  • Founder of Roto Street Journal. Lover of workhorse backs, target hog wideouts, and Game of Thrones. Aspiring to be the "Brady" and "Leo" of the fantasy universe.

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