The New Orleans Saints invested a first-round pick into wide receiver Brandin Cooks last year with the hope that he could eventually become Drew Brees' No. 1 target. Before Cooks suffered a season-ending injury ten games into last season, that plan seemed to be going well. Cooks racked up 53 receptions for 550 yards and three touchdowns. He also impressed in limited action as a ball carrier and punt returner. His versatility makes him an enticing offensive talent and now fully healthy, a potential breakout fantasy football candidate.
ESPN Fantasy Football writer Mike Clay compares him to Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and believes a big year is on the horizon.
"Ok, this one isn't apples to apples, but we'll call it addition by subtraction," Clay wrote. "Where Sanders had to head from Pittsburgh to Denver to explode onto the WR1 radar, Cooks achieves the same by watching other depart. Gone are Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills, which pushed Cooks to the top of the high-volume, high-scoring Saints' target totem pole. The 20th-overall pick in last year's draft, Cooks ranked 24th among wideouts in fantasy points before suffering a season-ending thumb injury. Still only 21 years old, Cooks has 4.3 wheels and is surely a candidate for 90-plus catches with Drew Brees on the other end of the battery. Like Sanders one year ago, Cooks is well worth the early-round investment."
Although Cooks is being ranked higher than proven, safer commodities such as DeAndre Hopkins, Jeremy Maclin and Brandon Marshall, there is no denying his considerable upside. The Saints may be transitioning to a more balanced offensive attack, but Brees will likely still air it out upwards of 35 times per game. As the top option in the passing game, Cooks is in line for a significant amount of targets this season.