Brandin Cooks
Wide Receiver #3
Brandin Cooks News
Brandin Cooks a Waiver Option With Expanded Receiving Opportunity
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandin Cooks is a speculative addition in 12-team leagues for managers seeking immediate receiver help, but his limited target production makes him a risky Week 7 flex option. He could see his largest workload of the season against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7, with Mike Evans (ribs, Achilles) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) ruled out, and the matchup is favorable, as Atlanta has surrendered the most receptions and fourth-most receiving yards to opposing wide receivers this season. Cooks took over Evans' outside receiver role after the veteran exited Monday's win over the Washington Commanders, playing a season-high 32 offensive snaps (52%), but he caught just one of two targets for 13 yards and has only two receptions for 20 yards and a touchdown across three games. Jordan Watkins played 47 snaps against Washington, while Christian Kirk (calf) is questionable after practicing fully throughout the week and could return.
Oct 24, 2026 11:19 AM EST
Brandin Cooks Could Have Greater Impact Amid WR Injuries
San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandin Cooks has not been very involved in the offense since joining the team three weeks ago, but stands to take a step forward in Week 7. In Week 6, injuries to Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) and Mike Evans (ribs, Achilles) opened the door for Cooks to be on the field for more than 50% of offensive plays for the first time. Both receivers have been ruled out for Week 7, pushing Cooks up the depth chart and positioning him to soak up some of their target share. Cooks will still have to contend with Jordan Watkins and possibly Christian Kirk (calf) for looks behind George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey, making him a somewhat risky start. There is the potential for a big week, as the Falcons have given up the most receptions, fourth-most receiving yards, and seventh-most half-PPR points to wide receivers. Cooks projects as a WR4 going into Week 7. His matchup elevates his ceiling, making him a worthwhile gamble in deeper leagues.
Oct 24, 2026 1:22 AM EST
Brandin Cooks Could See Expanded Role in Week 7
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandin Cooks should see an expanded role in Week 7. Over two games, Cooks has caught two of four targets for 20 yards and a touchdown while playing just 34% of snaps. The veteran receiver signed with the 49ers' practice squad in late September after multiple key receivers went down early in the season. While the 49ers are 6-0, their wide receiver room is deteriorating, with Mike Evans (Achilles) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) trending towards possibly missing their Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The current room includes Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, and potentially Christian Kirk (calf) if he's activated off the PUP list. Although he's struggled to start his tenure with San Francisco, Cooks has a legitimate opportunity to start for one of the NFL's most high-powered passing attacks. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should consider rostering the 33-year-old receiver, especially if they're dealing with bye weeks and injuries this week.
Oct 21, 2026 5:18 AM EST
Brandin Cooks A Pivot Option Amid Injuries To Teammates
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandin Cooks had one catch in his team debut last week, but it was good for a seven-yard touchdown. Amid injuries to Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) and Mike Evans (ribs, Achilles), Cooks was mostly rotated into two-WR sets, and his snap share was nearly equal to that of Samuel, Jacob Cowing (ankle), and Jordan Watkins. With Samuel ruled out for Week 6, and Evans questionable after not practicing all week, Cooks might take another step forward on Monday night. The 49ers will host the Commanders in the final game of the slate, and Washington has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2026. Cooks currently projects as a WR5 in Week 6. He is best suited for deep leagues and is worth stashing elsewhere as a late pivot option for teams rostering Evans.
Oct 17, 2026 1:45 PM EST
Brandin Cooks the Next Man Up in San Fran's Banged-Up WR Corps
San Francisco 49ers veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) suffered a significant hamstring strain in the third quarter of Sunday's Week 5 win over the division-rival Seattle Seahawks and will miss "some time." It points to a bigger role for veteran Brandin Cooks, who played almost every snap after Samuel led, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. The 33-year-old Cooks caught one of his two targets for a seven-yard touchdown after not catching his only target in the Week 4 win over the Denver Broncos in his debut with the 49ers. Ricky Pearsall (knee) is out for the season, and De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle), Demarcus Robinson (ankle), and Christian Kirk (calf) all remain on Injured Reserve, so the 49ers' receiving corps is among the most banged-up units around the league. Veteran Mike Evans continues to battle injuries as well, so Cooks should become a much bigger part of the team's passing attack now that Samuel will also miss a couple of weeks. Cooks has six career 1,000-yard receiving seasons and caught 24 passes for 279 yards and no touchdowns in 15 games last year with the New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills. He is not currently rostered in any Yahoo leagues, but Cooks is worth a look for WR depth in deeper formats with his role set to grow, starting in Week 6 on Monday night versus the Washington Commanders.
Oct 13, 2026 8:15 AM EST
Brandin Cooks a Riskier Week 5 Play Despite Veteran Status
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandin Cooks should be active for Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks, given the number of injuries plaguing the rest of the receiver room. As a result, he is starting to warrant some consideration as a low-end flex option in fantasy football. The Niners are marching into this divisional battle shorthanded on both sides of the ball, but perhaps no position group has been impacted by injuries more than the wide receivers. With Mike Evans (ribs) questionable and De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle), Christian Kirk (calf), and Demarcus Robinson (ankle) all sidelined, the 49ers will turn to a group of Cooks, Deebo Samuel Sr., and Jacob Cowing to step up. Evans played through his rib injury last week, keeping Cooks and Cowing off the fantasy radar. However, if the veteran receiver isn't able to play on Sunday, we could see one of Cooks or Cowing possess some flex appeal alongside Samuel. Cooks can be left on waivers for now, but he's not a bad streamer once the inactives are announced and we know whether Evans will be playing.
Oct 10, 2026 7:35 AM EST
Brandin Cooks to Have Role in Week 4 Given 49ers Injuries
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandin Cooks is expected to make his debut in Week 4 against the Denver Broncos. Cooks signed with the 49ers' practice squad, was promoted to the active roster on Thursday, and is set to play Sunday. The veteran receiver played 15 games with the New Orleans Saints and the Buffalo Bills last season, hauling in 24 of 36 targets for 279 yards and no touchdowns. With Mike Evans (ribs) questionable and De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle), Christian Kirk (calf), and Demarcus Robinson on injured reserve, Cooks will likely slot in alongside Deebo Samuel Sr., Jordan Watson, and Jacob Cowing. While he faces a difficult test against the Broncos' stout secondary, Cooks could be a receiver to watch if he has success in Week 4.
Oct 3, 2026 8:24 AM EST
Brandin Cooks Signed to 49ers Active Roster
The San Francisco 49ers have signed veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks from their practice squad to their active roster, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN. The 49ers wide receiver room has been ravaged by injuries so far this year, with Ricky Pearsall (knee) out for the season and De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) and Demarcus Robinson (ankle) both currently on Injured Reserve. The injuries don't stop there, as WR1 Mike Evans (rib) and depth piece KhaDarel Hodge (knee) are both questionable for the team's Week 4 matchup against the Denver Broncos. If Evans and/or Hodge are unable to play against Denver, Cooks would join wideouts Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowings as the top complementary options to Deebo Samuel Sr. The 33-year-old Cooks recorded 24 catches for 279 yards on 36 targets across 15 games split between the New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills in 2025. In deeper fantasy leagues, he could be worth a speculative add given the injury situation in San Francisco.
Oct 1, 2026 12:25 PM EST
Brandin Cooks Signing With 49ers' Practice Squad
Veteran free-agent wide receiver Brandin Cooks is signing with the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad on Tuesday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Initially, Cooks will be on the practice squad to get up to speed for games. The 13-year veteran and former first-rounder from Oregon State is 189 yards short of 10,000 receiving yards for his NFL career. The 32-year-old is a well-traveled journeyman as well, having played for six teams already while recording six 1,000-yard seasons, including four straight years from 2015 to 2018 with the New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, and Los Angeles Rams. The Niners' WR depth has been decimated, first with Ricky Pearsall (knee) going out for the year, and then rookie De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) being lost for 10 weeks. Demarcus Robinson suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins, and veteran Mike Evans also injured his hip, although he is expected to be fine. Cooks might need some time to get up to speed while learning a new offense, but do not count him out as a potential deep-league streamer in the future in 2026, depending on the state of the 49ers' WR room by then.
Sep 22, 2026 2:10 PM EST
Ravens Work Out Brandin Cooks Amid WR Injuries
The Baltimore Ravens worked out veteran free-agent wide receiver Brandin Cooks on Thursday, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. The Ravens' receiving depth is going to be tested early in the 2026 season after rookie Ja'Kobi Lane suffered a fractured wrist in the Week 1 season-opening win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, and top wideout Zay Flowers (hamstring) is also questionable to play in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. With both Flowers and Lane potentially out this weekend, Baltimore could be looking at a starting three-wide set of veteran Rashod Bateman, rookie Elijah Sarratt, and Devontez Walker. The soon-to-be 33-year-old Cooks has six 1,000-yard receiving seasons to his name in 12 NFL seasons, but his last one came in 2021 with the Houston Texans. Cooks played in 15 games with the Saints and Buffalo Bills last year and had only 24 catches for 279 yards and zero touchdowns. He could be a short-term solution for the Ravens for extra depth at the position, but if he signs, he will be a long shot to return significant value in fantasy football leagues, especially as soon as this weekend.
Sep 17, 2026 2:01 PM EST
Brandin Cooks Wants to Sign With a Team Before Training Camp
Veteran free-agent wide receiver Brandin Cooks intends to be on a roster within the next few weeks before training camps start around the NFL, according to Tim Graham of The Athletic. Cooks' agent, Ryan Tollner, said plenty of contending teams have extended offers to his client, but the 32-year-old veteran's preference is to run it back with the Buffalo Bills. "Obviously, Buffalo is the place I'd love to be," Cooks said. "I want to prove that to them and have a full offseason with them. Both sides are figuring things out. We'll see, but hopefully something transpires because I love going to training camp. That's where you build that callus." He's exactly 189 yards from reaching the 10,000-yard mark for his career, something only 52 WRs have done before. Cooks has never made the Pro Bowl despite being the only player to have three straight 1,000-yard seasons with different teams. The former first-rounder by the New Orleans Saints in 2014 caught 24 of 36 targets for 279 yards and no touchdowns in 15 regular-season games (five starts) with the Saints and Bills last year. If he latches on with a team this summer, Cooks will be battling to make the 53-man roster out of camp.
Jul 10, 2026 9:25 AM EST
Brandin Cooks a Boom/Bust Dart Throw Going into Divisional Round
Buffalo Bills veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks was traded from the New Orleans Saints to Buffalo late in the 2025 season. In his five regular-season games with the Bills, Cooks caught five of 11 targets for 114 yards. The 32-year-old deep threat has seven receptions on 11 targets for 159 yards in the last two games against the Eagles and Jaguars, though. He caught three of five targets for 58 yards in the Wild-Card win over the Jaguars, with most of his yardage coming on a 36-yard pickup. Cooks relies on chunk gains deep down the field, which could be a problem against a solid Denver Broncos' defense in the Divisional Round on Saturday. The Bills will need Cooks to step up, though, with both Gabe Davis (knee) and Tyrell Shavers (knee) out with torn ACLs. Denver's defense gave up the fifth-fewest half-PPR points per game to WRs during the regular season and tied with the Eagles for the fewest TDs allowed at six.
Jan 16, 2026 11:30 PM EST
Brandin Cooks Earning Larger Role in Buffalo Entering the Playoffs?
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks has mostly played a minimal role since signing with the team in late November. However, Cooks had a breakout game in Week 17 against the Philadelphia Eagles, recording four catches for 101 yards on six targets. The Bills have been searching for a reliable wide receiver option to pair with wideout Khalil Shakir for most of the season. Notably, Cooks was among the players Buffalo chose to rest during their Week 18 regular-season finale against the New York Jets. While the Bills will likely continue to rotate wide receivers, Cooks' Week 18 status could indicate the team plans to heavily feature him in its Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 32-year-old has postseason experience, recording 35 receptions for 494 yards across seven career playoff games. Cooks had just five total catches across five games played for Buffalo this season, so expectations should remain limited. However, Cooks could be an under-the-radar wide receiver option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.
Jan 6, 2026 9:48 PM EST
Brandin Cooks Won't Play Against Jets in Week 18
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks (coach's decision) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New York Jets. He is a healthy scratch after he didn't carry an injury designation into this weekend. Cooks had the best game of his short Bills tenure last week, catching four passes for 101 yards. Now, he'll have a chance to rest before Buffalo embarks on its playoff run. Keon Coleman is active following a two-game absence and will take Cooks' place in the lineup. Coleman will join Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer, Tyrell Shavers, and Gabe Davis as the Bills' active receivers on Sunday.
Jan 4, 2026 3:37 PM EST
Brandin Cooks Steps Up as Deep Threat for Bills Offense
Out of nowhere, Buffalo Bills veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks led the team in receiving yards (101) while catching four of his six targets in the Week 17 loss to the visiting Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The Bills needed someone to step up in the passing attack with tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) out due to injury and receiver Keon Coleman being a healthy scratch. The 32-year-old Cooks hooked up with quarterback Josh Allen a few times deep down the field and averaged a healthy 25.3 yards per reception in his fifth game with the team. In the first four games with Buffalo, Cooks had only one catch on five targets for one yard. Although Cooks may be more of a long shot to replicate his production from Week 17 going forward, he might have done enough to secure a bigger role going into the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Jets and into the postseason.
Dec 30, 2025 6:19 PM EST
Is Brandin Cooks Fantasy Relevant in Buffalo?
Former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks signed with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday and figures to immediately factor into the Bills' plan at wide receiver in some capacity. The Bills have been tinkering with their wide receivers on the roster over the past few weeks, trying to find the right combination on the field. They signed the former Buffalo Bill Gabe Davis back to the roster along with former Kansas City Chiefs wideout Mecole Hardman, but then he was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury. Second-year wideout Keon Coleman has served as a healthy inactive for the past two games for disciplinary reasons. Cooks will have an opportunity to make an impact, although it will take him some time to get up to speed. The veteran hasn't shown much in the past two seasons with the Saints and Cowboys, but he isn't too far removed from a solid 2023 season with the Cowboys, where he recorded 54 receptions for 657 yards and eight touchdowns on eight targets in 16 games. Cooks could be worth monitoring over the next few weeks to see how he is integrated into the offense.
Nov 26, 2025 12:45 AM EST
Brandin Cooks Signs With Bills
The Buffalo Bills have signed former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks to their active roster, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Cooks played 10 games for the Saints this season before reaching an agreement with the team to be released on November 22. The former first-round pick in 2014 cleared waivers and had the option to sign anywhere, ultimately choosing to sign with the contending Bills, who need wide receiver help. The 12-year veteran didn't show much in his time with the Saints this season, catching 19 of his 25 targets for 165 yards and no touchdowns, but he should have a chance to immediately contribute in Buffalo.
Nov 25, 2025 4:42 PM EST
Brandin Cooks Waived by Saints
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks was waived by the organization on Saturday. The two sides mutually agreed to part ways earlier this week, but the move is official now. The veteran wideout is now a free agent and could draw some interest from teams in playoff contention. Through 10 games, Cooks hauled in 19 of his 25 targets for 165 receiving yards with zero touchdowns this season. The 32-year-old hasn't contributed much the last few seasons, but could still help as a depth option on a playoff team. The departure of Cooks could mean more playing time for Devaughn Vele and Mason Tipton.
Nov 22, 2025 6:21 PM EST
Brandin Cooks and Saints Part Ways
The New Orleans Saints released wide receiver Brandin Cooks on Wednesday, giving the veteran a chance to land elsewhere. The 32-year-old pass catcher has recorded just 19 receptions this season for 165 yards despite appearing in every game. The departure of Cooks opens the door for Devaughn Vele and Mason Tipton to see expanded roles behind Chris Olave in the Saints' wide receiver room. Vele grabbed an 87% snap share last week, despite converting just one of three targets for 15 yards. Look for the Saints to heavily lean on Olave and running back Alvin Kamara as rookie quarterback Tyler Shough builds his confidence in just his third career start Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons
Nov 19, 2025 2:34 PM EST
Brandin Cooks Headed for Increased Role After Teammate's Trade
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks will take on an increased workload after Rashid Shaheed was traded to the Seattle Seahawks. Cooks is expected to operate as the Saints' No. 2 receiver behind Chris Olave for the rest of the season, starting with Sunday's Week 10 contest against the Carolina Panthers. The veteran is likely second or third in the pecking order for targets, working behind Olave and perhaps tight end Juwan Johnson, too. While New Orleans' offense has struggled this season, they've also been playing from behind in most of their games, creating additional volume for the passing game, led by Tyler Shough. An uptick in targets could be enough to generate low-end WR3/flex appeal for Cooks in deeper leagues. He's a solid speculative stash in deep formats, while managers in leagues with 12 or fewer teams can keep an eye on him.
Nov 8, 2025 10:23 AM EST
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