Who Should I Start? Brandin Cooks or Alec Pierce

Saturday, September 6, 11:01 AM

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks returns to the Big Easy after previously playing with the team from 2014-2016. Last year in Dallas, he caught 26 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games. Cooks was named one of eight team captains ahead of Week 1 against the Cardinals and is listed as a starter. However, he'll have to compete with Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and star running back Alvin Kamara for targets while second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler is under center. For fantasy purposes, Cooks should be off radars, with only slight appeal if any of the primary pass-catchers miss time.

Wednesday, October 8, 12:13 PM

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) will practice on Wednesday, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Pierce has missed the last two games with a concussion, but he is trending in the right direction to make his return in Week 6 on Sunday versus the visiting Arizona Cardinals. It looked like Pierce was going to play last week in the win over the Las Vegas Raiders after he was a full-go in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but he had a setback on Friday and was not cleared from the NFL's concussion protocol. If he can avoid a setback this week, Pierce could be active as Indy's WR3 next to Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. The 25-year-old has nine catches on 13 targets for 171 yards and no touchdowns in his three games this year. If Pierce is active, he'll be in play as a WR4/flex in deeper fantasy leagues against the Cards.