Who Should I Start? Brandin Cooks or Curtis Samuel

Saturday, October 11, 12:12 PM

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks has recorded 12 catches for 103 yards on 16 targets across five games so far this season. The 32-year-old has served as the team's WR3 alongside Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, but if Week 5 is any indication, Cooks could be losing playing time. In Week 5, Cooks played just five more offensive snaps than Saints wideout Devaughn Vele after playing 56 more offensive snaps than Vele in Week 4. In Week 6, the Saints will take on the New England Patriots, who rank fifth-worst in yards per pass attempt allowed (8.2) through five games. Still, Cooks appears unlikely to see enough target volume to be fantasy relevant and could be losing playing time altogether in New England. Cooks should remain off the radar of fantasy managers in Week 6.

Monday, October 13, 6:21 PM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel (neck, ribs) is officially inactive for the Monday night contest on the road against the Atlanta Falcons, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. In addition to Samuel, the Bills' offense will be missing tight end Dalton Kincaid (oblique) against what has been a much-improved Atlanta defense so far in 2025. The 29-year-old Samuel hasn't been on the fantasy radar to begin with, but his absence on Monday means less depth in the wideout corps for Buffalo behind Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Joshua Palmer. The Bills have their bye coming in Week 7, so hopefully Samuel will be ready to go for a Week 8 contest against the Carolina Panthers. Samuel has only been active for two games so far in 2025 and has caught three of his four targets for 35 yards and one touchdown. He had just one TD in 14 games a year ago for Buffalo and should remain on the waiver wire.