Who Should I Start? Brandin Cooks or Josh Downs

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Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.		 Rush.
Yds.		 Rush
TD		 Rec. Rec.
Yds.		 Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Brandin Cooks News

Brandin Cooks Wants to Sign With a Team Before Training Camp

Friday, July 10, 9:25 AM

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.

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Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.		 Rush.
Yds.		 Rush
TD		 Rec. Rec.
Yds.		 Rec
TD
10.3 0.5 0.0 4.3 44.6 0.2

Josh Downs News

Josh Downs Primed for Career Year in Indy?

Wednesday, July 15, 10:02 AM

The Athletic's James Boyd lists Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs as a breakout candidate in 2026 after the departures of Adonai Mitchell and Michael Pittman Jr., who were traded to the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively. Alec Pierce (ankle) is also recovering from offseason surgery that could slow him down early on. Downs is an established receiver in the NFL, having recorded 2,140 yards and 11 touchdowns on 198 receptions in his three years in the league. However, the 24-year-old former third-rounder from the University of North Carolina in 2023 is coming off a career-low 566 receiving yards in 2025. Downs should have more opportunities in his fourth year in the NFL, though, and he'll be motivated as he enters a contract year if he plans on cashing in next offseason on the free-agent market. There's more risk in the Colts' offense as a whole with quarterback Daniel Jones coming off a torn Achilles tendon, the increase in route share and per-route target rate should be enough to put Downs on fantasy managers' radars as a great value pick in the later rounds of drafts. RotoBaller currently has Downs ranked as the No. 42 fantasy WR for 2026.

Brandin Cooks vs. Josh Downs

Still trying to decide between Cooks and Downs? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Brandin Cooks is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Josh Downs is projected to score 10.3 points.