Who Should I Start? Brandin Cooks or Josh Downs

Wednesday, November 26, 12:45 AM

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.

Saturday, December 13, 1:01 PM

Across 12 games this season, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has recorded 44 receptions for 393 yards and three touchdowns on 65 targets. Downs has earned at least five targets in four out of his last five contests, but he's failed to crack 50 receiving yards in a game since Week 9. In Week 15, the Colts will turn to 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to replace the injured Daniel Jones (Achilles), who was lost for the season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Week 14. It's hard to project what Rivers will bring to the table for Downs and the Colts' pass-catchers, as Rivers has not played in an NFL game since the 2020 season. One certain thing is that Indianapolis faces a difficult matchup in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks. Entering the weekend, Seattle ranks first among NFL defenses in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.0). Between the tough matchup and the Colts' quarterback uncertainty, Downs should likely be avoided by fantasy managers in Week 15.