Who Should I Start? Brandin Cooks or Quentin Johnston

Friday, March 21, 3:11 PM

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks has inked a two-year $13 million deal with the New Orleans Saints, per Mike Garafolo -- the 31-year-old returns to the team that drafted him. Cooks was plagued by a knee injury in 2024 -- an MCL sprain that evolved into an infection -- forcing him from seven games. Still, he was the team's clear No. 2 wideout ahead of Jalen Tolbert when healthy. Despite the time missed, he'd score the third-most receiving touchdowns (three) of any Cowboys pass-catcher. Whether or not Cooks will make an impact in fantasy is unclear. However, he provides a valuable second option on the field alongside teammate Chris Olave, with Rashid Shaheed's (knee) status undetermined after a mid-season meniscus injury.

Saturday, August 16, 11:28 PM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (concussion) exited Saturday's one-point loss to the Rams after taking a hard hit. Johnston was transported to the hospital for further evaluation as a "precaution,' with head coach Jim Harbaugh revealing the wideout was diagnosed with a concussion. While the news is encouraging, the team will presumably take the cautious approach. As a result, Johnston's status for Saturday's preseason finale versus the 49ers is in question, although fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he's not out there for that one. The 23-year-old is coming off a productive season, finishing the 2024 campaign with 55 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns. Unfortunately, the latest injury could cause Johnston's fantasy stock to drop even more, especially since he will battle for targets with Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, Tre' Harris, and Keandre Lambert-Smith throughout the year.