Who Should I Start? Keenan Allen or Brandin Cooks

Tuesday, November 18, 12:48 AM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen was the only bright spot in the team's disastrous 35-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, posting four receptions for 53 yards on six targets. He led the team in every receiving category on a day when Justin Herbert threw for just 81 yards, and the offense gained only 135 total yards. Allen's route rate had been trending down in recent weeks, but the veteran stepped up while the rest of the offense struggled to function. Even in a historically bad performance, Allen delivered a useful 9.3 PPR points. As the Chargers head into their desperately needed Week 12 bye, Allen still proves to be a reliable pass catcher heading into the fantasy playoff push.

Saturday, November 8, 10:23 AM

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks will take on an increased workload after Rashid Shaheed was traded to the Seattle Seahawks. Cooks is expected to operate as the Saints' No. 2 receiver behind Chris Olave for the rest of the season, starting with Sunday's Week 10 contest against the Carolina Panthers. The veteran is likely second or third in the pecking order for targets, working behind Olave and perhaps tight end Juwan Johnson, too. While New Orleans' offense has struggled this season, they've also been playing from behind in most of their games, creating additional volume for the passing game, led by Tyler Shough. An uptick in targets could be enough to generate low-end WR3/flex appeal for Cooks in deeper leagues. He's a solid speculative stash in deep formats, while managers in leagues with 12 or fewer teams can keep an eye on him.