Who Should I Start? Keenan Allen or Brandin Cooks

Thursday, January 8, 12:08 PM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen was the team's leading receiver in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos and he caught seven passes, his most since a season-high 11 grabs back on Oct. 19. However, Allen had just 36 yards on Sunday with backup quarterback Trey Lance getting the starting nod with the Bolts resting Justin Herbert. The week prior, the 33-year-old Allen had just one catch for 17 yards in the loss to the Houston Texans. Allen has not scored since Week 7 and hasn't gone over 50 receiving yards in a contest since Week 11 against the Jaguars. He is a trustworthy security blanket for Herbert, the problem is that L.A.'s beat-up offensive line doesn't give Herbert much time to find his receivers. All of the Chargers' wideouts are shaky fantasy options going into the postseason against a Patriots defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest half-PPR points per game to WRs in the last five weeks.

Friday, January 16, 11:30 PM

Buffalo Bills veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks was traded from the New Orleans Saints to Buffalo late in the 2025 season. In his five regular-season games with the Bills, Cooks caught five of 11 targets for 114 yards. The 32-year-old deep threat has seven receptions on 11 targets for 159 yards in the last two games against the Eagles and Jaguars, though. He caught three of five targets for 58 yards in the Wild-Card win over the Jaguars, with most of his yardage coming on a 36-yard pickup. Cooks relies on chunk gains deep down the field, which could be a problem against a solid Denver Broncos' defense in the Divisional Round on Saturday. The Bills will need Cooks to step up, though, with both Gabe Davis (knee) and Tyrell Shavers (knee) out with torn ACLs. Denver's defense gave up the fifth-fewest half-PPR points per game to WRs during the regular season and tied with the Eagles for the fewest TDs allowed at six.