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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) has missed six games and has been out of action for seven weeks due to a knee issue he picked up after Week 4. He developed an infection in his knee, underwent minor surgery to fix the procedure, and has been rehabbing ever since.
Cooks was the clear WR2 when he was healthy. Obviously, WR CeeDee Lamb is the No. 1, and that isn't changing. But while No. 3 has been on IR, the Cowboys traded for wideout Jonathan Mingo from the Carolina Panthers. Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, and even Ryan Flournoy have also become more involved.
So, will Cooks be a starter when he returns? Here is the latest outlook on the Cowboys' wide receiver.
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Will Brandin Cooks Start for the Cowboys When He Returns?
Yes. Despite the heavier involvement of the other receivers and the trade for Mingo (which team owner Jerry Jones widely planned as a self-fleece), none of the team's other wideouts have separated themselves from opposing coverages or from each other enough to clearly take over the WR2 role.
KaVontae Turpin is the only man that can save the Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/PlAx49olqp
— Barstool TCU (@BarstoolTCU) November 19, 2024
Though the team now officially has the fastest man in the league, and he burned the opposing Houston Texans defense for a long touchdown in Week 11, he hasn't been a consistent contributor in the passing game due to his lack of route-running ability. Cooks is an excellent route-runner, and that's more important than pure speed for WRs.
Dak to Brandin Cooks! First Cowboys TD of the year!
📺: #DALvsCLE on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/VQ2JNW3GE1— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
Cooks will, at worst, be the WR3 upon his return. Tolbert has racked up 388 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 10 games, so it's possible he could side into the WR2 spot, but that would probably happen later on when the team has had more time to evaluate how they play when both are on the field.
It's also possible Cooks returns and isn't 100% healthy, in which case he could see reduced snaps.
Brandin Cooks Fantasy Football Outlook
No matter what his role is, there may be no trustworthy startable players in fantasy for Dallas due to the injury to QB1 Dak Prescott (hamstring), who is out for the season. The offense has been ineffective, with backup signal caller Cooper Rush running the show.
CeeDee Lamb is pretty upset with Cooper Rush accuracy of throws. You can see him looking to the Cowboys sideline and shaking his head. pic.twitter.com/CuwjXizgqC
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) November 19, 2024
There is potential for garbage time production, though. Rush threw for 354 yards on the last installment of Monday Night Football. The now 31-year-old pass-catcher should, therefore, be a WR3/FLEX in PPR leagues when he's healthy, but he'll be a risky start nonetheless.
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