Brandin Cooks's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) was listed as a limited practice participant due to rest purposes in the first practice of the week on Thursday. Cooks made his return to the field in the Thanksgiving Day win over the division-rival New York Giants last Thursday for the first time since Week 4 due to a knee infection that required surgery. It was a successful return, as the 31-year-old veteran found the end zone, albeit on three catches for only 16 yards. Dallas is likely just resting Cooks after his first game back last week, meaning he should be active this Sunday to face the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. The matchup against Cincy is an excellent one, although Cooks will remain a low-upside, touchdown-dependent WR5/flex for fantasy managers, especially with it looking like tight end Jake Ferguson will return from a two-game absence due to a concussion.

According to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas News, Dallas Cowboys wide receivers CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) and Brandin Cooks (knee) were not seen at practice on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to their initial status on the practice report on Thursday, as the Cowboys do not play until Monday evening. Lamb aggravated a previous shoulder injury during their Week 13 victory over the New York Giants, while Cooks returned from his seven-game absence this past weekend. Fantasy managers should not be overly concerned if both wideouts remain limited participants during the initial practice sessions of the week. Lamb should be viewed as a top-12 option on Monday evening, and Cooks as a lower-end flex facing a weak Cincinnati secondary.

The Athletic's Saad Yousuf does not believe that veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks will return to the team in 2025. Cooks is a strong presence in the locker room, but his production the last two seasons has fallen short of expectations as the No. 2 behind CeeDee Lamb. If the Cowboys also feel the same way about Cooks' future, they could give more playing time to rookie Ryan Flournoy and recent acquisition Jonathan Mingo for the rest of the season. Dallas sent a fourth-round draft pick to the Carolina Panthers for Mingo and might want to get a head start on evaluating him for their 2025 roster. The 31-year-old Cooks has six 1,000-yard seasons in his 11 NFL seasons, but he's slowed down the last two years in Dallas and has also played in only five games in 2024 due to injury. If the Cowboys move on from Cooks after this year, they could look to replace him with another veteran pass-catcher.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks found paydirt for the first time since Week 1 during the team's Thanksgiving win over the New York Giants. He hauled in three of his seven targets for 16 yards and a touchdown. This was his first game back after a seven-game absence and he tied his season-high in targets. Despite his lack of production, Cooks averages 6.5 targets per game this season. His next chance to capitalize on those targets will be against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) was activated from Injured Reserve on Wednesday and was also removed from the final Week 13 injury report, suggesting that he'll be active for the Thanksgiving game on Thursday versus the division-rival New York Giants. Cooks was limited on Monday and Tuesday before upgrading to full participation on Wednesday. The 31-year-old veteran pass-catcher needed surgery for a knee infection earlier this year and hasn't played since the first meeting against the Giants on Sept. 26, when he went for only one catch on four targets for 16 yards. Cooks' return is good news for Dallas' offense, but with quarterback Cooper Rush now running the show, he'll have even less fantasy appeal for the rest of 2024 and could operate as the No. 3 wideout on Thursday behind CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert.