Brandin

Cooks

Cooks finished second on the team in targets, catches, and yards, but failed to find himself on the receiving end of any of Cooper Rush’s three touchdowns tosses. Those went to CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, and Jalen Brooks. Cooks has operated as the Cowboys’ No. 2 receiver since returning to the lineup in Week 13. Despite the notable role, his 34 yards today are a high-water mark since his return. He barely registers as a WR6 heading into his Week 16 date with the Bucs.

Cooks’ only reception went for a three-yard score in the third quarter to knot the game at 17. Quarterback Cooper Rush targeted a ridiculous 11 pass-catchers, leaving only CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson to see more than a modest four targets. Up next for Cooks and the Cowboys are the Panthers on the road in Week 15.

“He’s been a strong presence in the locker room but the production these past two seasons in Dallas have fallen well short of the expectation,” Yousuf writes. Cooks produced a 54/657/8 season in 2023, but has missed much of this year with a knee infection and has just a 12/107/2 line in five starts. Cooks is a free agent at the end of the season and, entering his age-32 season, is likely closer to not being a big part of an NFL offense ever again than he is of a rebound year in 2025.

Cooks had the most targets of any Dallas receiver in a game where CeeDee Lamb left with a possible injury and couldn’t catch the ball (two catches, three drops). His last reception was the biggest; a diving catch that picked up a first down and let Dallas run out the clock. Outside of that, it was a nondescript game for Cooks in his first action since September 26 due to a knee injury. He could be in for a high-target count again if Lamb can’t go in Week 14 against the Bengals.

He’ll be active on Thursday night. We have low expectations after seven missed games and with Cooper Rush at quarterback, but the Cowboys do somehow seem to be the less dysfunctional of the two teams and one deep pass is all Cooks needs to have a fantasy football day worth mentioning. You can probably do better for your FLEX spot unless you’re in an extremely deep league.

Lamb has now been listed as limited on back-to-back days due to back and foot issues. The limited status and the fact that he played through the same injuries Week 12 indicate Lamb should be good to go for the Cowboys’ Thanksgiving game against the Giants. Also listed as limited for the second straight day was WR Brandin Cooks (knee), whose 21-day window to be activated off injured reserve is open. While Lamb is likely to play, Cooks is more of a question mark as he has missed seven straight games.

Cooks saw his 21-day practice window opened prior to the team’s Week 12 contest against the Commanders, ultimately held out of action for the seventh consecutive game. Executive Vice President Stephen Jones said earlier Monday that he expects Cooks to be able to play against the Giants on Thanksgiving day, a notion that should be either confirmed or denied once the team hits the practice field on Tuesday.

Cooks got in a bunch of limited tags last week so it stands to reason that he was close to playing next week. He probably won’t be a major fantasy factor outside of Thursday-only slates. He could siphon some touches away from Dallas’ other main receiving weapons if he does return, though.

Cooks saw his 21-day practice window opened prior to Week 11 but managed only limited showings in practice this week, ultimately failing to do enough on the practice field to warrant a return to the active roster ahead of the team’s Week 12 game against the Commanders. The Cowboys are in a complete state of disarray with tight end Jake Ferguson also ruled out after sustaining his second concussion of the season in Week 11 and alpha wide receiver CeeDee Lamb struggling through multiple injuries, including a painful AC joint sprain.

Cooks remained limited in practice all week so it would be unsurprising to see him sit out until he can practice in full, likely in Week 13. If active against the Commanders, Cooks would only be a low-floor flex option with Cooper Rush under center.