Rizzla takes a look at the New Orleans Saints signing of Jared Cook, and examines the fantasy context.
The New Orleans Saints have finally agreed to terms with tight end Jared Cook. Always an athletic specimen, Cook seemingly put it all together in 2018 and broke out for a career high 896 yards and six touchdowns. The Saints signed Cook to a two year, $15.5 million dollar contract with $8 million in true guarantees.
The upside for Cook is significant. He can make up to $19M over 2 years. https://t.co/fMx2t60ANL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 26, 2019
This is a great move for both Jared Cook and the New Orleans Saints. The Saints add an explosive tight end and may have finally found a reliable number two option for Drew Brees. It is true that Alvin Kamara may rack up more targets than Cook in 2019, but having a competent number two vertical option will really open up the field for the rest of the Saints skill players. The Saints have trotted out a whole host of uninspired options since they traded Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks and have finally found the answer at the position.
Fantasy Context:
Jared Cook remains a TE1 option. There was a good chance that if he stayed with the Raiders that Cook would project as a low end TE1 at best, but he now has legit top five upside. Cook’s ADP is set to skyrocket over the next several months as fantasy owners are sure to be giddy about his ceiling playing with Drew Brees. Provided they do not add a tight end in the first two rounds of the draft, Cook has a very safe floor in New Orleans. Think top ten, as his floor. As always things can quickly change in fantasy football, but as of now Cook looks like he landed in a dream scenario. Dynasty owners should use this opportunity to sell high if they already have other top flight options at tight end, or are not in a position to compete within the next year or two.
Drew Brees gets a slight value boost with this news. Brees got a bigger boost from Mark Ingram signing with the Baltimore Ravens than he does with this deal. The impact here is still significant. While Cook does not necessarily raise Brees’ ceiling all that much, what it does do is raise his floor. Murray is no Ingram and as such the Saints will no longer show an overcommitment to the ground game. This means Brees will turn back into the fantasy player we all know and love and should be a great value in drafts happening over the next couple of months. With draft additions still yet to coe Brees has reclaimed his value as a top five QB for the 2019 fantasy football season.
Sean Payton on TE Jared Cook: "My understanding is he's signed, and we're excited to have him. … I think he gives us a threat opposite of Mike (Thomas). … Jared's got a unique skill set and we saw a lot of good tape of him."
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) March 26, 2019
Alvin Kamara will lose some target volume with this news. Kamara may see a career high in touches but will undoubtedly be targeted on a lower percentage of his routes. He, however remains an elite RB1 who will once again push to join the 1k/1k club.
The biggest losers in this deal are players like Tre’Quan Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. Both are deep threats who are going to lose major air yard shares to Cook. In fact Smith clocked in at 4.49 speed at 6’2, 210 lbs., Cook clocked at 4.50 flat at 6’5, 248 lbs. Who do you think Drew Brees will be targeting. Add to that Cook will be covered by linebackers on a bulk of his snaps and Smith may have become someone that is more of a depth piece as opposed to a flex starter. As mentioned above, the draft is still yet to come which means the Saints could have a legit number two receiver by this time next month. Proceed accordingly.
