The Texans have agreed to trade Cooks to the Cowboys in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in 2023 and a sixth-rounder in 2024, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Cooks, who is coming off a 2022 season in which he caught 57 passes (on 93 targets) for 699 yards and three TDs in 13 games for Houston, will bolster a Dallas wideout corps that also features returnees CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup. Since being drafted by the Saints in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Cooks -- who turns 30 in September -- has been traded four times. With the Cowboys, the 5-foot-10, 183-pounder's speed and experience should be an asset to a pass-catching corps that will continue to be highlighted by Lamb, and if Cooks is able to stay healthy in 2023, an uptick in production is a plausible outcome while working in an offense helmed by QB Dak Prescott.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Wants to move on
Rotowire
Cooks told front office personnel that he does not want to be part of Houston's rebuilding process, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Cooks reiterated his desire to play for a team with a chance to compete for a championship, which is unlikely to happen any time soon in Houston. This should not come as a surprise, as Cooks expressed displeasure when he wasn't moved at the trade deadline. He has a massive cap hit in the final two years of his deal, so Houston will likely have to eat a portion of his salary in order to move him. That was an obstacle the Texans ran into at the deadline.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Eclipses century mark in win
Rotowire
Cooks secured five of six targets for 106 yards and a touchdown in the Texans' 32-31 win over the Colts on Sunday.
If Sunday was indeed Cooks' swan song in Houston, he went out with a flourish. The veteran wideout led the Texans in receptions and receiving yards on the afternoon, and he had a key 30-yard grab on Houston's wild game-winning drive. In a somewhat tumultuous season that saw Cooks express his displeasure with not being traded to a contender at the deadline, the nine-year veteran posted a 57-699-3 line across 13 games despite the team's shaky quarterback situation. Cooks has a massive cap hit of over $26 million for 2023, so if he's indeed moving on as appears very likely, he's made a solid case heading into free agency.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Reels in four passes
Rotowire
Cooks caught four passes for 39 yards on seven targets against Jacksonville on Sunday.
Cooks remains one of the league's better receivers in real life, but his fantasy impact is dulled by Houston's consistently poor quarterback play. The Texans attempted 44 passes Sunday but produced just 193 yards, and it's not easy for any receiver to thrive in circumstances like those. Cooks and the Texans meet Indianapolis in Week 18.
Since the Texans run game is a mess, Cooks' targets should stay north of seven. I like his chances for some success in the red zone, but he's otherwise a risky option. I'll call him a modest flex who I'd use over Zay Jones, the Steelers WRs and the Giants WRs, but not ahead of Jahan Dotson, D.J. Chark or, in PPR, Greg Dortch.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Set to suit up Sunday
Rotowire
Cooks (personal) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game versus the Jaguars.
Cooks made an appearance on Thursday's practice report as a DNP due to personal reasons, but it won't stop him from being available for Week 17 action. He'll be facing a Jacksonville defense Sunday that contained him to four catches (on six targets) for a season-low 20 yards back in Week 5.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Misses practice Thursday
Rotowire
Cooks did not participate in Thursday's practice and was listed as "Not Injury Related - Personal" on the Texans' injury report.
Cooks' absence was thus unrelated to the calf injury that forced him to miss three games before participating in last week's win over the Titans. He not only participated but caught the go-ahead touchdown against Tennessee. Houston offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton told Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle that he expects Cooks to practice Friday.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Week 17 Adds (WR Preview)
Rotowire
Cooks dominated targets in his first game back and produced 13 PPR Fantasy points while also having a 33-yard touchdown called back. His Texans should be chasing the score against a mediocre Jaguars secondary. With Nico Collins on injured reserve, Cooks has an excellent chance to earn eight or more targets and finish a very disappointing season on a high note.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Week 17 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
Cooks returned from his three-game absence with a calf injury in Week 16 at Tennessee and immediately led the Texans in targets with nine. He finished with four catches for 34 yards and a touchdown, and he had a second touchdown negated by a penalty. He should be considered a high-end No. 3 receiver against the Jaguars in Week 17, and there's a chance Jacksonville could be resting starters on defense to prepare for a Week 18 showdown with Tennessee. It's been a disappointing season for Cooks, but he could rally and finish strong after his performance against the Titans in Week 16.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Scores in return
Rotowire
Cooks recorded four catches on nine targets for 34 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 19-14 win over the Titans.
Cooks played for the first time since Week 12, and he drew nine targets on 32 pass attempts combined between the Texans' quarterbacks. He was inefficient with his opportunity overall, though he caught the game-winning score from six yards away late in the fourth quarter. Cooks also chipped in a 16-yard catch early in the third quarter to account for his longest gain of the day. He should retain a significant role in the Houston offense for the rest of the season, though poor quarterback play could mean he doesn't make a consistent statistical impact.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Making return Saturday
Rotowire
Cooks (calf) is active for Saturday's game against the Titans.
Even though Cooks was listed as questionable heading into Saturday, he never appeared to be at much risk of missing a fourth straight game after he closed Week 16 prep with two consecutive full practices. With Nico Collins (foot) out for the season, Cooks should step back in as Houston's undisputed No. 1 receiver the rest of the way, with the likes of Chris Moore, Phillip Dorsett and Amari Rodgers providing depth behind him. Over his first 10 appearances this season, Cooks averaged 4.4 receptions for 52 yards on 7.1 targets per contest, but he found the end zone just once.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Sleeper WRs
Rotowire
Cooks is expected to play Saturday after being out for the past three games with a calf injury, and I like him as the best Texans receiver in this matchup at Tennessee, especially with Nico Collins (foot) out. Chris Moore has done a nice job of late as the top Houston receiver, but Cooks has more upside now that he's back. While he hasn't played well this season -- just one touchdown and two games over 11 PPR points -- he should take advantage of this matchup. The Titans allow the most Fantasy points to opposing receivers, and seven receivers have scored at least 13 PPR points against Tennessee in the past five games, with seven touchdowns over that span. Cooks had four catches for 73 yards on six targets against the Titans in Week 8, and I expect him to at least replicate that level of production this week. He's worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
It's borderline impossible to trust Cooks beyond the No. 3 wide receiver range, but he's got a great matchup and he'll play this one without Nico Collins hogging targets. You might even like to know Cooks had 11 PPR points in Week 8 when Collins was out -- and it was against Tennessee. I think that's a good floor for him, and it makes him a more interesting Fantasy option than Jakobi Meyers, Marquise Brown and Allen Lazard.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Questionable, should play Saturday
Rotowire
Cooks (calf) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game in Tennessee, but he's expected to be available to play, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Cooks has been sidelined for the Texans' last three games with the calf injury, but after returning to practice in a limited fashion Tuesday before logging full workouts Wednesday and Thursday, he should be ready to play Saturday without any major restrictions. With Houston ruling out Nico Collins (foot) for the Week 16 contest, Cooks should slot back in as the Texans' clear No. 1 wideout, rejoining a position group that also includes Chris Moore (foot), Phillip Dorsett and Amari Rodgers. Prior to his three-game absence, Cooks compiled a 44-520-1 receiving line on 71 targets through 10 appearances.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Upgrades to full practice
Rotowire
Cooks (calf) was a full practice participant Wednesday.
He's thus on track to play for the first time since Week 12 when the Texans face the Titans on Saturday. Cooks could jump right back in as the top target for Davis Mills, especially with Nico Collins (foot) missing another practice Wednesday and Phillip Dorsett coming off a zero-catch, one-target showing on 54 snaps in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. Chris Moore (foot) has emerged as the top target of late, getting more snaps on the perimeter the past three weeks after being largely slot-based for most of the season.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Deemed limited practice participant
Rotowire
The Texans listed Cooks (calf) as a limited participant on Tuesday's estimated practice report.
Cooks concluded last week with two consecutive limited practices, but he was ultimately ruled out ahead of Sunday's 30-24 overtime loss to the Chiefs, marking his third straight absence. While the Texans' decision to list Cooks as a limited participant to begin Week 16 prep suggests he hasn't suffered any sort of setback, the veteran wideout may need to upgrade to full activity by Thursday to boost his odds of playing Saturday at Tennessee. At this stage of the week, the statuses of Houston's top three receivers are in flux, as Nico Collins (foot) was a non-participant Tuesday while Chris Moore (foot) joined Cooks as a limited participant.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Ruled out for Week 15
Rotowire
Cooks (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.
With Nico Collins (foot) also having been ruled out, Chris Moore, Phillip Dorsett and Amari Rodgers are in line to serve as Houston's top three receivers once again this weekend. Cooks' next chance to return to action will arrive a week from Saturday against the Titans.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Reportedly not expected to play
Rotowire
Cooks (calf) isn't expected to play Sunday against the Chiefs, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.
Cooks returned to a limited practice Thursday, but it appears as though the Texans may err on the side of caution with the veteran wideout this weekend. Also not expected to play Sunday, per Wilson, are fellow WR Nico Collins (foot) and RB Dameon Pierce.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: 'Looks fast' in return to practice
Rotowire
Cooks (calf) returned to a limited practice Thursday.
Following practice, offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston that Cooks -- who has missed the past two games with a strained calf muscle --"looked fast" in his return to the practice field. Though the Texans seemed to have some initial skepticism with regard to Cooks' chances of suiting up Sunday against the Chiefs, the veteran wideout's ability to log a limited practice Thursday now presumably gives him a chance to return to action this weekend.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brandin Cooks: Returns to practice Thursday
Rotowire
Cooks (calf) was present for practice Thursday and appeared to be going through drills in full pads in the portion of the session that was open to the media, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reports.
On Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reported that Cooks was trending toward missing his third straight game Sunday against the Chiefs after going down as a non-participant in the Texans' first Week 15 practice session. While Cooks could still end up being sidelined Sunday, his return to practice Thursday leaves the door open for him to put his streak of absences to an end. The Texans will disclose after Thursday's session whether Cooks was a limited or full participant.
