Jared Cook Injury Update Puts Fantasy Value in Doubt for Week 5

When it comes to the tight end position, Jared Cook has been a standout talent for the better part of the last decade, but nagging injuries have always kept the veteran from reaching his true potential. So far, 2020 has been no different.

Cook was impressive for the New Orleans Saints in Week 1, racking up five catches for 80 yards in their victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Then after back-to-back 2-reception performances, Cook saw himself sidelined again for Week 4, and this could be more than a one game absence.

Jared Cook Week 5 Fantasy Outlook

The problem with these Monday night game-time decisions are that they ultimately force fantasy managers to either take a leap of faith or err on the side of caution. This is twice as accurate for a position like tight end, where most people only have one backup at most.

Michael Thomas may also return on Monday, and this is another important factor to monitor when deciding on Cook. The Saints offense runs differently with Thomas on the field. The star wide receiver has one of the highest (if not the highest) target shares in the game every season, which could effect Cook's opportunities.

Groin injuries are also troublesome, and tend to linger. Even if Cook suits up, how effective will he be against the Los Angeles Chargers defense? They have only ranked 23rd against the tight end position in fantasy so far this season, based on a standard PPR format, which is favorable for Cook.

In the end, it really comes down to your options at a generally slim fantasy position. While Cook might play on Monday, there's no guarantee that he will make a key fantasy impact in this game with all the weapons that the Saints offense has.

If desperation calls for the leap of faith, take it and hope for the best. Otherwise, it might be smarter to wait one more week on Cook.

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Michael Obermuller is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Michael Obermuller also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username king_mizzard. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.