Bottom Line

Cooks landed in Dallas following three seasons with a mostly lousy Houston squad.

The Cowboys supply a shot at more TD upside and greater overall fantasy potential. QB Dak Prescott gives Cooks his best QB since Deshaun Watson in 2020, when Cooks racked up the PPR WR17 season.

That’s a low-probability outcome for 2023. But with a WR41 ADP, there’s profit potential for fantasy managers.

What We Learned Last Year

• Cooks labored through arguably his worst season as a pro.
  • The Texans' offense ranked last in yards per play, 31st in yards per game, and 31st in scoring.
• Cooks missed three games with a calf injury. He sat out one game as a coach’s decision (trade discussions).
  • Cooks wanted to be traded in 2022. Dallas was one team that showed interest.
• Overall, Cooks tallied 57 catches for 699 yards and 3 TDs.
• Among 50 WRs with 80+ targets, Cooks ranked 26th in yards per catch, 37th in catch rate, 32nd in yards per route run, and 33rd in Pro Football Focus receiving grade.
• Poor QB play hurt. Davis Mills ranked 31st among 33 QB qualifiers in on-target percentage.
  

What to Expect in 2023

• Dallas swung a trade for Cooks in March.
  • The compensation: a 2023 fifth-round pick and a 2024 sixth-round pick.
  • Afterward, Dallas restructured his deal. Cooks earned $12 million guaranteed from his new team, a clear sign they believe in him as the No. 2 behind WR CeeDee Lamb.
• Further removed from a January 2022 ACL tear, WR Michael Gallup is expected to see a larger role.
• QB Dak Prescott took notice of Cooks’ speed at OTAs.
  • “It’s beautiful,” Prescott said. “Yeah, real speed. Runs the same way every time. I think that’s the most important thing. When you have speed like that, for him to be able to do that every play, every route, the start of every route, the cornerbacks, defense, they don’t know what they’re getting. He makes it all look the same. I’m thankful he’s here.”
  • Cooks – and the rest of the offense – will work under new OC Brian Schottenheimer. He has talked about keeping a “fast” approach on offense while not making any drastic changes overall.
  • Dallas will reportedly keep the same terminology in place, and HC Mike McCarthy will take over play-calling duties.
  • The offense that ranked top-12 in yards and points last season.