Jared Cook brings fantasy relevancy to Oakland's tight end position
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Here's a look at the fantasy prospects for TE Jared Cook signing with the Oakland Raiders:
Source: The #Raiders are going to sign FA TE Jared Cook. A huge addition for QB Derek Carr and their offense.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2017
The tight end position in Oakland has been irrelevant for much of recent memory. Mychal Rivera had a 534-yard, four touchdown campaign in 2014, while Brandon Myers hit 806 yards and four scores back in 2012-13. Neither Rivera nor Clive Walford, Oakland's current tight end combination, have tallied 400 yards in either of their past two seasons.
Cook, who will assume TE1 duties, should change that.
Though he leaves QB Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay for Oakland's Derek Carr, that blow is softer than many of the other options that could have materialized. Cook's appeal also grows thanks to the legitimate role he should see in the passing game. WRs Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree have pretty much been Carr's only options through the air, so expect Carr to pepper his new teammate with targets.
While the Cook-Rodgers connection never blossomed - Cook had just 377 yards and one touchdown in 10 games last year - many will look to Cook's 2011-14 years as a sign of his potential. Through those four seasons, two with Tennessee and two with the then St. Louis Rams, Cook averaged 49 receptions, 647 yards, and 3.7 scores.
With Oakland, Cook is in a real position to replicate that production. Oakland's loss of RB Latavius Murray should also ensure him a fair share of red-zone targets. A 50-600-4 receiving line seems quite attainable.
Still, Cook remains a fantasy TE2, at best.
Draft-wise, Cook won't be a coveted target. This move bumps him into a late-round consideration, but nothing more. His failed stint with Green Bay will mute the excitement that could potentially build. Should you choose to wait on the TE position, Cook may make for an adequate starting option. That strategy, however, isn't likely to be productive week in and week out.
In shallower leagues, Cook will likely go undrafted and be used as a streaming option in plus matchups. Daily players should consider him a tournament play to start the season.
(Photo courtesy Action Images)