What a showing for
rookie wide receivers in Week 8. While Sammy Watkins and Kelvin Benjamin have
dominated the headlines for first-year pass catchers, and rightfully so, they
aren’t the only notable receivers to make a big impact for their teams this
season. They’ve been the most consistent, but have also been given the biggest opportunity
as No. 1 targets on their respective teams. Chris Tripodi breaks down what he
saw from four other rookie wideouts who enjoyed their best performances of the
season in Week 8.
Brandin Cooks (WR-NO)
After a big Week 1 that
saw Cooks burst onto the scene in Atlanta with seven receptions for 77 yards
and his first career touchdown, many expected him to continue that success
through the first half of the season. Like the Saints, however, the speedy Cooks
struggled away from the Superdome turf and caught just 10 passes for 71 yards
in his next three road games. The first-round rookie did put up 17 receptions
for 130 yards in two home games before Sunday, but even those performance were
underwhelming in terms of a lack of big plays. That certainly wasn’t the case
Sunday against the Packers, as Cooks caught six balls for a career-high 94
yards and a touchdown, while adding a rushing score as well.
On the Saints’ first
possession, Drew Brees drove the team inside the Packers’ five-yard line to set
up Cooks’ first touchdown, a jet sweep to the left where the rookie scored
untouched. Cooks motioned from the right slot and the Green Bay defense didn’t
keep outside contain on the quick snap and handoff, giving Cooks an easy lane
to quickly speed through. Two possessions later, Cooks got a step deep on a
post route against Davon House and Brees hit him perfectly in stride for what
would’ve been a 45-yard catch. Unfortunately, Cooks couldn’t hang onto the pass
as he fell to the turf.
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