As we gear up to the start of the NFL season, Football Absurdity is going to bring you a comprehensive breakdown of every notable player that will be available in fantasy football drafts. When you don’t see us talking about Christine Michael or Mike Davis, don’t get mad at us for neglecting your favorite sleeper. Get mad at yourself for having bad taste in football players. We are only focusing on the top-rated players in standard scoring and PPR leagues.
With my player profiles, I’ve only decided to go back to look at their fantasy scoring for three years. I could show you lists from earlier, but most of the guys at the top are no longer in the league anymore. I’ve also added a chart for their usage over that time span. We will try to determine, based on those two factors, where the best tight end value lies.
Jared Cook
Current ADP: As of 06/25/2019
Standard: 8th among TEs, 70th overall
PPR: 8th among TEs, 77th overall
Jared Cook Average Auction Value (AAV) $200 Budget: $12
Stats:
FANTASY SCORING — STANDARD
| Rank | Total Points | PPG Rank | PPG | |
| 2018 | 5th | 125.6 | 6th | 7.9 |
| 2017 | 15th | 78.7 | 18th | 4.9 |
| 2016 | 36th | 41.7 | 33rd | 4.2 |
FANTASY SCORING — PPR
| Rank | Total Points | PPG Rank | PPG | |
| 2018 | 5th | 193.6 | 5th | 12.1 |
| 2017 | 12th | 132.7 | 15th | 8.3 |
| 2016 | 36th | 71.7 | 31st | 7.2 |
PLAYER USAGE
| Receptions | Receptions Per Game | Targets | Targets Per Game | |
| 2018 | 68 | 4.3 | 101 | 6.3 |
| 2017 | 54 | 3.4 | 86 | 5.3 |
| 2016 | 30 | 3.0 | 51 | 5.1 |
Overview: Jared Cook had a career-defining season last year. Unfortunately, he’s Jared Cook, so that season amounted to 900 yards and 6 touchdowns. This was enough for fifth among tight ends, but not enough to shake the specter of the nine mediocre seasons before 2018. Now he’s on New Orleans, which has a lot of fans hyped for his potential.
Strategy: Our Jared Cook Auction Value ($200 Budget): $3
Evan Hoovler: Jared Cook seems to be coming up, and New Orleans’ offense is way better than his previous team’s. This is exciting!
<flashback several years>
Evan Hoovler: Josh Hill seems to have developed a rapport with Drew Brees, and New Orleans’ offense is back on top! This is exciting! His long-term prospects are almost as certain as the long-term success of fidget spinners!
<flashback several more years>
Evan Hoovler: Coby Fleener seems to be coming up, and New Orleans’s offense is even better than his previous team’s! This is almost as exciting as the surefire success of the upcoming film, Warcraft!
<flashforward to now>
Yeah, we’re not buying it. Hey, it could happen, but it’s not worth a reach when there is a huge pack of TE2s. Just wait until a tight end falls 2+ rounds below ADP or goes for just a few bucks at auction. It’ll happen.
Best Case Scenario: Cook somehow found skills in his tenth season and ends up an upper-half TE1, rewarding those who waited until later rounds to get him and not rewarding people who spent a 6th or 7th rounder on him
Worst Case Scenario: Brees does what he always does: recognizes inferior TE talent and ignores him. He doesn’t even end up a TE1.
