What to do with Jared Cook in Week 7 fantasy football

Game update: Saints WR Emmanuel Sanders was placed on the reserve-COVID list after testing positive on Friday. Though he is now in quarantine and away from the team, he did practice with the Saints on Thursday. The NFL will be monitoring this situation closely in case there is a need to postpone this matchup.

Week 7 brings us a divisional matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers. While the Panthers haven’t been the pushover that many thought they would be this season, the Saints come in as 7.5-point favorites. That spread is partially due to the return to health for Michael Thomas, but also for Jared Cook. Can you trust Cook as a fantasy starter this week, though?

Fantasy Football analysis: Saints TE Jared Cook

After catching five passes for 80 yards in Week 1, Cook reeled in just two in each of his next three outings. Fortunately for fantasy owners, 33% of those receptions were touchdowns, so he has salvaged some of his lack of production. But Cook shouldn’t be labeled as a touchdown-dependent tight end, especially against a team that allowed a combined seven catches, 54 yards, and a touchdown between the Bears tight ends last week. Jared Cook is shaping up to be one of the safer TE plays in Week 7.

Fantasy Start/Sit Recommendation

Start Cook.