Fantasy Football Outlook: James Cook, Josh Downs, Elijah Moore, Noah Brown

Every week we’ll bring you The Primer, a deep dive into every fantasy-relevant player from every NFL game of the week. You can find the full weekly Primer here. Below we dive into a few notable players ahead of this weekend’s games.

Fantasy Football Outlook

Josh Downs: Downs could lead the way for Indy’s aerial attack this week. Since Week 6, he has had a 15.9% target share, 1.68 YPRR, and a 17.7% first-read share. Over his last three games, Downs has three red zone targets, but they all came in Week 12. Downs could see high volume usage this week if Porter Jr. locks down Pittman and they are unable to run the ball. Downs will run about 82% of his routes against Patrick Peterson (57.4% catch rate and 96.8 passer rating). Since Week 9, Pittsburgh has allowed the fourth-most PPR points per target and receiving yards to slot receivers. Week 15 Positional Value: WR3

Elijah Moore: Last week Moore’s stock came crashing back to earth with Cooper back in the lineup with a 13.3% target share, a 24.2% air-yard share, 1.27 YPRR, and an 18.2% first-read share. He did retain his outside receiver role playing 78% of his snaps on the boundary. This isn’t the week to consider flexing him. Since Week 9, Chicago has allowed the seventh-fewest PPR points per target and second-fewest receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers. Week 15 Positional Value: Sit

Noah Brown: Brown has not resembled the same player we fell in love with in Weeks 9-10 since his return from injury. Over the last two weeks, he has only drawn a 12.5% target share and has had zero receptions. In Weeks 8-10, Brown had a 17.1% target share, a 23.4% air-yard share, 4.55 yards per route run, and a 16.7% first-read share, as he averaged 127.3 receiving yards per game over that stretch. Last week, Brown led the team with a 21.1% first-read share while operating as a boundary receiver on 75% of his snaps. Brown is solid flex play this week if Collins is out against a Titans’ secondary that, since Week 9, has allowed the sixth-most PPR points per target and the third-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers. Week 15 Positional Value: WR4

James Cook: With Joe Brady running the show, Cook has played 43-46% of the snaps weekly, averaging 19 touches and 114.3 total yards per game as the RB5 in fantasy. It’s been beautiful to see the Bills FINALLY lean on one of their best players and stop feeding carries to Latavius Murray. Cook ranks 25th in explosive run rate and 39th in yards after contact per attempt. Cook will have his work cut out for him this week, though. Dallas has also been strong against the run. Since Week 9, Dallas has allowed the second-lowest explosive run rate and missed tackles per attempt while also surrendering the sixth-lowest yards after contact per attempt. Week 15 Positional Value: RB2