Jared Cook: Will Last Year's Fantasy Football Sleeper Wake Up?

Jared Cook is a freakish athlete. He’s big and fast with excellent leaping ability. His athletic prowess is reminiscent of Vernon Davis, who finally broke out last year. It was Vernon Davis’s fourth year in the league, which doesn’t bode well for Cook because Davis was much more of a “can’t miss” prospect.

 

Cook’s athleticism led Tennessee to take him in the third round (89th overall pick) of the 2009 NFL Draft. He tore it up in the Titans' first four preseason games, catching 17 passes for 159 yards, which led to serious sleeper status for Cook in last year’s fantasy football drafts.

 

Unfortunately, injuries and a poor work ethic kept him in Rip Van Winkle mode. Cook had just nine catches for 74 yards in 14 games. His top two games were 27 and 29 yard efforts in Weeks Five and 12.

 

If Cook is going to break out this year, it will be completely under the radar. The Titans brought Bo Scaife back, so it will take an injury or a miracle for Cook to ascend to the starting tight end role.

 

If you read some of offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger’s quotes regarding Cook, you get a feel for where he’s at. 

”He needs to become much more consistent week to week if he’s going to play for us,” Heimerdinger said. ”He has made some plays, but he still has a ways to go. He flashes that talent, but we need him to do it all the time.”

Clearly consistency is the issue. Scaife doesn’t have the upside that Cook does, but if he is anything, he is consistent.

 

2007:  46 catches, 421 yards, 1 TD
2008:  58 catches, 561 yards, 2 TDs
2009:  45 catches, 440 yards, 1 TD

 

I wouldn’t rule Cook out from figuring things out down the road, but I think it’s going to some more time. At this time, just keep Jared Cook in mind as a possible sleeper candidate. Just make him prove his worth before you consider adding him to your fantasy team.

 

What do you expect from Jared Cook in 2010?

 

 

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