49ers turn to veteran receiver Brandin Cooks amid injury absences
The gist
The San Francisco 49ers are leaning on 13-year NFL veteran Brandin Cooks at wide receiver with Deebo Samuel Sr. out and Mike Evans uncertain.
Cooks' expanded role matters most to fantasy managers weighing a thin Week 6 receiving group.
How it unfolded
- Oct 13, 2026Analyst Barrows calls Cooks 'next man up,' and reports identify him as the 49ers' new WR2 after Deebo Samuel's injury.
- Oct 15, 2026Cooks is named a sleeper; he played nearly every snap after Samuel left and caught a touchdown on a target inside the 10-yard line.
- Oct 16, 2026Cooks ran 6 routes in Week 4 and 13 in Week 5, still behind Jacob Cowing in routes in both weeks.