New Orleans Saints: Most important players against the Houston Texans

2. Jared Cook

Jared Cook is the newest member of Drew Brees’ passing attack and there are big expectations for the former Raider in his first season in the Big Easy. Cook gives Brees that reliable tight end target that he has been missing, something that will have a ripple effect on all of Brees’ targets, for the better.

Cook was one of the best tight ends in the league last season and put up the kind of numbers that every tight end is looking for. Cook made 68 receptions for 896 yards and six touchdowns, with Derek Carr as his quarterback. Just imagine the kind of things he can do with Drew Brees when the defense is focused on Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara.

The reason why Cook is particularly important against the Houston Texans is that the Texans are not very good at defending tight ends. According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Texans allowed the fifth-highest points against to tight ends and the third most total receptions a year ago.

Not only is Cook coming up against a defense that he matches up favorably against but he is also playing his first regular-season game as a Saint, so you know the adrenaline is going to be high and he is going to want to put on a show for his new fans.

The table is set for Cook to have a big game and be one of the most important pieces of the offense not only in Week 1, but moving forward as well.