Buffalo Bills running back James Cook had a productive Week 1 in the win over the Arizona Cardinals. Now facing a division rival in the Miami Dolphins, should fantasy managers start or sit Cook on the road in a short week?
Here’s a look at Cook’s fantasy football outlook for Week 2.
Should I Start or Sit James Cook in Fantasy This Week?
With over 100 yards from scrimmage in Week 1 — 71 rushing, 32 receiving — Cook got his season off to a solid start, racking up 13.3 fantasy points. While hardly elite, considering that he plays in the same backfield as perhaps the NFL’s best dual-threat quarterback in Josh Allen, Cook’s production was well above average.
However, just as there were positive numbers for Cook Sunday, there were some others that raised some questions about this week’s matchup.
Touchdowns: Once again, Allen dominated the scoring on the ground, with two touchdown runs against Arizona. Cook, meanwhile, did not have a touchdown last week. This will always be an area of concern among fantasy managers who are considering Cook for their lineup.
Red Zone Work: Allen had four carries in the red zone last week, while Cook had just three. However, Cook did have the Bills’ only rush attempt inside the five-yard line, although he was unable to get in the end zone.
It is also worth noting that last season, Allen had 14 rush attempts from inside the five, compared to Cook’s five attempts.
As much as he will get some opportunities to produce, Allen continues to be the dominant player in the backfield, both passing and rushing. That, along with playing on the road in a short week, pushes me to sit Cook if a viable Flex option is available.
Fantasy Outlook for James Cook vs. the Dolphins
Cook’s numbers last season against the Dolphins were mixed at best. He averaged fewer than three yards per carry in either of his starts against Miami, finishing with 65 rushing yards on 25 carries in the two games (2.6 yards per carry).
However, his first matchup produced a decent fantasy point total of 14.7, thanks to a rushing touchdown and a 48-yard reception on his only catch in that game. That turned out to be one of only two rushing touchdowns Cook had the entire 2023 season.
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Cook’s 2023 season produced some wildly inconsistent fantasy games. On the one hand, Cook had eight games in which he scored 13 or more fantasy points. Yet, he also generated fewer than 10 points in seven games last season.
This could all be the byproduct of having a quarterback who is spectacular in the running game like Allen. In any case, Cook’s fantasy value continues to sit on a seesaw.