Finding that RB1 for your fantasy football can save a lot of headaches if you pick the right guy. For Buffalo Bills running back James Cook and Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs, they’re on the brink of that RB1 threshold, with Cook going as the RB12 and Jacobs the RB13 in PPR leagues.
Below, I’ll consider the value of both players and provide a fantasy football strategy for deciding who to draft.
2024 Fantasy Outlook for Josh Jacobs
Jacobs signed with the Green Bay Packers this offseason for four years and $48 million. That’s big-time money for a running back, and he will be 30 when the deal ends.
The Packers also drafted MarShawn Lloyd in the third round at No. 88 overall. This move proved to be a good one as the team placed A.J. Dillon on injured reserve due to a neck injury.
According to TruMedia, Jacobs ran 233 times for 805 yards and six touchdowns in 2023. He also caught 37 passes on 54 targets for 296 yards.
Jacobs played on a Raiders team that struggled at quarterback, which seemingly contributed to his lackluster 3.5 yards per carry.
Interestingly, Jacobs has kind of had a theme of being good, then not-so-good, then good again.
In 2020, JAcobs had over 1,000 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. In 2021, he had 872 yards and nine touchdowns. Then, in 2022, he had 1,653 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
Now, heading into 2024, Jacobs is coming off a down year and joins a new team.
Another fun note: Jacobs has never had a receiving touchdown despite catching 197 passes in his career.
Jacobs should see plenty of carries in Green Bay’s offense. The Packers averaged 29.3 carries per game over their final three weeks last year.
The Packers have a Week 10 bye week.
2024 Fantasy Outlook for James Cook
Everyone knows that the Bills are entering 2024 with limited pass-catching weapons. They drafted Keon Coleman in the second round and have Dalton Kincaid at tight end, but after that, there are more questions than answers.
With that, it’s safe to assume Cook should see a good amount of work. After all, the Bills averaged 30.8 rush attempts per game last year and 36.3 over their final three games.
In 2023, Cook had 237 carries for 1,122 yards and just two touchdowns. He also caught 44 passes on 54 targets for 445 yards and another four touchdowns.
The rushing touchdowns were quite low, but quarterback Josh Allen had 15, and Latavius Murray had four.
Allen is going to get plenty of opportunities. He’s a fantastic runner, and that will cut into Cook’s touchdown production.
Still, Cook finished as the RB11 in PPR leagues from Weeks 1 to 17. If you add in Murray’s four touchdowns, Cook would’ve been the RB7. Rookie Ray Davis and Ty Johnson are behind him on the depth chart, so Cook will see plenty of action.
The Bills have a Week 12 bye week.
Who Should I Draft in 2024?
There’s something to say about Jacobs being off and on every other year, but I think I’ll side with Cook here quite comfortably.
Despite the lack of rushing touchdowns, Cook was an outstanding fantasy running back and should see even more chances this season with a depleted receiving corps.
Jacobs will still do well, I believe, but there are more questions as Love continues to develop with this group of receivers, and they have plenty of options.
Both backs will finish with more than 200 carries, but Cook has more pass-catching upside.
Join Theo Ash: Your Football Opinion
Listen to the Your Football Opinion with Theo Ash! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Find us on the Pro Football Network YouTube Channel!