James Cook needs to get it going in the Buffalo Bills‘ backfield because there are others ready to take away his carries and production at the running back position, among them veteran Leonard Fournette. Here’s the fantasy football outlook for each player as we approach Week 10.
Should You Start James Cook or Leonard Fournette This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that Cook is the player to start. His projected 10.8 points include 45 rushing yards, two receptions, and 21 receiving yards. That projected stat line outperforms the consensus projections for Fournette (4.1 points).
MORE: Fantasy Week 10 RB Start/Sit
My ranking for these running backs aligns with the consensus. Although he has not been as productive of late, Cook still should outperform Fournette this week.
Fantasy Outlook for Cook This Week
Cook’s numbers overall for the season haven’t necessarily been bad. In fact, Cook is already just one yard from matching his rushing yards from his rookie season of 2022 (507 to 506).
But Bills fans were probably expecting more of a breakout season for Cook. He is averaging a full yard less per rush this season (4.7) than last season (5.7). In addition, Cook has just one rushing touchdown. And while it’s understandable not to have as many opportunities to get in the end zone when you have a dual-threat quarterback like Josh Allen, it’s not unfair to expect more than a single TD run with over 100 carries (108 attempts).
Last week against the Jets, Cook only carried the ball six times for 20 yards. But the good news for Bills fans is that the only other time Cook got fewer than 10 carries — Week 5 vs. Jacksonville — he responded the following game with 71 yards on the ground against the Giants.
The other reason to like Cook this week is the opponent, the Broncos. Denver is the owner of the league’s worst rush defense, allowing 154.1 rush yards per game.
Why is this a big deal? Because Cook also has faced the team that ranks just ahead of the Broncos in the rushing defense rankings, the Raiders, back in Week 2. The result was Cook having his best rushing game of the season, with 123 rushing yards and a 7.3 yards-per-carry average.
Yes, Cook should give fantasy managers cause for concern — just not this week.
Fantasy Outlook for Fournette This Week
Fournette, who was signed by the Bills last week, is expected to make his season debut this week vs. the Broncos. And while it’s fair to look at Fournette as a fantasy option down the road, if it’s a choice between the established starter (Cook) and the newly signed veteran (Fournette), then the choice this week is obvious.
However, it’s also obvious that Fournette should not be ignored as the rest of the season unfolds.
The PFN Start/Sit Optimizer projects Fournette to finish with 10 rush yards, with one catch for 10 yards.
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