Buffalo Bills RB James Cook saw a concerning drop in his usage in the first half of the team’s game against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football in Week 10. Did his fantasy outlook change so drastically that you should consider trading him off of your fantasy football team right now? Let’s take a closer look.
James Cook’s Rest-of-Season Outlook
Cook was already coming off of one of his worst games of the 2023 season against the Cincinnati Bengals with just 20 yards on six carries, which saw him finish with just 7.9 fantasy points in PPR formats in Week 9.
Unfortunately, his first touch of the Week 10 game resulted in a lost fumble, which immediately saw Latavius Murray inserted into the game for the next couple of drives, and he never really looked back. Murray finished with nine carries and three targets, which is his second-highest usage this season.
Cook was efficient when he did get an opportunity to touch the ball, but his ball security — he had a second fumble that fortuitously bounced right back into his arms off the ground — and lack of power in short-yardage situations saw him cede a lot of work to Murray in this contest. However, he finished the night with an impressive stat line of 109 rushing yards on 12 carries while adding another 11 yards on two receptions.
MORE: Yates’ Early Week 11 Fantasy Football RB Rankings
Cook started the season with four straight games with 10+ fantasy points in PPR formats but has posted less than 10 fantasy points in four out of his last six games. During that span, he has seen fewer than 10 carries in a game on two occasions.
In the last six games, Cook has averaged 10.6 carries per game and 2.33 targets per game compared to 14 carries per game and 3.5 targets per game in the first four. That is a 26% drop in usage over the past six weeks when compared to the first four weeks.
Looming in the shadows is Leonard Fournette, who the Bills signed to the practice squad a couple of weeks ago. Fournette has yet to be active for a game since arriving, but as he gets more acclimated to the system it is more and more likely we see the veteran back on the field.
The expanded role of Murray, the presence of Fournette, the inconsistent volume of touches, and the lack of touchdown upside have Cook’s rest of season arrow pointing in the wrong direction. He feels like an RB3 option at the moment, which has to disappoint fantasy managers who started to trust him in their lineups through the first month of the season.
Should You Trade James Cook?
Are you considering trading Cooks? Our PFN Trade Analyzer allows you to find the best trades to make in seconds! It also allows us to see trending searches, and we’ve compiled a few of the most popular below.
Should You Trade Cook for Kyren Williams?
I don’t want to immediately dismiss this question out of respect for Cook as a football player, but this one isn’t close considering Los Angeles Rams RB Kyren Williams is eligible to return to the lineup in just two weeks. Williams is the clear bell-cow back of his backfield in comparison to Cook, who continues to see frustrating usage in the Bills offense. I would trade Cook for Williams in a heartbeat.
Should You Trade Cook for Jerome Ford?
The Cleveland Browns backfield has been frustrating for fantasy managers since Nick Chubb suffered a season-ending injury back in Week 2. Jerome Ford has consistently led the team in carries, but he continues to watch Kareem Hunt score rushing TDs on nearly a weekly basis.
Ford has 37 carries over the last two games and posted a season-high 107 rushing yards against the stout Baltimore Ravens defense last week. I would trade Cook for Ford in fantasy football right now.
Should You Trade Cook for Najee Harris?
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris has finally shown signs of life over the last two games with two straight contests with 15+ carries, 60+ rushing yards, and a score. Unfortunately, he is still stuck in a timeshare with Jaylen Warren in a very pedestrian offense.
Despite not seeing the volume in recent weeks, I will stick with Cook in the more explosive offense with the hope he can reestablish himself as the clear alpha in this backfield for the fantasy playoff stretch.
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