The Buffalo Bills made a splash this week, signing former 1,000-yard rusher Leonard Fournette to the Super Bowl-contending team. What does this mean for James Cook and the rest of the Bills backfield in fantasy football?
James Cook’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
Cook is the lead back in Buffalo, and I do not see the signing of Fournette as changing anything for him. Cook is averaging 14 carries for 65 yards and 1.3 catches for 17 yards in the last three games. Cook has dealt with the company in the backfield with Latavius Murray all season and continued his usage and role.
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We have Cook ranked as the No. 15 RB this week, and I see him as a high-end RB2 this week, just as I have for most of the season. Let the others overreact to the Fournette signing, but I recommend you stay the course and potentially buy low on Cook if you can take advantage of a nervous fantasy manager.
Leonard Fournette’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
I have no idea what Fournette’s role will be this week. You don’t know what Fournette’s role will be this week. Anyone who tells you they do had better work for the Bills or they are a liar.
In an unproven situation like this, I trust history. The history of a running back being signed off the street to compete with a young, talented back and doing anything fantasy-relevant is not good. I will take a “prove it to me” approach and not even consider picking up Fournette until he steps on the field and does something.
Fournette ran for a total of 666 yards in his entire last season at 3.5 yards per carry, so this is not some dominant fantasy force anymore. Fournette is not even guaranteed to play this week as he is still learning the Bills offense. I see him as running back depth for the Bills and nothing more.
Should You Start Cook or Fournette This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say Cook is the player to start. His projected 11.9 points include 50 rushing yards, 2.7 receptions, and 23 yards. That doesn’t seem like a big stat line, but it outperforms the consensus projection for Fournette (2.2 points).
My ranking for the three Bills running backs aligns with the consensus as I see Cook as a legitimate ascending talent at running back and Fournette as a role player for the Bills. Honestly, this is not even a question to me of who is the better player. Don’t overthink it, and plug Cook in your lineup with confidence.
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