Buffalo Bills RB James Cook racked up 159 yards on 21 touches against the Raiders in Week 2, showcasing all of the skills that fantasy football managers hoped to see this season. His per-touch efficiency is strong, though his role as the Bills approach the red zone is a concern. How should you be viewing him in this matchup against Washington in Week 3?
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Latest News Surrounding James Cook
On the Thursday injury report, Cook was listed as a DNP (personal).
Spencer Brown a new addition with a shoulder ailment. James Cook misses practice due to personal matter. #Bills pic.twitter.com/ltIgPw1zLC
— Chris Brown (@ChrisBrownBills) September 21, 2023
The fact that his absence is not health-related is good to see, but any missed time this late in the week is worth keeping an eye on. Washington hosts Buffalo with an early kickoff on Sunday, giving fantasy managers access to almost their entire roster should they need to replace Cook when inactives are released.
Will Cook Play This Week?
At this moment in time, I’m still considering Cook more likely to play than not. Of course, that could change. But with no questions about his health, I’m comfortable plugging him into my starting lineup.
That said, I’m making sure he’s in my Flex spot just to increase my roster mobility should this become something we need to act on.
What Does This Mean for Cook’s Fantasy Ranking?
Cook has seen enough volume in this loaded offense to justify a top-15 ranking most weeks, and that’s without much scoring equity. His lack of usage near the goal line caps his ceiling, but his versatile skill set (four catches in both games) elevates his floor to a point where he needs to be started in all formats.
MORE: Week 3 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet
He was fantasy’s 11th-highest-scoring running back last week against the Raiders, and that’s roughly where he sits in our PFN Consensus Rankings for this matchup. The Broncos churned out 122 rushing yards against this Commanders defense in Week 1 — success that the Bills have a good chance of replicating this weekend.