Who Should I Start? Alvin Kamara or James Cook

Sunday, August 17, 1:06 PM

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is not suiting up for the team's second preseason game on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Erin Summers of ESPN. Kamara was seen doing pre-game workouts with the rest of the team, but it's the second straight preseason game in which he will not play. Rookie Devin Neal (hamstring) also will sit out, which means the Saints will roll forward against the Jags with Kendre Miller, Cam Akers and Clyde Edwards-Helaire in their backfield. It remains to be seen if Kamara will play in the preseason finale next Saturday against the Denver Broncos. The 30-year-old five-time Pro Bowler should be a workhorse once again in head coach Kellen Moore's offense. Kamara has had at least 47 catches in his eight-year career, but he's never rushed for 1,000 yards on the ground. RotoBaller has him ranked as the RB20 in fantasy heading into the 2025 season.

Wednesday, August 13, 9:13 AM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is officially back in the fold after signing a four-year contract extension with his team on Wednesday. Soon after the signing was announced, Buffalo GM Brandon Beane told reporters that he views Cook as a three-down back. Beane said, "We do feel he can take more, but we like to use our three options and keep him fresh." Cook often lost passing-down work to Ty Johnson last season and only played on 48% of Buffalo's offensive snaps. It is unlikely that Buffalo installs Cook as their workhorse, as their running game was effective in 2024, but it would be a positive for fantasy managers if the Bills shifted some of the targets in the passing game onto Cook's plate. Either way, he sets up as a solid RB2 in fantasy with an RB1 ceiling if he starts catching more passes.