Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or James Cook

Wednesday, September 10, 4:31 PM

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler operated mostly as the team's lead back in Week 1 against the Giants, leading the backfield with 32 snaps out of 65 plays. He only touched the ball nine times for the game, but was again efficient with 57 yards. The roles are still fairly fluid in the Washington backfield, but Week 1 could be instructive for how it might look going forward. Washington essentially gave Ekeler and Croskey-Merritt their own drives against the Giants, which is interesting. Ekeler was out-carried by Croskey-Merritt 10 to six, and the rookie could continue to earn more touches as the season goes on. Ekeler faces another stiff test against the Packers' defense that held Lions superstar running back Jahmyr Gibbs to just 50 yards on 19 touches. He should be looked at as a quality FLEX with projectable volume for Week 2.

Thursday, September 11, 2:08 PM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is fully healthy heading into Week 2 after logging a full practice Thursday and being removed from the injury report. Cook was heavily involved in the Bills' offense during their season opener against Baltimore, racking up 44 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground while adding five catches for 58 yards through the air. His dual-threat ability makes him a valuable piece in both real-life and fantasy football, as Josh Allen and the Bills continue to rely on his versatility. With a pivotal divisional matchup against the New York Jets on deck, Cook's role should once again feature high usage, giving him strong appeal as a locked-in RB2 with upside in PPR formats.