Who Should I Start? Breece Hall or James Cook

Tuesday, February 17, 6:00 AM

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt writes that "the winds have been blowing in the direction" of the New York Jets using the franchise tag on impending free-agent running back Breece Hall since the trade deadline. At that time, general manager Darren Mougey resisted overtures from other teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, who offered a fourth-round pick for Hall. The feeling is that Hall "would like to test free agency," so by placing the franchise tag on him, the Jets would have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal. If no deal is reached, Hall would be under contract in 2026 and then become a free agent in 2027. If Hall makes it to free agency, he's expected to be a "hot commodity" and would be considered the top free agent at his position. Hall reached 1,000 rushing yards in 2025, the first time a Jet has done so since 2015. He also ranked 10th in scrimmage yards, ninth in explosive plays, and had the best third-down conversion rate among all RBs with at least 100 carries. Hall and the Jets may not be on the best of terms, but Rosenblatt argues that the Jets simply cannot let talent like that just walk out the door. Tagging Hall and trading him could be a possibility.

Friday, February 13, 7:31 AM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III solidified himself as one of the NFL's best running backs in 2025, racking up 1,621 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 309 carries across 17 games. The 26-year-old also impacted the game as a receiver, hauling in 33 receptions for 291 yards and two scores. Cook III has always been an efficient player, but he was able to reach new production heights in 2025 thanks to an increase in workload. After logging 239 touches across 16 games played in 2024, Cook III recorded 342 touches in 2025 and still averaged a highly efficient 5.6 yards per touch. Cook III signed a four-year extension with Buffalo before the start of the 2025 season, so he's locked in as the team's lead rusher for the foreseeable future. The Bills also promoted former offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach, so it seems unlikely that the team would radically shift its offensive approach going forward. Now that he's proven he can handle a significant workload, Cook III profiles as a high-end running back option for fantasy managers in dynasty formats.