Who Should I Start? Colby Parkinson or James Cook

Monday, March 11, 4:39 PM

Seattle Seahawks free-agent tight end Colby Parkinson intends to sign a three-year, $22.5 million deal that includes $15.5 million guaranteed with the Los Angeles Rams, according to sources. Before playing at Stanford, Parkinson attended Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, Calif., which is right down the road from the Rams' training complex. Parkinson, the former fourth-round pick of the Seahawks in 2020, will stay in the NFC West and will get a shot to serve as the team's top pass-catching tight end, at least to start the 2024 season. It's unlikely that Tyler Higbee (knee) will be ready to go for the start of the season after tearing his ACL and MCL in the playoffs. In Seattle, the 25-year-old Parkinson never had more than 322 receiving yards or two touchdowns in a single season, so fantasy managers shouldn't suddenly expect him to become a TE1 in LA with Higbee sidelined.

Monday, January 22, 12:31 AM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook started hot but faded late as his team was sent home in Sunday's 27-24 Divisional Round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, carrying 18 times for 61 yards and catching four passes for 21 yards. With the Bills dominating on the ground in the first half, Cook picked up one chunk gain after another. But the Chiefs stiffened up to stifle Cook during the second half, leaving the 24-year-old with a fairly quiet evening despite his second straight week with 22 touches. Cook undoubtedly took a big step forward in 2023 -- garnering his first Pro Bowl nod and placing third at his position in scrimmage yards -- but his inability to find the end zone was a major shortcoming. Totaling five TDs on the season on 325 touches including the playoffs, Cook also failed to reach the 90-total-yard threshold in any of his final five appearances. That probably shouldn't prevent Cook from being selected as a top-12 fantasy RB, however, in 2024 drafts.