Who Should I Start? David Montgomery or James Cook

Friday, October 10, 5:55 PM

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery logged a season-high 18 carries in Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals, finishing with 65 rushing yards and a touchdown. The 28-year-old also tossed the second touchdown pass of his career on a trick play. Heading into a Week 6 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, Montgomery should be expected to return to the 1B role in the Lions' backfield alongside Jahmyr Gibbs. Kansas City has been surprisingly subpar against the run so far this season, ranking 24th in rushing touchdowns allowed (six) and 26th in yards per carry allowed (4.8). Montgomery's limited touch ceiling while playing next to Gibbs makes him reliant on touchdowns for fantasy production, but he looks like a decent bet to find the end zone against the Chiefs. In Week 6, Montgomery profiles as a low-end fantasy RB2.

Saturday, October 11, 1:46 PM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook will face one of his toughest challenges of the season when he takes on Atlanta's sixth-ranked run defense on Monday night. The Falcons have excelled at controlling time of possession and limiting offensive opportunities, though they've allowed a 44.7% scoring rate on drives, leaving the door open for Cook to find the end zone. The third-year back is averaging 107.8 scrimmage yards and one touchdown per game, but he's coming off a sluggish performance against New England's opportunistic defense. While Cook's volume and role in Buffalo's high-powered offense keep him in RB1 territory, fantasy managers should temper expectations--his Week 6 success will likely hinge on finding pay dirt against a disciplined Falcons front.