Who Should I Start? Derrick Henry or James Cook

Tuesday, August 5, 6:16 PM

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry will not play in the team's preseason opener on Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts, according to head coach John Harbaugh. The head coach said the Ravens will determine if Jackson and Henry will play in any preseason games at all. Neither superstar is dealing with an injury, but the Ravens will continue to be cautious with their best players in exhibition games. The 28-year-old Jackson did not play at all in the preseason last year and still had the finest year of his career as a passer with 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 17 regular-season games. He also rushed for 915 yards and four TDs on the ground. Jackson is RotoBaller's QB2 in fantasy, while King Henry sits as the RB5. The combination of both Jackson's and Henry's legs make Baltimore's offense elite.

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.