Who Should I Start? Dillon Gabriel or James Cook

Monday, October 6, 11:35 AM

Despite taking a loss, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel did not look overmatched in his NFL debut against a tough Brian Flores defense. The Vikings' coordinator is notorious for giving even veteran QBs trouble with his unit's exotic looks and pressures. Gabriel did an excellent job of protecting the ball and, for the most part, played smart, mistake-free football. Cleveland leaned on their ground game until late in the contest, understandably, as they'll aim to win many of their games with a strong rushing attack and solid defense. While the 24-year-old still has a way to go before becoming a suggested option in single quarterback leagues, he's an intriguing pickup in superflex formats and a decent stash in dynasty. Gabriel will get another tough matchup in Week 6 when his team takes on the hosting Pittsburgh Steelers.

Saturday, October 4, 5:51 AM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III draws a difficult matchup in Week 5 against a Patriots defense that has surrendered just 77.5 rushing yards per game, tied for second-fewest in the league. While Cook may find tough sledding between the tackles, his versatility as a receiver should keep him firmly in the RB1 mix. Last week against Baltimore, he managed only 44 yards on the ground but offset that with 58 yards through the air, showing his ability to remain productive even when the rushing lanes are clogged. In what projects to be one of Buffalo's biggest games of the season, the Bills will likely lean on Cook in multiple ways to generate offense. Fantasy managers should continue to view him as a high-end starting option in both standard and PPR formats.