Who Should I Start? James Cook or Ashton Jeanty

Thursday, May 8, 7:58 AM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook skipped the initial portion of the team's voluntary offseason workout program, but general manager Brandon Beane expects him to be ready for football when the time comes. Cook's holdout stems from contract talks, which are ongoing between the running back and team executives. "I know we've had people in the building that he's been talking with, and I have no doubt when it's time to play football, he'll be ready to roll," Beane said. Although an exact timeline is unclear, Cook could return as soon as June 10, when the Bills begin their mandatory minicamp for veteran players. Per the terms of the CBA, any player who misses all three days of mandatory minicamp will be hit with fines exceeding $100,000 total. That amount could be a drop in the bucket compared to Cook's next contract, but it's still a significant price to pay for missing three days of practice. Extending Cook would be in the Bills' best interest after he totaled 1,267 scrimmage yards and a career-high 18 touchdowns last season.

Friday, May 23, 12:04 PM

Las Vegas Raiders rookie first-round running back Ashton Jeanty used a unique backfield stance in his final season at Boise State last year, standing straight up before a snap to give him a better view of the defensive alignment. However, in OTAs with the Raiders, Jeanty has used a more prototypical stance at the suggestion of offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who thinks it gives the RB a stronger base to explode out of once the ball is snapped. The 21-year-old was the sixth overall pick in this year's NFL draft and will immediately come in and take over RB1 duties in Vegas, with veteran Raheem Mostert backing him up. Jeanty is physical, fast and hard to tackle and profiles as a workhorse back while excelling on the ground and through the air. Expect to pay a pretty penny on draft day for Jeanty in both redraft and dynasty drafts with expectations sky-high entering his rookie campaign.