Who Should I Start? James Cook or Bijan Robinson

Friday, September 5, 1:23 PM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is coming off a 2024 campaign in which he unexpectedly tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing touchdowns after tallying just two in the previous season. He also surpassed 1,000 yards on the ground for the second year in a row, but fantasy managers may have to temper expectations in Week 1. Cook is set to battle the Baltimore Ravens, who boasted the league's top-ranked run defense last season, when the teams kick off Sunday. The Ravens held opposing rushers to a paltry 3.6 yards per carry - a far cry from Cook's 4.9 YPC. Cook faced the Ravens twice in 2024 and combined for 106 yards on 26 carries, four catches for another 24 yards, and zero scores. The explosive 25-year-old enters 2025 as a high-end RB2 in fantasy, but with the Ravens standing in his way, Cook may not storm out of the gates in the opener.

Friday, September 5, 5:47 PM

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson will go up against the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Atlanta on Sunday, a team that was able to limit him to 25 carries for 124 yards combined in two games last year. With run-stuffing Vita Vea expected to play for the Bucs in this contest, running the ball could prove challenging again. The 23-year-old running back can contribute through the air as well, though, as he caught 61 passes last year, an average of over three receptions per game, including a seven-catch effort against the Bucs in Week 8. Together with his nose for the end zone (15 total TDs in '24) and the fact that quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will be making just his fourth NFL start, the 23-year-old still projects as a top-three running back for fantasy this week.