Who Should I Start? James Cook or Emeka Egbuka

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.

Sunday, September 7, 6:45 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka had a ton of hype surrounding him coming into the regular season. Due to injuries, Egbuka moved into the No. 2 wideout role for the Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The rookie wideout didn't disappoint as he got heavily involved in the win. Egbuka scored his first career touchdown on a 30-yard reception in the second quarter. He would find the end zone again in what would turn out to be the game-winning 25-yard score. Egbuka finished his debut with four receptions on six targets for 67 yards and two touchdowns in the win. The rookie wideout should remain a viable option against the Houston Texans in Week 2.