Who Should I Start? James Cook or Jahmyr Gibbs

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.

Monday, October 6, 1:20 AM

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 54 yards on 12 carries during Sunday's Week 5 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He also caught two passes for 33 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown reception. If not for finding the end zone, Gibbs would have had a relatively modest final line of 14 touches and 87 yards, so fantasy managers will appreciate that he was able to cross the goal line. It was interesting to see David Montgomery reclaim the lead-back role with his 18 carries, but that could have been a product of the game script. It also may have been part of the Lions' effort to honor the narrative of Montgomery returning to his birthplace of Cincinnati once the score got out of hand. Whatever the reason, managers should have no concerns about Gibbs going forward. He remains one of the league's most talented and versatile running backs, and it doesn't hurt that he plays for a high-powered offense within a 4-1 team. The 23-year-old remains a mid-range RB1 option in fantasy football for Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs.