Who Should I Start? James Cook or Matthew Golden

Wednesday, August 13, 9:13 AM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is officially back in the fold after signing a four-year contract extension with his team on Wednesday. Soon after the signing was announced, Buffalo GM Brandon Beane told reporters that he views Cook as a three-down back. Beane said, "We do feel he can take more, but we like to use our three options and keep him fresh." Cook often lost passing-down work to Ty Johnson last season and only played on 48% of Buffalo's offensive snaps. It is unlikely that Buffalo installs Cook as their workhorse, as their running game was effective in 2024, but it would be a positive for fantasy managers if the Bills shifted some of the targets in the passing game onto Cook's plate. Either way, he sets up as a solid RB2 in fantasy with an RB1 ceiling if he starts catching more passes.

Saturday, August 23, 7:56 PM

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden hauled in a 39-yard strike on two targets from starting quarterback Malik Willis in the Packers' 20-7 victory over the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field. Golden, the Packers' first-round pick this past April, had to adjust and come back to the ball a little bit, but made a nice adjustment downfield to secure the longest reception of the day for both teams. The Packers' intent on selecting Golden in the first round signals a big role for the talented rookie out of Texas, and fantasy managers agree. Golden has been a mid-round upside staple in an offense that looks to generate more offense through the air this season than last season's iteration. Could Golden be the next fantasy find like last season's Ladd McConkey and Brian Thomas Jr.? Golden certainly has that level of upside as a WR3 in fantasy drafts.