Who Should I Start? James Cook or Travis Hunter

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.

Saturday, September 6, 7:36 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter is expected to be an every-down wideout and situational corner for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. Finally, fantasy managers get some clarification on how the Jags plan to handle Hunter's workload. The assumption is that his workload on defense will increase as he continues to learn and develop. The Jags are limited in terms of offensive weapons with Brian Thomas Jr. being their primary weapon last season. The fact that Hunter will be an every-down wideout is intriguing for fantasy managers heading into the season opener. The upside is too high here to keep Hunter on the bench for a plus-matchup in Week 1.