Who Should I Start? Javonte Williams or James Cook

Monday, October 20, 12:17 AM

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams had his second 100-yard rushing performance of the season in the Week 7 victory over the visiting Washington Commanders on Sunday. In the 44-22 win, Williams was dominant on the ground, going for 116 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries (6.1 yards per carry). It was the 25-year-old's second game in 2025 with over 100 rushing yards, and it was a nice bounce-back effort after he had a season-low 29 ground yards on 13 carries in last week's loss to the Carolina Panthers. He added just one catch on four targets for a gain of two yards. Williams showed his bruising style of play and was able to pick up chunk gains out of the backfield against a weak Commanders defense on Sunday. He is averaging over 5.0 yards per tote in his first year in Dallas and is well on his way to a breakout in his fifth NFL season in Dallas' high-scoring offense. Williams has become a must-start RB2 in fantasy, but it could be tough sledding against his old team, the Denver Broncos, in a Week 8 showdown.

Saturday, October 11, 1:46 PM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook will face one of his toughest challenges of the season when he takes on Atlanta's sixth-ranked run defense on Monday night. The Falcons have excelled at controlling time of possession and limiting offensive opportunities, though they've allowed a 44.7% scoring rate on drives, leaving the door open for Cook to find the end zone. The third-year back is averaging 107.8 scrimmage yards and one touchdown per game, but he's coming off a sluggish performance against New England's opportunistic defense. While Cook's volume and role in Buffalo's high-powered offense keep him in RB1 territory, fantasy managers should temper expectations--his Week 6 success will likely hinge on finding pay dirt against a disciplined Falcons front.