Who Should I Start? Jaylen Warren or James Cook

Friday, September 5, 6:11 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren will begin his first campaign as the team's featured ballcarrier in a road bout with the New York Jets. Warren thrived in a complementary role through his first three seasons, averaging 4.8 yards per tote while adding 127 receptions. Although he is expected to lead Pittsburgh's backfield ahead of rookie Kaleb Johnson, Warren will be tested by a solid New York defense. The Jets shut down running backs in the passing game and held the position to the fifth-fewest yards per carry in 2024. This is expected to be a low-scoring affair, so while Warren doesn't offer extreme upside, he can be started as a volume-based RB2 or flex option in Week 1.

Thursday, September 11, 2:08 PM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is fully healthy heading into Week 2 after logging a full practice Thursday and being removed from the injury report. Cook was heavily involved in the Bills' offense during their season opener against Baltimore, racking up 44 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground while adding five catches for 58 yards through the air. His dual-threat ability makes him a valuable piece in both real-life and fantasy football, as Josh Allen and the Bills continue to rely on his versatility. With a pivotal divisional matchup against the New York Jets on deck, Cook's role should once again feature high usage, giving him strong appeal as a locked-in RB2 with upside in PPR formats.