Who Should I Start? Joe Mixon or James Cook

Monday, November 10, 6:18 PM

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) hasn't been able to do anything for the last four months with what the team is calling a foot injury, and there have been no recent updates on what his timetable might look like for a return this year. It has opened up speculation that Mixon won't return at all for Houston in 2025. He was placed on the Non-Football Injury list in the offseason, and the Texans have offered few details on his foot injury. General manager Nick Caserio said in early October that Mixon was making progress, but the fact that we haven't heard anything since isn't good news. The Texans are still holding out hope that Mixon will be back this year, but KPRC 2 Sports' Aaron Wilson has said that Mixon's situation is "tough" and "complicated." Fantasy managers shouldn't be so hopeful he'll play in 2025. In the meantime, the Texans will roll on with veteran Nick Chubb in the early down role, with rookie Woody Marks seeing passing-down work.

Saturday, November 8, 11:51 AM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has been removed from the injury report and will play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, presumably without any limitations. This is great news for Cook and his fantasy managers, as a matchup against the Dolphins provides an enormous opportunity for the 26-year-old to rack up fantasy points. Miami has been miserable against the run this year, surrendering the third-most rushing yards and fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2025. Cook is the overall RB7 in PPR leagues so far with 867 rushing yards, 100 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. In his last outing against Miami, he accrued 118 scrimmage yards and one touchdown. Fantasy managers should have full confidence deploying Cook as a mid-to-high RB1 this week.