Who Should I Start? Joe Mixon or James Cook

Wednesday, August 20, 1:06 PM

Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports that Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) could begin the 2025 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which would mean he'd miss at least the first four games. Mixon has not practiced at all during training camp this summer and hasn't even been seen working off the side on a rehab field. The 29-year-old former second-rounder by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017 out of Oklahoma had a solid first year in Houston in 2024, rushing for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns on 245 carries over 14 regular-season starts, adding 36 catches for 309 yards and another TD. He can do it all, but it's looking more likely that he won't be ready for Week 1. If Mixon is unavailable for the start of the regular season, the Texans could go with a committee backfield involving Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce and rookie Woody Marks.

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.