Who Should I Start? Jonathan Taylor or James Cook

Sunday, December 28, 9:25 PM

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor did not have his most efficient day in his team's 23-17 Week 17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he was able to volume his way to solid production. Taylor recorded 21 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown and also hauled in three receptions for 14 yards on six targets. The 26-year-old has now recorded 1,924 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns on 353 touches across 16 games in 2025. While Taylor's numbers for the season are excellent, he's struggled with efficiency throughout the second half of the season. Including Week 17, he's averaged fewer than four yards per carry in five out of his last six games. Still, the Colts' offense remains built around Taylor, as he's recorded at least 18 touches in every game but two this season. Indianapolis will travel to Houston to take on the Texans in Week 18.

Tuesday, January 13, 7:00 PM

After finishing the regular season with an NFL-best 1,621 rushing yards, Buffalo Bills running back James Cook had an underwhelming outing in his first game of the postseason. The 26-year-old was held to just 46 rushing yards on 15 carries and five receiving yards on two catches by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cook's regular-season track record should afford him the benefit of the doubt from fantasy managers. However, he will face another very difficult run defense in the Divisional round when Buffalo travels to Denver to take on the Broncos. The Broncos defense finished the regular season ranked third in the NFL in yards per carry allowed (3.9) and tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns allowed (11). Additionally, Buffalo's already depleted pass-catching corps lost another two wide receivers in Gabe Davis (knee) and Tyrell Shavers (knee), who both suffered season-ending knee injuries in the Wild Card round. As a result, Denver could be even more geared up to stop Cook and take away the run. Cook remains a high-end running back option, but fantasy managers may want to downgrade expectations heading into the Divisional round.