Who Should I Start? Josh Jacobs or James Cook

Saturday, August 16, 1:50 PM

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs will not play in Saturday's second preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts, according to Packers beat writer Mike Spofford. Jacobs will take a seat after playing just one offensive snap in the preseason opener last week against the New York Jets. Most of the team's key starters won't feature this weekend, including quarterback Jordan Love (thumb) and receivers Jayden Reed (knee), Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and Romeo Doubs (back). In his first year in Green Bay in 2024, Jacobs topped 1,000 rushing yards for the fourth time in his six NFL seasons and scored a career-high 15 rushing touchdowns on 301 carries. Jacobs should again be the workhorse in the Packers' backfield this year, but fantasy managers should expect TD regression, making him more of a low-end RB1 target in fantasy.

Friday, September 5, 1:23 PM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is coming off a 2024 campaign in which he unexpectedly tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing touchdowns after tallying just two in the previous season. He also surpassed 1,000 yards on the ground for the second year in a row, but fantasy managers may have to temper expectations in Week 1. Cook is set to battle the Baltimore Ravens, who boasted the league's top-ranked run defense last season, when the teams kick off Sunday. The Ravens held opposing rushers to a paltry 3.6 yards per carry - a far cry from Cook's 4.9 YPC. Cook faced the Ravens twice in 2024 and combined for 106 yards on 26 carries, four catches for another 24 yards, and zero scores. The explosive 25-year-old enters 2025 as a high-end RB2 in fantasy, but with the Ravens standing in his way, Cook may not storm out of the gates in the opener.