Who Should I Start? Ray Davis or Ollie Gordon II

Saturday, August 9, 7:07 PM

With Buffalo Bills star running back James Cook staging a hold-in and unwilling to play Saturday, Ray Davis earned the start in the team's 34-25 preseason-opening loss to the New York Giants. Davis rushed for just seven yards on four attempts and caught one of two targets for another seven yards. As the Bills' emergency kicker, his most memorable highlight came on a successful extra-point attempt in the second quarter. The 5-foot-8, 220-pound Davis joined the Bills as a fourth-round pick from Kentucky in 2024 and was a capable reserve behind Cook as a rookie. Davis appeared in all 17 of the Bills' regular-season games and totaled 442 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 113 rushing attempts. He also caught three TDs and pulled in 17 of his 19 targets for 189 yards. With third-down back Ty Johnson also in the fold, Davis took around 25% of offensive snaps last season. That should be the case again in 2025, but Davis might have an expanded role early on if Cook is unavailable. While Cook seems unlikely to sit out into Week 1 over dissatisfaction with his contract, Davis figures to be the main beneficiary if he does. Cook missed one game last season, a 23-20 win over the New York Jets in Week 6, and Davis accrued 152 total yards (97 rushing, 55 receiving) on 23 touches as Buffalo's go-to back.

Friday, September 12, 9:14 PM

Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II apparently hit the snooze button in Week 1, since the sleeper dozed right through his NFL debut. Gordon is RotoBaller's RB54 for the Dolphins' Week 2 matchup against the Patriots after he only managed four yards on two carries and one catch for negative one yard in Week 1. He played 15 snaps (25%) and could work his way into a larger role as the season progresses. At this point, though, he's a hold for his long-term upside, not for the production he is expected to bring this week. He doesn't belong on waiver wires, but he also doesn't belong in your starting lineup ultin he has a clear path to playing time. Jaylen Wright (leg) could crowd Gordon's playing time even more when he returns, although coach Mike McDaniel said that is unlikely to be this week, and the running back is doubtful on the injury report.