Who Should I Start? Rhamondre Stevenson or James Cook III

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Week 1 Projections

Fant. Pts.	Rush. Yds.	Rush TD	Rec.	Rec. Yds.	Rec TD
11.0	43.4	0.4	2.1	17.3	0.1

Rhamondre Stevenson News

Rhamondre Stevenson Gaining Steam as the No. 1 RB for Patriots

Wednesday, September 2, 9:17 PM

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson appears to be poised to lead the New England Patriots' backfield in the early part of the 2026 season as fellow tailback TreVeyon Henderson remains sidelined with an ankle injury he suffered on Aug. 24. Mike Reiss of ESPN reported on Aug. 31 that Henderson had not yet been cleared for a return to full participation, and he did not practice on Sept. 1. Meanwhile, Stevenson, who has drawn praise throughout training camp, continues to practice and seems to be the front-runner for No. 1 running back duties in New England. Stevenson is carrying momentum from the 2025 postseason, where he out-carried Henderson 58-30 and out-rushed Henderson by a tally of 217 yards to 76. While Henderson could be ready for Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, Stevenson is currently in the driver's seat for a larger workload. Stevenson's current Yahoo ADP of 78.1 is good value, as he ranks as RotoBaller's No. 58 overall player and No. 23 running back in half-PPR leagues.

James Cook III - Buffalo (RB)

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Week 1 Projections

Fant. Pts.	Rush. Yds.	Rush TD	Rec.	Rec. Yds.	Rec TD
15.6	76.7	0.6	2.1	16.6	0.1

James Cook III News

James Cook III Set For More Passing Work To Reduce Rushing Workload

Thursday, September 3, 6:59 AM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III led the league last year in rushing with 1,621 rushing yards on 309 carries, but look for him this season to be more involved in the passing game and be more explosive overall. According to a Sports Illustrated article, Bills offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael hinted that Cook was heavily involved in the run game last season and could see a reduction to his workload as a result of increased passing work. That's good news for Cook's health and a boost to fantasy managers with a big season upcoming due to potential big plays in the passing game with Josh Allen running the offense under new coach Joe Brady. Cook looks locked and loaded as a first round pick and this only increases his value. Last year, Cook had 33 catches for 291 yards and two receiving TDs. Look for those numbers to skyrocket this season if he stays healthy.

Rhamondre Stevenson vs. James Cook III

Still trying to decide between Stevenson and Cook III? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Rhamondre Stevenson is projected to score 11.0 points this week while James Cook III is projected to score 15.6 points.