Who Should I Start? Samaje Perine or James Cook

Tuesday, December 30, 2:11 PM

Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine has finished as a low-end RB2 in each of the past two weeks without cracking a 40% snap share. If the Bengals opt to rest or limit their starters, including the surging Chase Brown, Perine could be in line for a solid workload in a Week 18 matchup against the Browns with nothing but divisional pride on the line. Even if Perine maintains only his usual change of pace and mop-up duties, he has enough of a floor to keep him in consideration for a flex role against a Cleveland defense that just allowed 131 yards on the ground to a Steelers offense with no threat of a passing attack. Readily available on most waiver wires, Perine should be a top priority in any league with a Week 18 title game.

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.