Houston Texans @ Baltimore Ravens -9.5 (4:30 PM EST on ABC/ESPN)

This Houston Texans team continues to impress led by C.J. Stroud. Stroud once again had a near perfect performance against the Cleveland Browns in a blowout win. Going into the game the Browns had the #1 ranked defense in the league but had no answers for the Texans offense. Up next will be a much tougher test in Baltimore with a fresh Ravens team looking to start its Super Bowl run.

The Ravens are stacked on both sides of the ball and quarterback Lamar Jackson is putting up MVP numbers this season. Lamar finally has some legit threats on the outside including stud rookie receiver Zay Flowers. Jackson and the Ravens offense will look to control the clock and keep the Texans offense off the field.

In the end, the Ravens will be too much to handle for Houston putting an end to its Cinderella run. The future is bright for the Texans who have a star head coach and a legit quarterback to build around.

Game Pick: Ravens 31 – Texans 17

Green Bay Packers @ San Francisco 49ers -9.5 (8:15 PM EST on FOX)

In the Saturday nightcap, the Packers will look for another upset against the best in the NFC. San Francisco has looked the part of a potential champion all year and show no signs of slowing down. The 49ers will be rested and mostly healthy except for Dre Greenlaw who is questionable for the game.

Green Bay was the most impressive team last weekend and it’s hard not to be in awe with what Jordan Love is doing. Love is running this offense to perfection with great accuracy and pocket movement. The Packers will need another big game from Aaron Jones as balance will be a key against this 49ers defense.

I see the Packers continuing their momentum and hanging with the 49ers for most of the game. San Francisco will pull away late but this will be closer than most expect.

Game Pick: 49ers 27 – Packers 20

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Detroit Lions -6.5 (3:00 PM EST on NBC)

Another surprise result from Wild Card weekend was Tampa Bay dominating the Eagles. I did pick the Bucs to win but was impressed at how well they looked and how bad the Eagles played. The Eagles looked like they already checked out and had issues tackling all night long. Up next for Tampa Bay will be the Lions at home and don’t expect the same tackling issues for the Lions defense.

In Detroit, everything is coming together. Their offense is one of the best in the league led by OC Ben Johnson and on defense, they are night and day better than they were last season. The Lions will need a better 2nd half performance than last week as they barely held on to get by the Rams.

Baker Mayfield looks to have found a home in Tampa Bay and I expect him to sign a long-term deal with the Bucs this offseason. Mayfield and the Bucs will keep it close for the first 3 quarters but Detroit will be too much to handle at home.

Game Pick: Lions 28 – Bucs 17

Kansas City Chiefs @ Buffalo Bills -3 (6:30 PM EST on CBS)

The best game in the Divisional round will be in Buffalo. Josh Allen and the Bills will look to finally get past Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs and they get them at home. This will be Mahomes first road playoff game which just shows how dominant the Chiefs have been lately.

Buffalo has finally found its form and continued its run with a 31 – 17 win against the Steelers last weekend. The Bills have now won 6 straight games and are one of the hottest teams in the league. What has been the winning formula for Buffalo? The ground game. The Bills are relying more on James Cook and running the ball which is putting less on Josh Allen’s shoulders.

This has been a strange year for the Chiefs who for the first time are relying more on their defense. Kansas City’s offense is just not as explosive as years past and it’s clear they miss former OC Eric Bieniemy. The Chiefs will need to break out of their offensive funk to have a chance in Buffalo.

In the end, I see Buffalo moving on as they prove to be too much at home for the Chiefs. This game will be a huge confidence boost for the Bills as they look to continue their run.

Game Pick: Bills 27 – Chiefs 24

The post Divisional Round Playoff Picks appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Russell Wilson (@ Chi) – Russ hasn’t exactly been cooking for the Broncos but there are signs of life. Wilson has had back-to-back 300+ yard games and up next is the lowly Chicago Bears. This has breakout game written all over it for the Broncos offense. The Denver defense is still in shambles so this game should go over the current 46-point total. I wouldn’t be surprised if Wilson targets Marvin Mims Jr. more in this matchup as he has been explosive so far in limited action.

Sit ‘Em

Joe Burrow (@ Ten) – Burrow just hasn’t looked like himself thus far and the nagging calf injury is a concern. The entire Bengals offense has been limited due to Burrow’s inability to throw the ball down the field. Up next is a Titans defense that will force Burrow to throw outside of the pocket. At this point, I would like to see Burrow sit until he is completely healthy.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

De’Von Achane (@ Buf) – If you were lucky enough to land Achane congratulations, it’s now time to slide him into your starting lineup. Sure the Dolphins have a ton of options on offense to spread the ball to but it won’t matter. Achane has shown enough that you can’t risk keeping him on your bench. I would also start Raheem Mostert (my week 3 Start of the Week) as the two combined for 8 total touchdowns last week.

Sit ‘Em

Rhamondre Stevenson (@ Dal) – Stevenson has yet to eclipse the 60+ rushing yards mark and is averaging just 2.9 yards per attempt. On top of that, Ezekiel Elliott outperformed Stevenson in week 3 rushing for 80 yards on 16 carries. The Patriots now go on the road against the Cowboys who will be looking to revenge last week’s loss against the Cardinals.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Calvin Ridley (vs. Atl) – Ridley has been a non-factor in his last two games but that will change in London. Ridley had 15 targets in weeks 2 and 3 but only 5 receptions for 72 yards in that span including some costly drops. Up next is the Atlanta Falcons which will be a revenge game for Ridley. The entire Jaguars offense needs a reset and it’s a perfect time for them to go overseas. I see Trevor Lawrence getting some of his 2022 form back on Sunday.

Sit ‘Em

Terry McLaurin (@ Phi) – Unfortunately it’s time to sit McLaurin until we see some better results. This isn’t a knock on McLaurin more so on the offense who have failed to protect Sam Howell. It’s hard to justify starting any of the Commanders wide receivers until they get their protection issues fixed. Washington now has to go on the road at Philadelphia and their d-line will be licking their chops.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Sam LaPorta (@ GB) – LaPorta has been one of the surprises of the season so far for the Lions. The rookie tight finished TE1 in week 3 where he hauled in his first NFL touchdowns. He also had 11 targets which shows quarterback Jared Goff is trusting the young tight end. Up next is Green Bay on Thursday night in an old-fashioned NFC North battle.

Sit ‘Em

David Njoku (vs. Bal) – There was hope that Njoku would have a breakout year for the Browns but that hasn’t panned out yet. He has yet to score thus far and had a season-low 20 receiving yards last week. There are better options to start at the tight end position. Sit Njoku until he can carve out a bigger role.

Start of the Week

James Cook (vs. Mia) – Cook has yet to hit the endzone this season but that will change on Sunday. He has looked the part for the Bills and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Next up is the Miami Dolphins and this one should be a barn burner. The Dolphins are allowing 20.4 fantasy points per game to running backs through the first 3 weeks. Look for a big game from Cook in week 4.

The post 2023-24 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 4 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Seattle Seahawks 37, Detroit Lions 31

The Seattle Seahawks won 37-31 in walk-off fashion on the road in Detroit as Geno Smith found Tyler Lockett, who reached out for the pylon. Smith led Seattle to a turnover-free victory, going 32-for-41 with 328 yards and two touchdowns. Both passing touchdowns were to Lockett, who racked up eight catches for 59 yards. Seattle also found success on the ground, rushing for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf left the game in the first quarter with a rib injury, and headed to to the locker room. He returned shortly after, finishing the game with six receptions for 75 yards, as Geno Smith spread the targets around all game. Turnovers proved to be the downfall for Detroit. The Lions fumbled the ball away twice in a row, one to end the first half and another to begin the second half. Jared Goff then threw a pick-six to Seattle cornerback Tre Brown, who ran it back 40 yards to the house. Late in the fourth quarter, Goff led the Lions down the field for a game-tying field goal, forcing overtime with a score of 31-31. However it was not enough for the Lions, who fall to 1-1 after the loss. Meanwhile, Seattle also moves to 1-1 with the victory.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Buffalo Bills 38, Las Vegas Raiders 10

Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills to a stress-free victory at home, going 31-for-37 with 274 yards and three touchdowns. Both the Bills and the Las Vegas Raiders move to 1-1 on the season.

The ball seemed to be in the hands of the Bills all game, as the Buffalo defense forced three turnovers. Linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard both intercepted Jimmy Garoppolo, and Taylor Rapp recovered a Zamir White fumble. Josh Allen spread the touches throughout the offense, finding Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir, and Dawson Knox for touchdowns. The run game was unstoppable for the Bills, led by James Cook who ran for 123 yards, as Damien Harris and Latavius Murray ran in a touchdown each. Allen had no turnovers and looked comfortable in a bounce-back victory.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Baltimore Ravens 27, Cincinnati Bengals 24

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens went on the road to Cincinnati and avoided a Bengals second half comeback, winning the game 27-24. The Ravens move to 2-0 on the year, as the Bengals fall to 0-2.

Jackson completed 24 passes on 33 attempts for 237 yards and two touchdowns. He added 54 yards on the ground, as the Ravens ran for 178 yards as a team, including a Gus Edwards touchdown. Safety Geno Stone intercepted Joe Burrow to begin the second half, and the Ravens turned it into a touchdown on the next drive.

Burrow and the Bengals made a late push in the second half, with a final drive consisting of 16 plays for 80 yards and a touchdown, making the score 27-24. The Cincinnati offense struggled, rushing for just 66 total yards as Burrow went 27-for-41 with 222 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Kansas City Chiefs 17, Jacksonville Jaguars 9

In a low scoring affair, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 17-9. Both teams move to 1-1 on the season.

The first five possessions resulted in punts, before Jacksonville finally took a 3-0 lead on a field goal. The Chiefs fumbled the ball away on the following possession, before Patrick Mahomes was picked off by Jaguars safety Andre Cisco. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense struggled to move the ball all day, as the third year quarterback went 22-for-41 for 216 yards and no touchdowns. The ground game was no better, producing just 74 yards as the Jaguars failed to find the endzone. Kicker Brandon McManus was the lone scorer for Jacksonville, going 3-for-3. Mahomes finished the game 29-for-41 with 305 yards and two touchdowns, finding Travis Kelce on one of them.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Tennessee Titans 27, Los Angeles Chargers 24

The Tennessee Titans beat the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 in an overtime thriller, as Nick Folk kicked the game-winning 41 yard field goal. The Titans move to 1-1 on the season, as the Chargers fall to 0-2.

Los Angeles got out to an early 11-0 lead after a Keenan Allen touchdown and a converted two-point conversion. Ryan Tannehill came back with a 70-yard pass to Treylon Burks, as Derrick Henry finished the drive with a touchdown, making the score 11-7. Both teams went back and forth all game, with impressive outings from both quarterbacks. Justin Herbert found Keenan Allen and Mike Williams consistently, with both receivers finishing the game with 8 receptions and a combined 194 yards. Allen brought in two touchdown passes, as the Chargers marched down the field for a field goal to send the game to overtime with a score of 24-24. The Chargers won the coin toss and got the ball first in overtime, but went three and out and punted the ball back to the Titans offense. Tannehill led them down the field for an 8 play, 37 yard drive to give Nick Folk a 41 yard field goal for the win, which he put down the middle.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Atlanta Falcons 25, Green Bay Packers 24

The Atlanta Falcons squeaked by the Green Bay Packers by a score of 25-24, including an electric fourth quarter comeback by the Falcons. Green Bay falls to 1-1 on the season as Atlanta goes to 2-0.

The Packers got out to a 24-12 lead in the third quarter after Jordan Love found Jayden Reed in the endzone for his second touchdown of the game. Desmond Ridder and the Falcons ground-and-pound offense put together an eight play, 75 yard drive for a touchdown of their own, as Ridder ran it in himself to make the score 24-19. The Falcons defense forced a punt and drove down the field for a field goal, cutting the deficit to 24-22. After forcing yet another punt, Atlanta went 12 plays for 66 yards, setting up a 25 yard field goal for Younghoe Koo. The made field goal put the Falcons ahead 25-24, ultimately winning them the game. Jordan Love finished the game 14-for-25 with 151 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Falcons.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, Chicago Bears 17

Baker Mayfield shined, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 27-17 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Buccaneers move to 2-0 on the season, as the Bears fall to 0-2.

Although the Bears scored on their first possession, it was all Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers for the rest of the afternoon. Mayfield found Mike Evans wide open on a deep pass that Evans took 70 yards downfield, inside the 10 yard line. The big play setup for a Rachaad White touchdown run, giving the Buccaneers a 10-7 lead. Mayfield connected with Evans again in the third quarter for a 32 yard touchdown, making the score 20-10.

The Buccaneers defense gave Justin Fields fits all game, sacking him six times. In the fourth quarter, Fields connected with Chase Claypool for a 20 yard touchdown, making the score 20-17. The bears got the ball back after forcing a punt, beginning the drive on their own seven yard line. After a couple penalties, Justin Fields dropped back and had his pass tipped and intercepted by Shaquil Barrett, who brought it just a few steps into the endzone, giving the Buccaneers a convincing 27-17 victory at home.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Indianapolis Colts 31, Houston Texans 20

The Indianapolis Colts stole a game on the road in a divisional matchup as they beat the Houston Texans 31-20. The Colts move to 1-1 on the season as the Texans fall to 0-2.

Anthony Richardson ran it in for a touchdown on the Colts’ first two drives of the game, making it 14-0. On the second touchdown, he took a shot causing his head to bounce off the turf, forcing the fourth overall draft pick to be evaluated for a concussion. The rookie quarterback was ruled out for the rest of the game, leaving the Colts with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew. Minshew took over and went 19-of-23 for 171 yards and a touchdown, maintaining the lead. The new acquisition at running back Zack Moss contributed 18 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown, as the Texans couldn’t stop the Indianapolis offense.

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud had an impressive outing in the loss, going 30-for-47 with 384 yards and two touchdowns. Stroud connected with Nico Collins and fellow rookie Tank Dell seven times each, for a combined 218 yards. Each of the receivers brought in a touchdown, as the Colts bounced back from their week one home loss.

NFL Week 2 Recap: New York Giants 31, Arizona Cardinals 28

The New York Giants rallied for a 21 point comeback on the road against the Arizona Cardinals, the third comeback that size in Giants history. With a 20-0 lead at halftime, and a 28-7 lead in the third quarter, Arizona allowed 24 unanswered points to fall to 0-2 on the season. Meanwhile, the Giants move to 1-1 on the season following the rollercoaster of a week two game.

The Giants went scoreless for the first six quarters of the season, the first time since 1934. Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs showed his athleticism all first half, using his legs to gain yards along with scrambling out of the pocket to make throws on the run. On Arizona’s third possession, Dobbs dropped back to pass and found an opening up the middle, taking it 23 yards for a touchdown, trucking a giants defender just before falling into the endzone. The play gave Arizona an early 14-0 lead, which would quickly grow before the half ended. 

Daniel Jones and the Giants offense came storming back in the third quarter, with help from Saquon Barkley, who scored both a receiving and rushing touchdown before leaving the field with an ankle injury towards the end of the game. The injury took away from the stunning comeback, as the Giants await the information on his ankle.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: San Francisco 49ers 30, Los Angeles Rams 23

The San Francisco 49ers went on the road to SoFi Stadium, pulling away with a 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco elevates to 2-0 on the season as Los Angeles falls to 1-1 following the divisional matchup.

Two interceptions thrown by Matt Stafford proved to be the difference Sunday afternoon. With just under five minutes remaining in the game and the Rams trailing 27-20, Stafford looked across the middle for Van Jefferson but was picked off by Deommodore Lenoir.

Christian McCaffrey was in mid-season form, rushing for 116 yards on 20 carries to go with a touchdown. Brock Purdy missed some throws on big plays throughout the game, but was sufficient, going 17-for-25 for 206 yards, along with a rushing touchdown of his own. All three of the 49ers touchdowns came on the ground and the Rams defense had no answer. 

With Cooper Kupp sidelined, Puka Nacua was the focus once again for the Rams offense. He racked up 15 receptions for 147 yards, making him the first player in NFL history to record at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in his first two games of his career. Meanwhile running back Kyren Williams got 20 total touches with both a receiving and rushing touchdown, proving why he should replace Cam Akers in the backfield.

NFL Week 2 Recap: Washington Commanders 35, Denver Broncos 33

The Washington Commanders completed the thriller comeback on the Denver Broncos, holding off a late game hail mary to win by a score of 35-33. Denver completed a hail mary as time expired, but couldn’t convert the two point conversion to force overtime. The Commanders move to 2-0 on the season as the Broncos fall to 0-2.

The Broncos jumped out to a 21-3 lead early into the first half, including a Marvin Mims Jr. one-play, 60 yard touchdown pass from Russel Wilson. The Commanders cut the lead to 21-14 before halftime, and continued into the second half as the defense immediately forced a punt. The offense took over and scored a touchdown on its first drive as Sam Howell found Terry McLaurin in the middle of the endzone for a 30 yard touchdown, tying the game 21-21.

Denver eventually got the ball back with a chance to tie the game. After moving the ball to midfield, Russel Wilson and company had one last chance to force overtime. The deep hail mary pass was tipped around before being brought in by Brandon Johnson for his second touchdown of the game, making the score 35-33. The two point conversion, a pass intended for Courtland Sutton was incomplete as the Broncos looked for a pass-interference call but didn’t get it.

Sam Howell finished the game with an impressive 27 completions on 39 attempts for 299 yards and two touchdown passes. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. also ran in for a pair of touchdowns himself.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Dallas Cowboys 30, New York Jets 10

The Dallas Cowboys beat the New York Jets handedly by a score of 30-10 as the Cowboys defense dominated for the second week in a row. Dallas moves to 2-0 on the season as the Jets fall to 1-1.

Micah Parsons and the Cowboys defense looked unstoppable in week two, intercepting Jets quarterback Zach Wilson three times. Parsons recorded two sacks and four hits on Wilson, as Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker, and Trevon Diggs each intercepted a pass.

Ceedee Lamb showed he didn’t need the help of Brandin Cooks, who missed the game due to a sprained knee. Lamb recorded 11 catches for 143 yards, with big plays setting up for multiple scores for Dallas. Kicker Brandon Aubrey went five-for-five on field goals, as Dak Prescott found tight ends Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker for a touchdown each. 

The lone touchdown for the Jets came from star receiver Garret Wilson, who caught a pass across the middle and took it 68 yards to the house, marking his longest touchdown of his career thus far. Other than that, there wasn’t much going for Zach Wilson and the Jets offense, who recorded 215 total yards. Parsons along with the rest of the ruthless Dallas front four pressured Wilson all game, showing why they are one of the best defenses in the NFL.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Miami Dolphins 24, New England Patriots 17

The Miami Dolphins held off a late comeback by the New England Patriots, winning the game 24-17 as a lateral to Cole Strange came up short on fourth down. 

Tua Tagovailoa took what the defense gave him for most of the night, finding Jaylen Waddle five times for 86 yards. The Dolphins had plenty of success on the ground as well, as Raheem Mostert took 18 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns.

Rookie Cornerback Christian Gonzalez kept Tyreek Hill in check for the most part, holding the star receiver to four receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown, with the touchdown coming on a play where Gonzalez was not covering Hill.

Mac Jones finished the game 31-for-42 with 231 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The interception came at the end of the third quarter after the Patriots drove down the field into the redzone. Xavien Howard picked off the pass intended for DeVante Parker on the sideline at the Miami three yard line, putting an end to New Englands’ drive and keeping the score at 17-3.

The Patriots cut the lead down in the fourth quarter following a Mac Jones scramble for 18 yards, the longest run of the night for New England. Jones found Hunter Henry on the run for a six yard touchdown pass, making the score 17-10.

On the next Miami possession, Tagovailoa threw it deep down the left side of the field to Tyreek Hill as the pass was intercepted by Christian Gonzalez. The rookie first round pick made a leaping catch over Hill, giving the Patriots the ball back.

The Dolphins forced a three and out, getting the ball back on the New England 43 yard line. On the first play of the drive, Raheem Mostert took a handoff up the middle 43 yards untouched to the endzone, extending the lead to 24-10.

Mac Jones led the Patriots to a 9 play 75 yard drive ending with a Rhamondre Stevenson touchdown run to cut the lead down to 24-17.

The Dolphins took the ball and drove it into Patriots territory, before the snap was fumbled on third and one. Tua recovered the fumble, but the mistake forced Miami to kick a 55 yard field goal. With concern for Brenden Schooler, who blocked the previous field goal, Jason Sanders missed the field goal, giving the Patriots an opportunity to tie or win the game.

After finding Kendrick Bourne for a pair of completions, Mac Jones was sacked by Bradley Chubb for a loss of 8 yards. New England was faced with a fourth and four, where Mac Jones completed a pass to Mike Gesicki short of the first down line. Gesicki threw a lateral to offensive lineman Cole Strange, who was stopped short of the marker, ending the comeback for the Patriots.

The win brings the Dolphins to 2-0 on the season, as the Patriots fall to 0-2.

The post NFL Game Recaps Week 2 (2023) appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

During his rookie campaign, Buffalo Bills running back James Cook did not get many chances to showcase his skills. For the most part, Cook was stuck behind Devin Singletary and was limited to 110 total touches. Despite the limited usage, Cook had some bright spots that show promise for the future. Cook finished last year with 97 fantasy points (Half PPR) and 3 total touchdowns. He is now in line to be the lead back in one of the league’s most prolific offenses. Let’s take a more detailed look at what to do if you’re a James Cook dynasty manager or looking to acquire him.

2022

When the Buffalo Bills drafted James Cook from Georgia there was hope that he could carve out a big role. The Bills had Devin Singletary but he wasn’t exactly a league winner. Unfortunately, it took Cook a while to adjust to the NFL and it showed in his debut. He fumbled the ball on his first ever NFL carry which was less than ideal. It wasn’t the start Cook was looking for but he responded in week 2 when rushed for 53 yards on 11 carries. He showed some of his elusiveness and breakaway speed on a 33-yard run late in the 4th quarter. It was the type of run that we hoped he build momentum on but that didn’t happen.

In the next 7 games, Cook didn’t make much noise. He all but disappeared from the Bills offensive gameplan until week 11 vs the Cleveland Browns. Cook once again showed that if you give him touches he will produce. Against Cleveland, Cook had 86 yards rushing and averaged 7.8 yards per carry. His best game of the season came in a blowout win at the Chicago Bears. Cook had a season-high 99 yards rushing and a season-high 16.8 fantasy points. If you’re looking for a game to get excited about Cook, this was the one.

2023

James Cook will now get his chance to solidify his role as the Bills starting running back. This offseason, Devin Singletary signed on with the Houston Texans clearing the way for Cook. The Bills also brought in Damien Harris and Latavius Murray but they will likely compete for the backup role. Buffalo drafted Cook for a reason and they want to give him every chance to succeed. Cook has all the intangibles to be a star running back, including elite breakaway speed.

James Cook’s Dynasty Value

What is the current value of James Cook dynasty shares right now? Currently, his value is staying pretty steady on KeepTradeCut and he is currently listed as RB30. This is right in line with our dynasty trade value chart where we have him listed as RB27 with a trade value of 23.53. The potential for Cook in his second year in the Buffalo offense is too big to ignore. My advice at this time is to HOLD on Cook and watch how develops as the starting running back for the Bills.

The post James Cook Dynasty Outlook Right Now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The running back position never becomes less dreamy in fantasy football. Although, there are some RB faces that transcend into less-pleasing profiles as the season goes along. With that said, I’m going to untwine a few RBs that fantasy owners should move on from heading into Week 6.

Mark Ingram

The Saints bowling-ball RB, Mark Ingram, was outmuscled by the Taysom Hill show and Alvin Kamara last week. Ingram (rostered in 28% of Yahoo leagues) had nine carries for 16 yards (as he currently has 38 carries for 144 yards and one TD on the season), while Hill had nine carries for 112 rushing yds and Kamara notched 103 rushing yds on 23 carries. It wasn’t a surprise when the former BYU QB that once squatted 626 pounds won NFC Offensive Player of The Week last week. AK isn’t only back to being healthy, but Hill is clearly going to be regularly involved to help heal their prior offensive woes.

James Cook

James Cook may be Dalvin Cook’s brother, but James (rostered in 34% of ESPN leagues) certainly doesn’t have the same magical ability that Dalvin has at this point. In 2022 — James has ousted 17 carries for 89 yards, four catches for 37 yards, & a touchdown. His best single-game performance arrived last week (four carries for 31 yards). There may be a light at the end of the tunnel for his career, but I don’t foresee him being a threat soon.

Rex Burkhead

The world belongs to Rex Burkhead Dameon Pierce, to say the least. Pierce has somehow managed to oust 412 rushing yards, 4.8 YPC, and a few touchdowns right now. I don’t love the road ahead for Rex Burkhead (rostered in 27% of ESPN leagues). He has only registered 64 rushing yards on 20 carries (along with 18 catches for 112 yards).

The post Fantasy: 3 RBs to drop appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

Week 1 was so entertaining that it seemed more like a simulation than real-life. It’s clear that the dynasty fantasy football landscape has been exhilarating following Week 1 – especially at the pivotal RB spot. With that stated, I’m going to simply untwine a few faces at the RB spot to ship out for dynasty owners.

Alvin Kamara

I love Michael Thomas & I don’t love Alvin Kamara, particularly the long-term outlook for AK. Thomas really proved to the world that he deserves to garner expectations to be a Top-5 WR with a healthy form. Furthermore, I expect Jameis Winston to continue to toss it around the yard to Jarvis Landry, who might have had his best-ever day as a deep threat in Week 1. The Saints will still incorporate 2022 first-round pick Chris Olave more and more into their aerial attack. I don’t believe AK will be overly involved as a pass-catcher moving forward (which may seem surprising) and it should be noted that Kamara still has a date with a suspension in 2023. I believe it would be best to ship him out soon.

James Cook

The Buffalo Bills dropped 31 points on the mighty Los Angeles Rams defense in Week 1 without the help of the expected rookie star James Cook. Well, the brother of Dalvin Cook had a nightmare intro to his NFL career — as he had a fumble on his only carry in the second quarter. I believe Cook, who is slotted as the 28th best RB in dynasty RB rankings by Fantasy Pros, is overrated & should be sent off your team.

Leonard Fournette

Leonard Fournette is fresh off a monster performance (127 rushing yds, 6.0 YPC), but I don’t believe his hype will maintain itself. Playoff Lenny only ousted a 100+ rushing yard contest twice last season. He’s also missed 3+ games in each of the past two seasons. He’s also having issues with a hamstring right now, too. I believe a team may overcompensate for the recent, unusually productive performance by the 27-year-old RB.

The post Dynasty: 3 RBs to trade away right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Buffalo Bills possess an infinite amount of explosion on offense. The Bills Mafia has the mega-arm and bull-dozing QB Josh Allen, the 2020 and 2021 Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs, and the electric Daven Singletary. The Bills ranked 10th in passing yards and seventh in passing touchdowns a season ago.

The Bills still showcase a fire-breathing defense with the future Hall of Famer Von Miller, potent Tremaine Edmunds, and Tre’Davious White (who is on the PUP list). As widely enunciated, the Bills defense allowed the fewest yards and fewest touchdowns last season.

Well, I’m going to untwine five x-factors on the Bills — ahead of their first battle on Thursday.

• James Cook

James Cook, also known as the brother of Dalvin Cook, has a Darren Sproles-like ability. He unveiled 728 rushing yards and 284 receiving yards in his last CFB season. In pre-season, he certainly hasn’t looked like a dud. He’s shown an excellent burst and vision for his age.

• Jamison Crowder

The Bills unsung wideout Jamison Crowder is certainly a great WR4 in Buffalo. Crowder ousted 833 receiving yards and 6 TDs in 2019. He then unleashed 699 yds and 6 TDs in 2020. The long-time Washington WR isn’t washed up just yet & I foresee him being an x-factor for the Bills on his one-year contract.

• Gregory Rousseau

It is time – Kevin Greene Jr.

The Bills 2021 first-round pick, Gregory Rousseau, has been a disciple under Bruce Smith & Von Miller this off-season. Rousseau notched four sacks, 10 QB hits, 8 tackles for loss, and 42 combined tackles a season ago. PFF also handed him a modest 70.2-grade. I expect him to undoubtedly shine with his opportunities across from Miller and Ed Oliver.

• Isaiah McKenzie

Defense wins championships and offense is more fun to watch. Still, let’s not forget to give special teams some love. Isaiah McKenzie had a punt return TD in 2020 and then was a consistent asset to the Bills kick return in 2021 – as he obtained 584 KR yards. McKenzie, who is set to return to practice after a minor injury, should have his best KR season in 2022.

• Kaiir Elam

The Bills first-round pick in 2022, Kaiir Elam, was a nightmare for opposing QBs in his junior season. Elam only notched an interception, but he did have 11 passes defended. He was quite superb at shutting down opposing wideouts.

The post 5 x-factors for the Buffalo Bills in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The dynasty fantasy football season is intensely in motion & football in Fall is right around the corner. With that said, I’m going to simply untwine five RBs to trade for in dynasty fantasy football. Let’s begin.

James Cook

The Buffalo Bills half-back James Cook is in the golden position and it appears that he could be the lead back sooner than expected. Furrow Sterling of Buffalo Rumblings believes Cook could be the lead RB in 2022. Furrow noted that he has impressive power with his size and 4.42 speed. The Bills writer also noted Cook has excelled in the passing game and that OC Ken Dorsey has placed Cook in multiple formation packages, too. I expect Cook to be a monster profile in the Bills offense for a long-time. Devin Singletary also will be a free agent in 2023 and I don’t foresee the Bills bringing him back.

Kenneth Walker

The former Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker should be a big asset in the Hawks offense moving forward. I don’t love Rashaad Penny’s injury history – as he hasn’t played 10+ games in each of the prior three seasons. Walker has already gained more reps with Penny dealing with injuries in training camp. I honestly believe that Walker and DK Metcalf are the future of the Seahawks offense that has a fat question mark at QB.

Tony Pollard

The Dallas Cowboys RB Tony Pollard is slowly catching up to the bell-cow RB Zeke Elliot. Pollard notched an impressive 1,056 all-purpose yds — after 628 total yds in the season prior. His well-rounded ability is why the Boys are planning to use him more in the slot in 2022. Per Dallas Morning News, offensive quality control coach Kyle Valero has been tutoring Pollard to excel from the slot.

Cordarrelle Patterson

The versatile and explosive Cordarrelle Patterson returned to the Falcons on a two-year deal worth $10.5 million dollars. With Dave Ragone, aka the Falcons offensive coordinator and former Bears passing game coordinator, Patterson should continue to thrive in his RB/WR role. The Falcons will have a ton of quick passes and creative plays designed for the very underrated skill player.

Chase Edmonds

I really foresee the former AZ Cardinals RB Chase Edmonds having a career season in Miami – after he had personal best marks in total yds (903) and forced missed tackles (16) in 2020. The 49ers worked wonders with rookie Elijah Mitchell in 2021 – as Mitchell ran angry for 963 yds and 5 TDs in 11 contests. I expect Edmonds to really shine under the wiz Dolphins HC. The Phins may have Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but it’s extremely important to not forget about the x-factor and starting RB Chase Edmonds.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Buffalo Bills may have a Thanos-like quarterback in Josh Allen (37 passing touchdowns in 2020 and 36 passing TDs in 2021), but they still possess a lethal rushing attack with their dual-threat QB and the electric RB Devin Singletary – as Buffalo ranked sixth in rushing yards last season. The RB that learned under Frank Gore ousted 4.6 YPC, 870 rushing yards, and 7 rushing touchdowns in 2021. Singletary also garnered a 64.8 grade by PFF for his 2021 performance. He will aspire to have his best season in 2022 — which is also his contract season.

Singletary will be accompanied by James Cook, also known as the brother Dalvin Cook. Cook ousted 1,012 total yards and 11 total touchdowns in 2020. Bills Wire nicely noted how Cook was the Bills highest drafted RB since 2010. CBS Sports has dubbed Cook as a Top-5 rookie RB and PFF listed Cook as a fantasy sleeper in 2022. He’s also a major dynasty sleeper given Singletary’s contract situation.

After the top two Bills RBs, the Bills also have Zack Moss and Duke Johnson. Moss registered 576 total yds and 5 combined touchdowns in 2020, then unveiled 542 all-purpose yds and 5 combined TDs in 2021. He wasn’t the most efficient ball-carrier for the Bills last season – as he averaged 3.6 YPC and had a 67.3 grade by PFF. Hence, the Bills opted to swing big for Cook in the 2022 draft. The Bills will also anticipate production from Duke Johnson. He’s an excellent pure RB4 (as he ousted 330 rushing yds and averaged 4.6 YPC last season), but he could be a somewhat popular receiving back for Allen. He has five seasons of 40+ receptions in his career. Johnson had a 72.1 grade by PFF last season.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Buffalo Bills drafted former Georgia Bulldog James Cook, also known as Dalvn Cook’s younger brother, 63rd overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Cook was an excellent, bell-cow RB for Georgia in his senior season. He averaged 6.4 YPC, totaled 728 rushing yds, and also nicely recorded 284 receiving yds. Most importantly, he possesses excellent explosiveness and pass-catching ability that should help him transition into having a unique role at the pro level.

Jay from Buffalo News feels that Devin Singletary’s role shouldn’t change a bit with Cook in 2022. He forsees Cook potentially being the starting third-down back in the Bills offense in his rookie season. It would make sense if the Bills incorporated Cook into a pass-catching threat for Josh Allen, as he could be the x-factor that can help the Bills get over the hump. The Patriots did a fantastic job of implementing RB/WR James White in their scheme for Tom Brady (as White was the second SB MVP in Super Bowl 51). Furthermore, Darren Sproles was a fantastic all-purpose weapon for Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers.

Cook will certainly help a Bills passing offense that cut ties with the Cole Beasley and Emmanual Sanders this off-season. The Bills playoff legend Gabriel Davis is expected to take the next step alongside Stefon Diggs and Dawson Knox (9 touchdowns last season), but there should be plenty of opportunities for Cook to excel in the passing game. Perhaps Allen can improve his completion percentage and commit fewer interceptions than last season (15 ints in 2021) with a superb security blanket in Cook.

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