Start Ashton Jeanty or James Cook III? Week 5

Our Week 5 call

Start James Cook III over Ashton Jeanty in Week 5.

Market-based projections have James Cook III at 16.6 points and Ashton Jeanty at 16.6, a gap of 0.0. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. James Cook III's number is scaled up from a partial market: not every stat the position needs is posted yet, so the rest is estimated from what is. Drafters take James Cook III at ADP 2 and Ashton Jeanty at 9.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 16.6 fantasy points for James Cook III, with 80 percent of the markets a RB needs posted.

The market has James Cook III at 75.5 rushing yards, with a 53% chance to score a touchdown (11 and 14 market sources).

Player markets imply 16.6 fantasy points for Ashton Jeanty, with 100 percent of the markets a RB needs posted.

The market has Ashton Jeanty at 60.5 rushing yards, 23.5 receiving yards and 3.5 receptions, with a 54% chance to score a touchdown (13, 12, 11 and 14 market sources).

That puts James Cook III 0.0 points ahead of Ashton Jeanty on the market projections.

Week 5 matchups

James Cook III and BUF visit LAR on Monday at 8:15 PM ET.

LAR allowed 15.5 fantasy points a game to RBs this season over 4 games, the 3rd fewest in the league.

Running backs ran for 82 yards and no touchdowns a game against LAR and caught passes for 26 more yards.

Ashton Jeanty and LV visit NE on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

NE allowed 20.9 fantasy points a game to RBs this season over 4 games, the 15th fewest in the league.

Running backs ran for 90 yards and 0.8 touchdowns a game against NE and caught passes for 32 more yards.

By points allowed to the position, Ashton Jeanty has the softer matchup.

Injury status

James Cook III is not on the injury report.

Ashton Jeanty is listed as questionable with a ankle injury.

Usage before Week 5

Through Week 4, Ashton Jeanty played 76 percent of LV snaps, took 70 percent of the carries, drew 18 percent of the targets and had 54 percent of the red zone chances.

Ashton Jeanty, Week 1 against MIA: 50 of 68 snaps, 23 carries for 102 yards, 6 targets and 6 catches for 45 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Ashton Jeanty, Week 2 against LAC: 51 of 63 snaps, 21 carries for 48 yards, 7 targets and 4 catches for 15 yards.

Ashton Jeanty, Week 3 against NO: 59 of 70 snaps, 19 carries for 56 yards, 3 targets and 3 catches for 37 yards.

Ashton Jeanty, Week 4 against KC: 56 of 84 snaps, 15 carries for 58 yards, 8 targets and 6 catches for 68 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, James Cook III played 17 games for BUF and scored 302.2 PPR points, 17.8 a game, finishing RB6.

He ran 309 times for 1621 yards and 12 touchdowns, and caught 33 of 40 targets for 291 yards.

He was on the field for 60 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

James Cook III, Week 18 of 2025 against NYJ: 2 carries for 15 yards, 0 targets and 0 catches for 0 yards, 1.5 PPR points.

James Cook III, Week 17 of 2025 against PHI: 39 of 76 snaps, 20 carries for 74 yards, 4 targets and 1 catch for 3 yards, 8.7 PPR points.

James Cook III, Week 16 of 2025 against CLE: 28 of 50 snaps, 16 carries for 117 yards, 2 targets and 1 catch for 17 yards, 2 touchdowns, 26.4 PPR points.

In 2025, Ashton Jeanty played 17 games for LV and scored 245.1 PPR points, 14.4 a game, finishing RB11.

He ran 266 times for 975 yards and 5 touchdowns, and caught 55 of 73 targets for 346 yards.

He was on the field for 76 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 5 calls

• Start James Cook III over Aaron Jones Sr..
• Start James Cook III over Bhayshul Tuten.
• Start Bijan Robinson over James Cook III.
• Start Aaron Jones Sr. over Ashton Jeanty.
• Start Bhayshul Tuten over Ashton Jeanty.
• Start Braelon Allen over Ashton Jeanty.