Start Chase Brown or James Cook III? Week 2

Our Week 2 call

Start James Cook III over Chase Brown in Week 2.

De-vigged player props project James Cook III at 17.6 points and Chase Brown at 14.9, a gap of 2.7. Drafters take James Cook III at ADP 3 and Chase Brown at 6.

What the books imply

Player prop markets imply 17.6 fantasy points for James Cook III, with 100 percent of the markets a RB needs posted.

Player prop markets imply 14.9 fantasy points for Chase Brown, with 100 percent of the markets a RB needs posted.

That puts James Cook III 2.7 points ahead of Chase Brown on the books.

Week 2 matchups

James Cook III and BUF host DET on Thursday at 8:15 PM ET.

DET allowed 25.0 fantasy points to RBs in its one game this season, the 12th most in the league.

Running backs ran for 80 yards and a touchdown against DET and caught passes for 30 more yards.

Chase Brown and CIN visit HOU on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

HOU allowed 10.5 fantasy points to RBs in its one game this season, the 4th fewest in the league.

Running backs ran for 63 yards and no touchdowns against HOU and caught passes for 12 more yards.

By points allowed to the position, James Cook III has the softer matchup.

Injury status

James Cook III is not on the injury report.

Chase Brown is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 2

Through Week 1, James Cook III played 72 percent of BUF snaps, took 65 percent of the carries, drew 14 percent of the targets and had 43 percent of the red zone chances.

James Cook III, Week 1 against HOU: 42 of 58 snaps, 13 carries for 57 yards, 4 targets and 3 catches for 12 yards.

Through Week 1, Chase Brown played 72 percent of CIN snaps, took 62 percent of the carries, drew 18 percent of the targets and had 40 percent of the red zone chances.

Chase Brown, Week 1 against TB: 46 of 64 snaps, 16 carries for 56 yards, 6 targets and 5 catches for 22 yards, 1 touchdown.

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.

In 2025, Chase Brown played 17 games for CIN and scored 282.6 PPR points, 16.6 a game, finishing RB7.

He ran 232 times for 1019 yards and 6 touchdowns, and caught 69 of 88 targets for 437 yards.

He was on the field for 67 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Chase Brown, Week 18 of 2025 against CLE: 13 carries for 72 yards, 6 targets and 4 catches for 18 yards, 1 touchdown, 19.0 PPR points.

Chase Brown, Week 17 of 2025 against ARI: 47 of 77 snaps, 22 carries for 101 yards, 3 targets and 3 catches for 40 yards, 2 touchdowns, 29.1 PPR points.

Their other Week 2 calls

• Start Bijan Robinson over James Cook III.
• Start Christian McCaffrey over James Cook III.
• Start Derrick Henry over James Cook III.
• Start Ashton Jeanty over Chase Brown.
• Start Derrick Henry over Chase Brown.
• Start Chase Brown over De'Von Achane.