Start Christian McCaffrey or James Cook III? Week 2

Our Week 2 call

Start Christian McCaffrey over James Cook III in Week 2.

James Cook III is priced by the books at 17.2 projected points and Christian McCaffrey has too little of his market posted to price, so we are leaning on where drafters take them. Drafters take Christian McCaffrey at ADP 5 and James Cook III at 12.

What the books imply

No sportsbook posted a player market for Christian McCaffrey in Week 2.

Player prop markets imply 17.2 fantasy points for James Cook III, with 100 percent of the markets a RB needs posted.

Week 2 matchups

Christian McCaffrey and SF host MIA on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET.

MIA allowed 36.9 fantasy points to RBs in its one game this season, the 4th most in the league.

Running backs ran for 144 yards and no touchdowns against MIA and caught passes for 45 more yards.

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.

By points allowed to the position, Christian McCaffrey has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Christian McCaffrey is not on the injury report.

James Cook III is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 2

Through Week 1, Christian McCaffrey played 55 percent of SF snaps, took 33 percent of the carries, drew 24 percent of the targets and had 20 percent of the red zone chances.

Christian McCaffrey, Week 1 against LAR: 36 of 65 snaps, 10 carries for 68 yards, 8 targets and 5 catches for 20 yards.

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.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Christian McCaffrey played 17 games for SF and scored 416.6 PPR points, 24.5 a game, finishing RB1.

He ran 311 times for 1202 yards and 10 touchdowns, and caught 102 of 129 targets for 924 yards.

He was on the field for 83 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Christian McCaffrey, Week 18 of 2025 against SEA: 36 of 42 snaps, 8 carries for 23 yards, 7 targets and 6 catches for 34 yards, 11.7 PPR points.

Christian McCaffrey, Week 17 of 2025 against CHI: 61 of 72 snaps, 23 carries for 140 yards, 6 targets and 4 catches for 41 yards, 1 touchdown, 28.1 PPR points.

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.

Their other Week 2 calls

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