Start Omarion Hampton or James Cook III? Week 2

Our Week 2 call

Start James Cook III over Omarion Hampton in Week 2.

De-vigged player props project James Cook III at 17.6 points and Omarion Hampton at 15.1, a gap of 2.5. Drafters take James Cook III at ADP 3 and Omarion Hampton at 7.

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 15.1 fantasy points for Omarion Hampton, with 100 percent of the markets a RB needs posted.

That puts James Cook III 2.5 points ahead of Omarion Hampton 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.

Omarion Hampton and LAC host LV on Sunday at 4:05 PM ET.

LV allowed 10.5 fantasy points to RBs in its one game this season, the 5th fewest in the league.

Running backs ran for 35 yards and no touchdowns against LV and caught passes for 30 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.

Omarion Hampton 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, Omarion Hampton played 58 percent of LAC snaps, took 57 percent of the carries, drew 0 percent of the targets and had 20 percent of the red zone chances.

Omarion Hampton, Week 1 against ARI: 32 of 55 snaps, 12 carries for 43 yards, 0 targets and 0 catches for 0 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, Omarion Hampton played 9 games for LAC and scored 135.7 PPR points, 15.1 a game, finishing RB35.

He ran 124 times for 545 yards and 4 touchdowns, and caught 32 of 35 targets for 192 yards.

He was on the field for 63 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Omarion Hampton, Week 17 of 2025 against HOU: 51 of 63 snaps, 14 carries for 29 yards, 8 targets and 8 catches for 31 yards, 1 touchdown, 20.0 PPR points.

Omarion Hampton, Week 16 of 2025 against DAL: 35 of 64 snaps, 16 carries for 85 yards, 2 targets and 1 catch for 10 yards, 1 touchdown, 16.5 PPR points.

Their other Week 2 calls

• Start Bijan Robinson over James Cook III.
• Start James Cook III over Chase Brown.
• Start Christian McCaffrey over James Cook III.
• Start Ashton Jeanty over Omarion Hampton.
• Start Omarion Hampton over Breece Hall.
• Start Chase Brown over Omarion Hampton.