Should I trade Christian McCaffrey for James Cook III?

No on value: Christian McCaffrey is worth 114 and James Cook III 87, a loss of 27. It can still help a lineup that needs a running back more than it needs McCaffrey.

Who has more rest-of-season value, Christian McCaffrey or James Cook III?

Christian McCaffrey, 114 to 87. He rates 18.3 market points a game over 11 games left, against 15.8 over 11 for James Cook III, each measured above a replacement starter at his own position.

How are these trade values calculated?

Each player's points per game is the median of the market-based PPR points we froze before each week's first kickoff, Weeks 3, 4, 5. A replacement starter's rate is subtracted and the rest is multiplied by his games from Week 6 to Week 17, bye taken out. No expert opinion is involved.

Trade Christian McCaffrey for James Cook III? No, McCaffrey is worth 27 more.

No on value. Christian McCaffrey is worth 114 rest of season and James Cook III 87, so giving up McCaffrey costs 27. McCaffrey rates 18.3 market points a game with 11 games left, Cook 15.8 with 11. On usage, McCaffrey has 45 percent of SF carries and 20 percent of its targets; Cook has 67 percent of BUF carries and 9 percent of its targets. McCaffrey hosts WAS in Week 6 (4th fewest points allowed to RBs); Cook is at LV in Week 6 (16th most points allowed to RBs). Neither carries an injury designation this week.

The verdict, Week 5

Keeping Christian McCaffrey wins by 27.

Christian McCaffrey 11487 James Cook III

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Christian McCaffrey

RB6SF

114

value, #8

Pts/game: 18.3
Games left: 11
Bye: 8

Christian McCaffrey weekly market-based points
Wk 3	Wk 4	Wk 5
12.8	20.8	18.3

James Cook III

RB12BUF

value, #18

Pts/game: 15.8
Games left: 11
Bye: 7

James Cook III weekly market-based points
Wk 3	Wk 4	Wk 5
16.2	15.8	14.4

Where the values come from

McCaffrey is the 6th running back on the chart and 8th overall. His 18.3 a game is 10.4 above the replacement running back's 7.9, over 11 games left with his bye in Week 8, which is how he comes to 114.

Cook is the 12th running back on the chart and 18th overall. His 15.8 a game is 7.9 above the replacement running back's 7.9, over 11 games left with his bye in Week 7, which is how he comes to 87.

The weekly market prices

The market priced Christian McCaffrey at 12.8 in Week 3, 20.8 in Week 4 and 18.3 in Week 5, a median of 18.3 points a game, up 5.5 from his first frozen week to his latest.

The market priced James Cook III at 16.2 in Week 3, 15.8 in Week 4 and 14.4 in Week 5, a median of 15.8 points a game, down 1.8 from his first frozen week to his latest.

Points so far against the price

Christian McCaffrey has scored 91.3 PPR points in 5 games, 18.3 a game, level with the 18.3 the market prices him at from here.

Last season he finished RB1 with 416.6 PPR points in 17 games, 24.5 a game.

Week 1 vs LAR: 13.8 points (RB19 that week), 68 rushing yards on 10 carries, 5 of 8 targets for 20 yards, 55 percent of snaps.

Week 2 vs MIA: 22.6 points (RB4 that week), 23 rushing yards on 10 carries, 4 of 4 targets for 43 yards, 2 touchdowns, 52 percent of snaps.

Week 3 vs ARI: 21.6 points (RB6 that week), 75 rushing yards on 15 carries, 4 of 5 targets for 41 yards, 1 touchdown, 83 percent of snaps.

Week 4 vs DEN: 16.0 points (RB20 that week), 52 rushing yards on 15 carries, 3 of 5 targets for 18 yards, 1 touchdown, 74 percent of snaps.

Week 5 vs SEA: 17.3 points (RB8 that week), 68 rushing yards on 11 carries, 3 of 3 targets for 15 yards, 1 touchdown.

James Cook III has scored 66.5 PPR points in 4 games, 16.6 a game, 0.8 a game more than the 15.8 the market prices him at from here.

Last season he finished RB6 with 302.2 PPR points in 17 games, 17.8 a game.

Week 1 vs HOU: 9.9 points (RB27 that week), 57 rushing yards on 13 carries, 3 of 4 targets for 12 yards, 72 percent of snaps.

Week 2 vs DET: 20.9 points (RB5 that week), 135 rushing yards on 21 carries, 1 of 3 targets for 4 yards, 1 touchdown, 74 percent of snaps.

Week 3 vs LAC: 19.4 points (RB9 that week), 154 rushing yards on 24 carries, 0 of 1 target for 0 yards, 1 touchdown, 67 percent of snaps.

Week 4 vs NE: 16.3 points (RB19 that week), 75 rushing yards on 12 carries, 2 of 2 targets for 8 yards, 1 touchdown, 59 percent of snaps.

Usage a game this season

Through Week 4, Christian McCaffrey has averaged 12.5 carries for 55 yards and 5.5 targets and 4.0 catches for 31 yards a game on 66 percent of the snaps.

He has been targeted or handed the ball 15 times inside the 20, 35 percent of his team's chances there, and has scored 4 touchdowns in 4 games.

In Week 4 against DEN he had 15 carries and 5 targets on 74 percent of the snaps.

Through Week 4, James Cook III has averaged 17.5 carries for 105 yards and 2.5 targets and 1.5 catches for 6 yards a game on 68 percent of the snaps.

He has been targeted or handed the ball 15 times inside the 20, 38 percent of his team's chances there, and has scored 3 touchdowns in 4 games.

In Week 4 against NE he had 12 carries and 2 targets on 59 percent of the snaps.

Schedule and next matchup

A trade made now buys Week 6 through Week 17. Christian McCaffrey has 11 games in it with his bye in Week 8; James Cook III has 11 games with his bye in Week 7.

WAS, McCaffrey's Week 6 opponent, has allowed 16.1 PPR points a game to RBs this season over 4 games, the 4th fewest to RBs of 32.

LV, Cook's Week 6 opponent, has allowed 21.1 PPR points a game to RBs this season over 4 games, the 16th most to RBs of 32.

What would even it

The side getting James Cook III would want about 27 more added to make it even: a player like Omarion Hampton, valued at 26. Two players for McCaffrey also costs that side a roster spot.

Omarion Hampton's player page

The full Week 5 trade value chart

Common questions

Should I trade Christian McCaffrey for James Cook III?
No on value: Christian McCaffrey is worth 114 and James Cook III 87, a loss of 27. It can still help a lineup that needs a running back more than it needs McCaffrey.
Who has more rest-of-season value, Christian McCaffrey or James Cook III?
Christian McCaffrey, 114 to 87. He rates 18.3 market points a game over 11 games left, against 15.8 over 11 for James Cook III, each measured above a replacement starter at his own position.
How are these trade values calculated?
Each player's points per game is the median of the market-based PPR points we froze before each week's first kickoff, Weeks 3, 4, 5. A replacement starter's rate is subtracted and the rest is multiplied by his games from Week 6 to Week 17, bye taken out. No expert opinion is involved.

By the Parlae deskValues updated Oct 12, 2026 at 9:06 AM ETHow this is built Report a wrong number