NFL
CAR
GB
o47
-3.5
8:15PM • PREVIEW AMZN
BAL
BUF
o54
-3
1:00PM • PREVIEW CBS/P
TEN
CIN
o46.5
-10.5
1:00PM • PREVIEW CBS/P
ARI
DAL
o54.5
-7
1:00PM • PREVIEW FOX
MIN
DET
o45.5
-3.5
1:00PM • PREVIEW FOX
IND
JAX
o46.5
-9.5
1:00PM • PREVIEW CBS/P
LV
NYJ
o45.5
-1.5
1:00PM • PREVIEW FOX
CLE
PIT
o39.5
-3.5
1:00PM • PREVIEW CBS/P
ATL
TB
o45
-2.5
1:00PM • PREVIEW FOX
LAC
LAR
o45
-6.5
4:05PM • PREVIEW FOX
KC
DEN
o40.5
+1.5
4:25PM • PREVIEW CBS/P
NE
MIA
o43.5
+7
4:25PM • PREVIEW CBS/P
PHI
WAS
o40.5
-5.5
8:20PM • PREVIEW NBC/P
CHI
SEA
o46.5
-3
8:15PM • PREVIEW ESPN

James Cook or Kenny Gainwell

Who Should I Start? - Week 8 • Start New
James Cook

James Cook

RB • Buffalo Bills BUF
Kenny Gainwell

Kenny Gainwell

RB • Tampa Bay Bucs TB
OR
EXPERT ANALYSIS

Owners starting Cook over Gainwell

 
 
 
 
START BOTH START BENCH BOTH BN

Cook ... 50%

BOTH ... 17.39%

PROJECTION
FPTS: 17.01
RUSH ATT RUSH YD RUSH TD REC REC YD REC TD FPTS
17.9 86 0.8 1.7 14.9 0.1 17.01
No projection for today.
Please login to view these stats.
Outlook James Cook

James Cook vs. BAL — Primed for Heavy Work in a Projected Shootout

Despite head coach Joe Brady publicly emphasizing ball security following recent fumbles, Cook remains Buffalo's unquestioned lead back ahead of Ray Davis and Ty Johnson. He continues to handle heavy volume, logging consecutive games with over 20 carries while extending an active five-game touchdown streak.

Facing Baltimore at home in what shapes up as a high-scoring environment, fantasy managers should feel confident slotting him into their lineups as a locked-in starter. Our weekly projection expects around 19 carries, nearly 100 rushing yards, and over 18 fantasy points, giving Cook a high ceiling in this competitive clash.


FantasySP AI Analysis Updated 12 hrs ago
Latest News James Cook
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EXPERT ANALYSIS

Owners starting Gainwell over Cook

 
 
 
 
START BOTH START BENCH BOTH BN

Gainwell ... 10.87%

BOTH ... 17.39%

PROJECTION
FPTS: 7.28
RUSH ATT RUSH YD RUSH TD REC REC YD REC TD FPTS
5.4 23.3 0.2 2 13.5 0.1 7.28
No projection for today.
Not available due to injury or suspension.
Outlook Kenny Gainwell

Kenny Gainwell vs ATL at home — limited touch volume in a divisional clash

Kenny Gainwell avoided a major setback after returning from a brief hip scare last week and carries no injury designation for Sunday's matchup with Atlanta. Gainwell continues to operate as the secondary back behind Bucky Irving in Tampa Bay's backfield rotation.

While he flashed burst with an 88-yard performance two weeks back, his weekly workload remains capped. Our projections place him around 24 rushing yards on 5 carries with roughly two catches (6.8 fantasy points). Started in just 14% of fantasy leagues, Gainwell is strictly a touchdown-dependent bench stash or deep-league flex.


FantasySP AI Analysis Updated 12 hrs ago
Latest News Kenny Gainwell
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Performance James Cook
Fantasy Chart Loading...

ATT YDS AVG TD REC YDS TD
0000000
Season stats based on the past 7 days

ATT YDS AVG TD REC YDS TD
22954.313580
Season stats based on the past 14 days
Performance Kenny Gainwell
Fantasy Chart Loading...

ATT YDS AVG TD REC YDS TD
14886.30000
Season stats based on the past 7 days

ATT YDS AVG TD REC YDS TD
161056.60170
Season stats based on the past 14 days
Next Up ❱ Redzone Touches
Redzone Touches James Cook
REDZONE
WK OPP ATT TAR REC
1 @HOU 🔓 🔓 🔓
2 DET 🔓 🔓 🔓
3 LAC 🔓 🔓 🔓
4 NE 🔓 🔓 🔓
5 @LAR 🔓 🔓 🔓
6 @LV 🔓 🔓 🔓

Redzone data is for premium members only.

Redzone Touches Kenny Gainwell
REDZONE
WK OPP ATT TAR REC
1 @CIN 🔓 🔓 🔓
2 CLE 🔓 🔓 🔓
3 MIN 🔓 🔓 🔓
4 GB 🔓 🔓 🔓
5 @DAL 🔓 🔓 🔓
6 PIT 🔓 🔓 🔓
7 @CAR 🔓 🔓 🔓

Redzone data is for premium members only.

Next Up ❱ Own/Start Comparison
OWN/START James Cook
OWN
100%
No change since last week.
START
79%
+50.91 compared to last week
OWN/START Kenny Gainwell
OWN
52%
-2.92 compared to last week
START
14%
-2.14 compared to last week
Next Up ❱ Consensus Rankings
Expert Consensus James Cook
5th
Average Ranking of Fantasy Experts
Expert Consensus Kenny Gainwell
43rd
Average Ranking of Fantasy Experts
Next Up ❱ Player Breakdowns
Breakdown James Cook

    Overview

  • Just about every team utilizies the dreaded 'running backs by comittee' policy. Two solid #1 starters are hard to find.
  • Experts rank this player at 5th among RB's. Based on his stats from the past 30 days, he is currently ranked 9th with 103.60 total points (17.27 avg).
  • Currently 35.4 points behind the leader: Jahmyr Gibbs
  • He is putting up the kind of numbers the experts expected him to.
  • Average points in the past two weeks have increased by 4 PPG. If you don't have the confidence he can keep it up, then trade him for a sure thing.
  • Receiving Stats

  • Top 50 in receptions and is currently ranked 38th among RB.
  • Top 35 in targets and is currently ranked 31st among RB.
  • Top 75 in Rec TDs with 0, though that isn't saying much, and is currently ranked 71st among RB.
  • Top 25 in red zone targets and is currently ranked 24th among RB.
  • Top 10 in red zone attempts and is currently ranked 9th among RB.
  • Rushing Stats

  • Top 10 in rush attempts with 117 (19.50 per game) and is currently ranked 7th among RB.
  • Top 3 in rush yards with 627 (104.50 per game) and is currently ranked 3rd among RB.
  • Top 10 in rush tds with 6 (1.00 per game) and is currently ranked 7th among RB.
  • Bonus Qualities

  • At this point in the season his numbers compared to last years: Rush Yards: +90, Rush AVG: +0.4 Rush TDs: +1, Receptions: -2, Rec Yards: EVEN Rec TDs: EVEN,
  • His touches per game on the ground are great.
  • Season Outlook

  • RUSH ATT: 295, RUSH YDS: 1465, RUSH TDS: 14, REC: 30, REC YDS: 275, REC TDS: 3
Breakdown Kenny Gainwell

    Overview

  • Just about every team utilizies the dreaded 'running backs by comittee' policy. Two solid #1 starters are hard to find.
  • Experts don't even rank him among RB's. Either he is on a bye week or is just plain bad. Based on his stats from the past 30 days, he is currently ranked 47th with 27.00 total points (3.86 avg).
  • Currently 112 points behind the leader: Jahmyr Gibbs
  • He is listed on the injury report about his Hip (Since Oct 28, 2026). Check out his player news for a closer look.
  • Average points in the past two weeks have increased by 1.7 PPG.
  • Receiving Stats

  • Top 35 in receptions and is currently ranked 31st among RB.
  • Top 25 in targets and is currently ranked 22nd among RB.
  • Top 20 in Rec TDs with 1 and is currently ranked 16th among RB.
  • Top 20 in red zone targets and is currently ranked 17th among RB.
  • Rushing Stats

  • Top 50 in rush yards with 149 (21.29 per game) and is currently ranked 43rd among RB.
  • He is top 75 in rush tds with 0 (0.00 per game), though that isn't saying much, and is currently ranked 67th among RB.
  • Bonus Qualities

  • Played in 7 more games this year than last year.
  • At this point in the season his numbers compared to last years: Rush Yards: +149, Rush AVG: +4.5 Rush TDs: EVEN, Receptions: +12, Rec Yards: +61 Rec TDs: +1,
  • He is not getting enough touches to make a significant impact on the ground
  • You do realize that this guy has no rushing touchdowns right?
  • Season Outlook

  • RUSH ATT: 115, RUSH YDS: 400, RUSH TDS: 4, REC: 20, REC YDS: 135, REC TDS: 2
Next Up ❱ Health Check
Injury James Cook

No Injury Reported

Injury Kenny Gainwell

HIP - Since Oct 28, 2026

Gainwell did not practice on Wednesday heading into Week 8 versus the Falcons.
Next Up ❱ Matchup Comparison
Matchups James Cook

Week 8
Buffalo Bills VS Baltimore Ravens

PA/G YDS/G TO INT SACK TDs FSP
23.86331.71631603.06
Compare to same point last season

Overview

  • Experts rank this player at 15th among DST's. Based on his stats from the past 30 days, he is currently ranked 22nd with 29.00 total points (4.14 avg).
  • Currently 40 points behind the leader: Vikings DST
  • He is putting up close to the kind of numbers the experts expected him to.
  • Slight decline in numbers lately at 1.1 PPG.

Defensive Stats

  • Top 12 in total yards against with 331.71 per game and is currently ranked 11th among DST.
  • Ranked 15th in rush defense with 676 (96.57 per game).
  • Ranked 18th in pass defense with 1646 (235.14 per game).
  • Top 22 in points against with 23.86 per game and currently ranked 22nd among DST.
  • Currently ranked 21st in Total TDs with 0 (0.00 per game) among DST.

Bonus Qualities

  • At this point in the season his numbers compared to last years: Total Yards Against: +71.93, Turnovers: +3 Sacks: -1, INTs: +2, TDs: -1, Points Allowed: -3.81,

Season Outlook

  • SACK: 40, INT: 13, TDS: 3, PA/G: 24.9, YDS/G: 376.8
Matchups Kenny Gainwell

Week 8
Tampa Bay Bucs VS Atlanta Falcons

PA/G YDS/G TO INT SACK TDs FSP
24.71360.29931713.43
Compare to same point last season

Overview

  • Experts don"t even rank him among DST's. Either he is on a bye week or is just plain bad. Based on his stats from the past 30 days, he is currently ranked 16th with 41.00 total points (5.86 avg).
  • Currently 28 points behind the leader: Vikings DST
  • Average points in the past two weeks have increased by 2.1 PPG.

Defensive Stats

  • Top 12 in turnovers with 9 (1.29 per game) and is currently ranked 11th among DST.
  • Top 10 in rush defense with 622 (88.86 per game) and is currently ranked 9th among DST.
  • Ranked 32nd in pass defense with 1900 (271.43 per game).
  • Top 12 in sacks with 17 (2.43 per game) and currently ranked 12th among DST.
  • One of the worst in points against with 24.71 per game and currently ranked 26th among DST.
  • Top 8 in Total TDs with 1 (0.14 per game) and currently ranked 7th among DST.

Bonus Qualities

  • At this point in the season his numbers compared to last years: Total Yards Against: +80.62, Turnovers: EVEN Sacks: +2, INTs: -3, TDs: +1, Points Allowed: +4.71,

Season Outlook

  • SACK: 51, INT: 13, TDS: 3, PA/G: 25.1, YDS/G: 347.1
Next Up ❱ Ratings Comparison
Rating James Cook
29.15
FantasySP Player Rating
Rating Kenny Gainwell
10.49
FantasySP Player Rating
Next Up ❱ Career Comparison
Career James Cook
RUSH RECEIVING
YEAR TEAM GP ATT YD AVG TD TGTS REC YD AVG TD
2022 BUF 16 91 525 5.8 2 33 21 180 8.6 1
2023 BUF 16 237 1122 4.7 2 54 44 445 10.1 4
2024 BUF 16 207 1009 4.9 16 38 32 258 8.1 2
2025 BUF 16 326 1737 5.3 13 43 36 304 8.4 2
2026 BUF 6 117 627 5.4 6 14 10 89 8.9 0
ON PACE 17 332 1777 5.4 17 40 28 252 8.9 0
3-YEAR AVG 19 286 1427 5 11 50 42 366 8.7 3
Totals 83 1123 5647 5 43 203 161 1395 8.7 9
Career Kenny Gainwell
RUSH RECEIVING
YEAR TEAM GP ATT YD AVG TD TGTS REC YD AVG TD
2026 TB 7 33 149 4.5 0 17 12 61 5.1 1
ON PACE 17 80 362 4.5 0 41 29 148 5.1 2
3-YEAR AVG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 7 33 149 4.5 0 17 12 61 5.1 1
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Matchups

Week 8
ARI @DAL
ATL @TB
BAL @BUF
CAR @GB
CHI @SEA
CIN vs TEN
CLE @PIT
DEN vs KC
DET vs MIN
HOU vs BYE
IND @JAC
LAC @LAR
LV @NYJ
MIA vs NE
NO vs BYE
NYG vs BYE
PHI @WAS
SF vs BYE
Matchup Time Pitchers
No games scheduled
Matchup Time
ATL vs CLE 8:00 PM EST
MEM @POR 10:00 PM EST
NO vs SAC 8:00 PM EST
Matchup Time
ANA vs BUF 10:00 PM EST
BOS @STL 8:00 PM EST
CAR vs CBJ 7:00 PM EST
CHI @DET 7:30 PM EST
DAL vs MON 8:00 PM EST
LA vs OTT 10:00 PM EST
MIN vs NYI 8:00 PM EST
NSH vs WAS 8:00 PM EST
PIT vs UTA 7:00 PM EST
SJ vs VAN 10:00 PM EST
TB vs WPG 7:00 PM EST