James Cook
vs Puka Nacua

“While the outcome was mild against a Houston defense we still buy as one of the best defensive fronts, Cook got the usage we wanted to see. He played 69.2% of the snaps (RB11) and saw 88.9% of the backfield touches (RB4). The one element that left more to be desired was the passing-game usage that was talked up this preseason.”

“James Cook (RB – BUF) In 2024, James Cook dominated, scoring 16 touchdowns and rushing for 1,009 yards. That production seemed unsustainable. In 2025, he recorded 1,621 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, and gave us even more reason to be confident.”

“While Cook does not have the pass-catching profile that usually benefits from a full PPR format, he has been one of the absolute best assets to have on a fantasy roster over the past few seasons, finishing as a top-12 RB each of the last three years. There is hope that Cook may become more involved in the passing game for the Bills, which would only give his fantasy ceiling a boost.”

“James Cook (RB – BUF) has already shown flashes of every skill needed to be the overall RB1: a big receiving season, an 18-touchdown season, and a 1,600-yard rushing season, just never all in the same year.”

“James Cook was picked as the best value on the board at 11th overall, priced almost entirely off last year’s production rather than his upside. The case for a top-three running back season rests on four pillars, and Cook checks every one.”

“James Cook was a no-brainer pick, and it came down to Derrick Henry and Ashton Jeanty for the RB2 slot.”

“The Bills put their money where their mouth is by giving James Cook a ton of money, then followed that up with a bunch of touches (349, to be exact), and brought the rushing title back to Buffalo. James Cook led the NFL in 2025 with 11 games of 80+ rushing yards.”

“James Cook is expected to be more involved in the passing game under new offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, whose running backs have been heavily involved in the passing attack throughout his coaching history. Cook had a career-high 309 rush attempts in the regular season en route to the NFL rushing title last season, and shifting some of his carries into targets could be a wise move given his excellent receiving skills demonstrated at the NFL level.”

“Unlike Saquon Barkley, who also plays with a quarterback used heavily near the end zone, the Bills do mix in Cook near the end zone, instead of strictly relying on Josh Allen moving the pile. Cook had 14 rushing attempts inside the 5-yard line in 2025 (tied for 8th in the NFL) with 6 touchdowns on those runs.”

“Puka Nacua (+550) is the current favorite to lead the league in receiving yards for the 2026 NFL Season.”

“Puka Nacua (WR – LAR) Averages 26 PPR Points Per Game The prediction: Nacua could become the first wide receiver since 2013 to average 26 PPR points per game across a full season. In his genuinely healthy games last year, excluding a stretch lost to an ankle injury, he already averaged nearly 25 points per game, and a simple touchdown redistribution, flipping his own total with a teammate’s, would have been enough to push him over that 26-point threshold. Only two wide receiver seasons since 2013 have even topped 25 points per game.”

“Nacua is coming off a career-high 10 receiving touchdowns, which, until 2025, had been the only area of his game that lacked, having scored nine in the previous two seasons combined. Perhaps with an improved defense, the Rams won’t be quite as pass-heavy this year, but Sean McVay has nearly always been aggressive.”

“Left practice on Tuesday with groin soreness Rams WR Puka Nacua , who left practice while walking with a trainer, is dealing with minor soreness in his groin, I'm told.”

“Perhaps with an improving defense the Rams don’t go quite as pass-heavy this year, but Sean McVay has nearly always been aggressive and while Matthew Stafford is healthy, Nacua deserves to be a top pick.”

“Having Davante Adams and Puka Nacua has elevated his fantasy value, and the Rams are built to make one more run with Stafford under center.”

“Round 1: Puka Nacua (WR – LAR) The counter-pick was Puka Nacua , ranked as the top overall wide receiver ahead of the field’s other top options. Only two players outscored him in fantasy points per game last year, and neither was one of the running backs typically drafted with the first or second overall pick.”

“Nacua is coming off another incredible season, leading the league in receptions (129) for 1,715 yards (2nd) and 10 touchdowns (tied for 6th). He has averaged 7.1 receptions (2nd) and 95.3 yards per game (1st) since entering the league.”

“Landing the league leader in catches and receiving yards at pick 1.05 is never a bad thing. With Matthew Stafford under center, Puka Nacua is set up for another monster year.”

“Nacua led the league in receptions (129) and receiving yards per game (107.7) in 2025. He averaged an outrageous 3.57 yards per route run last season and has averaged 3.16 YPRR for his career.”