Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Dallas Goedert vs James CookWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

James Cook is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.8 PPG to Dallas Goedert's 10.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

James Cook is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, James Cook (16.8 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Dallas Goedert (10.3 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TEPhiladelphia Eagles#5

Dallas Goedert

PPG

10.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

591

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

RBBuffalo Bills#6PPG LEADER

James Cook

PPG

16.8

Games

Rush Yds

1,621

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

291

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Dallas Goedert

James Cook

Head to Head

10.3 PPG16.8 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Dallas Goedert: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #5 at the position). James Cook: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #6 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 1 (Elite) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB in most league formats.

Dallas Goedert vs James Cook: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Dallas Goedert (TE, Philadelphia Eagles) against James Cook (RB, Buffalo Bills) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Dallas Goedert averaged 10.3 PPG in 2025 over 15 games, while James Cook posted 16.8 PPG across 17 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Dallas Goedert has his bye in Week 10, James Cook in Week 7. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

James Cook is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Dallas Goedert is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Dallas Goedert (age 31) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. James Cook (age 26) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•James Cook outscored Dallas Goedert by a projected 111 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•James Cook played 17 games in 2025 compared to Dallas Goedert's 15. That durability gap means James Cook contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•James Cook scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Dallas Goedert saw 82 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•James Cook is 5 years younger than Dallas Goedert (26 vs 31), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dallas Goedert vs James Cook: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Dallas Goedert	James Cook
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.3	16.8
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	155	286
Rushing Yards	0	1,621
Rush Yds/Game	0.0	95.4
Rushing TDs	0	12
Receptions	60	33
Receiving Yards	591	291
Targets	82	40
Total TDs	11	14
Age	31	26
Experience	7 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor James Cook at 16.8 PPG, 6.5 points per game above Dallas Goedert's 10.3. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Dallas Goedert or James Cook in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, James Cook has the edge at 16.8 PPG compared to Dallas Goedert's 10.3 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Dallas Goedert and James Cook average in 2025?▾

Dallas Goedert averaged 10.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. James Cook averaged 16.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 6.5 points per game.

When are Dallas Goedert and James Cook's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Dallas Goedert (PHI) has a bye in Week 10, and James Cook (BUF) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.