James Cook vs Rico Dowdle: Who Should You Start?
Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. James Cook (Buffalo Bills) finished the 2025 season averaging 16.8 fantasy points per game in 17 games. Rico Dowdle (Pittsburgh Steelers) came in at 11.6 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
James Cook carries a 5.2-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Both profile as early-down workhorses. James Cook ran for 1621 yards and 12 touchdowns; Rico Dowdle posted 1076 and 6. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.
One scheduling note: James Cook is off Week 12 and Rico Dowdle Week 9. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
