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James Cook vs Travis Kelce

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

RBBuffalo BillsPPG LEADER
James Cook
PPG
16.8
Games
17
Rush Yds
1,621
Rush TDs
12
Rec
33
Rec Yds
291
Bye
Week 12
TEKansas City Chiefs
Travis Kelce
PPG
9.1
Games
17
Rec
76
Rec Yds
851
Rec TDs
5
Targets
108
Bye
Week 6

Head to Head

16.8 PPG9.1 PPG
17 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 6

James Cook vs Travis Kelce: Who Should You Start?

Comparing James Cook (RB, Buffalo Bills) against Travis Kelce (TE, Kansas City Chiefs) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. James Cook averaged 16.8 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while Travis Kelce posted 9.1 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.

James Cook has his bye in Week 12, Travis Kelce in Week 6. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

The Bottom Line

The 2025 numbers favor James Cook at 16.8 PPG, 7.7 points per game above Travis Kelce's 9.1. 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 James Cook or Travis Kelce in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, James Cook has the edge at 16.8 PPG compared to Travis Kelce's 9.1 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 James Cook and Travis Kelce average in 2025?

James Cook averaged 16.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 7.7 points per game.

When are James Cook and Travis Kelce's bye weeks in 2026?

James Cook (BUF) has a bye in Week 12, and Travis Kelce (KC) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.