Who Should I Start? David Montgomery or James Cook

Sunday, January 21, 6:33 PM

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery rushed ten times for 33 yards and caught three passes for 14 yards in the 31-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His final stats in the NFC Divisional Round were far from impressive, but he remains a key piece of the team's offense despite the emergence of rookie Jahmyr Gibbs. The 49ers allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs during the regular season, so Montgomery could be in for another hard-fought day in the NFC Championship Game. That said, he scored 14 touchdowns in the regular season and Wild Card Rounds combined, so he remains a DFS consideration.

Monday, January 22, 12:31 AM

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook started hot but faded late as his team was sent home in Sunday's 27-24 Divisional Round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, carrying 18 times for 61 yards and catching four passes for 21 yards. With the Bills dominating on the ground in the first half, Cook picked up one chunk gain after another. But the Chiefs stiffened up to stifle Cook during the second half, leaving the 24-year-old with a fairly quiet evening despite his second straight week with 22 touches. Cook undoubtedly took a big step forward in 2023 -- garnering his first Pro Bowl nod and placing third at his position in scrimmage yards -- but his inability to find the end zone was a major shortcoming. Totaling five TDs on the season on 325 touches including the playoffs, Cook also failed to reach the 90-total-yard threshold in any of his final five appearances. That probably shouldn't prevent Cook from being selected as a top-12 fantasy RB, however, in 2024 drafts.