As fantasy football drafts approach, two running backs—James Cook of the Buffalo Bills and Omarion Hampton of the Los Angeles Chargers—are drawing attention as potential RB2 picks for the 2024 season. With Hampton’s stock rising recently and Cook’s value stabilizing after a breakout season, the James Cook fantasy football draft requires a closer look at which back offers better value and upside.
Profile and Recent Performance of James Cook
James Cook enters the 2024 season as the Buffalo Bills’ second running back, with an average draft position (ADP) of RB13 and 31st overall. At 25 years old, Cook is coming off the most productive fantasy season of his career, playing in one of the league’s top offenses. The Bills are projected by Las Vegas to dominate the <a href=”https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/afc/”>AFC East once again, supporting strong passing and rushing opportunities for Cook.
Cook’s breakout season was powered by an unexpected touchdown surge, rushing for 16 touchdowns—far surpassing his previous career high of two rushing TDs. He also amassed 1,009 rushing yards alongside 32 receptions for 258 yards and two receiving touchdowns. Prior to last year, Cook’s inability to consistently find the end zone was a concern; his recent performance suggests he might have addressed that previous weakness.
Potential Challenges Facing James Cook This Season
Despite his breakout year, there are doubts about the sustainability of Cook’s touchdown numbers. Sixteen rushing touchdowns represent a remarkable spike, and many analysts view it as an outlier that may not be repeated. Even a 10-touchdown season, while still impressive, would mark a decline detrimental to Cook’s fantasy appeal.
Adding to the uncertainty, Cook recently missed practice due to “business” reasons related to contract negotiations, which have reportedly made little progress. According to Sal Vetri,
“James Cook sat out of practice to start the week and said the reason was ‘business’ He’s still looking for a new deal, but reports have said the 2 sides are not close. This has given more 1st team reps to RB Ray Davis…”
— SAL VETRI (@SalVetriDFS)
This situation has increased opportunities for Ray Davis, a second-year running back who is gaining traction within the Bills’ offense.
Davis impressed last season with 113 carries, 19 receptions, and six total touchdowns, earning rave reviews from the coaching staff. His rising profile suggests a potential committee backfield that could reduce Cook’s snaps and scoring chances, ultimately limiting his fantasy production in 2024.
Omarion Hampton’s 2024 Outlook with the Los Angeles Chargers
Omarion Hampton is viewed as a highly promising rookie running back for the Los Angeles Chargers, selected with an ADP of RB17 and 44th overall. Known for his athleticism and strong college résumé, Hampton will benefit from an improved offensive line and a Chargers offense expected to emphasize the running game substantially this year.
Najee Harris, who was expected to share the backfield workload with Hampton, suffered an eye injury during July 4 celebrations and has not returned to practice. This absence has accelerated Hampton’s opportunity to claim the lead role early in the season, a shift that has steadily increased his fantasy value.
Initially, a split workload favoring Harris was anticipated, but now Hampton appears positioned to assume the majority of carries from the start. Analyst Dwain McFarland highlights Hampton’s model profile:
“Omarion Hampton: was likely to overtake Najee Harris for the lead role anyway, might happen sooner now. Ranks 10th all-time in the Rookie Super Model since 2017. 73% of comps in model posted a top-12 finish before Year 3. This is an RB1 profile, y’all.”
— Dwain McFarland (@dwainmcfarland)
Hampton’s prospect status closely aligns with players who achieved early success in fantasy football, bolstering optimism about his impact.
Risks and Unknowns for Hampton as a Rookie
While Hampton’s upside is considerable, the primary risks stem from his rookie status and the uncertainty surrounding Harris’s return. There is still a possibility that Harris could recover and reclaim significant playing time, which might reduce Hampton’s workload and production. Additionally, Hampton’s lack of NFL game experience introduces unpredictability regarding his transition to the professional level.
Despite these concerns, Hampton remains a favored pick whose potential outweighs the risks associated with unproven rookies. His situation offers more promise for top-tier fantasy output than many comparable players currently drafted in his range.
Comparing Hampton and Cook: Which RB2 Is the Better Choice?
When evaluating pure value, Hampton stands out as the superior choice, especially if drafters can select him later than Cook. Those who can wait to draft Hampton while securing other key positions early—such as quarterback Jayden Daniels, Joe Burrow, or wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba—will find Hampton a more advantageous RB2 option.
Even in a head-to-head comparison without draft position considerations, Hampton provides a clearer path toward RB1-level performance. Expectations place Hampton comfortably within the RB5 to RB10 scoring range for 2024, whereas Cook’s upside appears more limited and vulnerable to internal competition. As a result, Hampton is forecasted to finish ahead of Cook this season, making him the smarter fantasy football investment in a James Cook fantasy football draft.
With offseason roster developments and evolving roles throughout training camp, fantasy managers should monitor both backfields closely. However, the current landscape strongly favors Omarion Hampton as the emerging lead back with the higher ceiling, making him the preferable RB2 selection in most draft scenarios.