Two players, one answer.
James Cook III vs Rashee Rice
This week
Start James Cook III · 16.1 to 12.6 projected (Week 8, PPR)
Rest of season
James Cook III by 37% (Redraft PPR)Dynasty
About even (Dynasty Superflex)
Week 8 · PPR · 65% held up in 2025
Lean James Cook III
On Sleeper's projections, James Cook III is projected 3.5 points ahead of Rashee Rice. In the 2025 season, a player projected that far ahead outscored the other 65% of the time. A lean, not a lock.
RB · BUF
James Cook III
16.1 projected
vs BAL · Sun 1:00 PM ET
18.9 a game this season · last 3: 16.3, 22.8, 24.3
WR · KC
Rashee Rice
12.6 projected
@ DEN · Sun 4:25 PM ETQuestionable
12.7 a game this season · last 3: 9.9, 12.3, 15.8
- Rashee Rice is questionable. The projection assumes he plays; if he's ruled out, the next player up is the call.
What the call rests on
- James Cook III: Sleeper's projection, last changed Thu, Oct 29, 11:50 PM ET
- Rashee Rice: Sleeper's projection, last changed Thu, Oct 29, 11:50 PM ET
- Sleeper's projections read Thu, Oct 29, 11:55 PM ET.
- Injury statuses read Thu, Oct 29, 11:55 PM ET, with the projections (hourly). A fresh projection time doesn't mean every status is: game-day inactives, about 90 minutes before kickoff, can come after it.
| Same projections, scored | III | Rice |
|---|---|---|
| PPR | 16.1 | 12.6 |
| Half PPR | 15.3 | 10.4 |
| Standard | 14.4 | 8.1 |
What could change it before kickoff
- Rashee Rice's status (questionable): if he's ruled out, James Cook III is the start.
- James Cook III plays first (Sun 1:00 PM ET); once his game starts most platforms lock him in or out, before Rashee Rice's late news is known.
Open in Who should I start (your league, more players)
This week’s projections are Sleeper’s, scored with PPR settings. The percentage is how often a projected gap like this held up across the 2025 season; checked against 2026 games (not used to fit it), the stated chances so far run a few points high, so read a 60% call as nearer 55%.