James Cook or Brian Robinson Jr. Week 15 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Fantasy football projections for RBs

James Cook and Brian Robinson Jr. have become a focal point for their respective teams' offenses. In a realm dominated by Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry, these two running backs possess franchise face potential, having come from the same draft class.

Fantasy managers who want to take a break from the usual faces and put out waiver wires on them. So who between them has the higher and better upside?

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Is James Cook a good fantasy pick in Week 15?

San Francisco 49ers v Buffalo Bills - Source: Getty

"James Cook is near."

That is the 200-fantasy point club reacting as the RB15 Buffalo Bill edges closer to joining it. Now his continued development as a playmaker was expected, given the restructuring of the wide receiver unit, but what was not expected was for the team to remain the AFC East's overlords despite the changes.

The Detroit Lions, however, may have something to say about that. Despite injuries to multiple play-stoppers like Aidan Hutchinson and Malcolm Rodriguez, they stil boast the league's second-best anti-run defense, averaging just 16.51 points allowed.

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Is Brian Robinson Jr. a good fantasy pick in Week 15?

Washington Commanders v Philadelphia Eagles - Source: Getty

Brian Robinson Jr. needs no introduction.

The RB12 has been one of the reasons why the Washington Commanders have been playoff contenders in 2024. Head coach Dan Quinn has emphasized on his power running, and that has enabled him to accumulate 640 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, good enough for a 134.5-point haul.

But it get betters for him as the New Orleans Saints are within the bottom quarter when it comes to anti-RB defense. They have allowed an average of 24.52 points despite Cameron Jordan and Demario Davis anchoring the front seven and Tyrann Mathieu as the undisputed leader of the secondary in the wake of Marshon Lattimore's trade to Landover.

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Whom should I start between James Cook and Brian Robinson Jr.?

James Cook or Brian Anderson Jr?

In one of the closest matchups on the Sportskeeda Start/Sit Optimizer, it is Cook taking the spoils as the better option to start by .3 points, even though he is outmatched in almost every stat.

Rushing yards? Robinson is down by 2.5. Receptions? Down by .3. Receiving yards? Down by 4.2. And receiving touchdowns? Equal.

What keeps him ahead, however, is the rushing touchdowns - a lead of .2. He has 11 of them and the fantasy scorebooks have acted accordingly. And for a team that was once thought to be rebuilding and even tanking, that is not a bad option to have.