Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Jake Tonges vs James Cook

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

James Cook is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, James Cook (16.8 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Jake Tonges (8.5 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TESan Francisco 49ers#15

Jake Tonges

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

293

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

RBBuffalo Bills#6PPG LEADER

James Cook

PPG

16.8

Games

Rush Yds

1,621

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

291

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Jake Tonges

James Cook

Head to Head

8.5 PPG16.8 PPG

9 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Jake Tonges: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #15 at the position). James Cook: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #6 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB in most league formats.

Jake Tonges vs James Cook: Who Should You Start?

Comparing Jake Tonges (TE, San Francisco 49ers) against James Cook (RB, Buffalo Bills) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 PPG in 2025 over 9 games, while James Cook posted 16.8 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.

Jake Tonges has his bye in Week 14, James Cook in Week 7. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

James Cook is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Jake Tonges is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Jake Tonges (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. James Cook (age 26) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•James Cook outscored Jake Tonges by a projected 141 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•James Cook played 17 games in 2025 compared to Jake Tonges's 9. That durability gap means James Cook contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•James Cook scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Jake Tonges saw 46 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatTongesCook

PPG (Half-PPR)8.516.8

Games Played917

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)77286

Rushing Yards01,621

Rush Yds/Game0.095.4

Rushing TDs012

Receptions3433

Receiving Yards293291

Targets4640

Total TDs514

Age2626

Experience3 yrs3 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor James Cook at 16.8 PPG, 8.3 points per game above Jake Tonges's 8.5. 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 Jake Tonges or James Cook in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, James Cook has the edge at 16.8 PPG compared to Jake Tonges's 8.5 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 Jake Tonges and James Cook average in 2025?▾

Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. James Cook averaged 16.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 8.3 points per game.

When are Jake Tonges and James Cook's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jake Tonges (SF) has a bye in Week 14, and James Cook (BUF) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.