Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

James Cook vs Mark Andrews

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. Mark Andrews (6.3 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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RBBuffalo Bills#6PPG LEADER

James Cook

PPG

16.8

Games

Rush Yds

1,621

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

291

Bye

Week 7

TEBaltimore Ravens#27

Mark Andrews

PPG

6.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

422

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

James Cook

Mark Andrews

Head to Head

16.8 PPG6.3 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

James Cook: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #6 at the position). Mark Andrews: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #27 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE in most league formats.

James Cook vs Mark Andrews: Who Should You Start?

Comparing James Cook (RB, Buffalo Bills) against Mark Andrews (TE, Baltimore Ravens) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. James Cook averaged 16.8 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while Mark Andrews posted 6.3 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

James Cook is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Mark Andrews is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: James Cook (age 26) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Mark Andrews (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•James Cook outscored Mark Andrews by a projected 179 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•James Cook scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Mark Andrews caught 48 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•James Cook is 4 years younger than Mark Andrews (26 vs 30), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.
•Both players share a Week 7 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatCookAndrews

PPG (Half-PPR)16.86.3

Games Played1717

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)286107

Rushing Yards1,62148

Rush Yds/Game95.42.8

Rushing TDs121

Receptions3348

Receiving Yards291422

Targets4070

Total TDs146

Age2630

Experience3 yrs7 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 7Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor James Cook at 16.8 PPG, 10.5 points per game above Mark Andrews's 6.3. 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 James Cook or Mark Andrews in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, James Cook has the edge at 16.8 PPG compared to Mark Andrews's 6.3 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 James Cook and Mark Andrews average in 2025?▾

James Cook averaged 16.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Mark Andrews averaged 6.3 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 10.5 points per game.

Do James Cook and Mark Andrews share a bye week?▾

Yes, both James Cook and Mark Andrews share a Week 7 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at running back for that week.