Christian McCaffrey vs James Cook
Who should you draft in 2026 fantasy football? Our machine learning model's projections, value over replacement (VBD), and the draft market's lean, refreshed every morning.
RB3
Christian McCaffrey
295.5
projected 2026 points (PPR)
The model's pick
VS
RB5
James Cook
261.6
projected 2026 points (PPR)
The call
The model takes Christian McCaffrey, and it isn't close: 33.9 points of value over replacement separate them (165.8 vs 131.9).
The draft market agrees: Christian McCaffrey goes first at ADP 6.6 vs 12.7 for James Cook.
Health note: Christian McCaffrey carries an injury flag of Questionable (Undisclosed), which is already reflected in his projection.
| Christian McCaffreySFO | James CookBUF | Edge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projected 2026 points (PPR) | 295.5 | 261.6 | McCaffrey +33.9 pts |
| Points per game | 17.4 | 15.4 | |
| Value over replacement (VBD) | 165.8 | 131.9 | McCaffrey +33.9 |
| Overall rank | #3 | #6 | McCaffrey by 3 |
| Position rank | RB3 | RB5 | |
| Market ADP | 6.6 | 12.7 | Cook +6.1 cheaper |
| Typical round (12-team) | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| Bye week | 8 | 7 | |
| Injury flag | Questionable | None |
Should I draft Christian McCaffrey or James Cook in 2026 fantasy football?
Christian McCaffrey. He projects 295.5 fantasy points with 165.8 value over replacement, vs 261.6 points and 131.9 for James Cook (RB, PPR).