James Cook III
Running Back #4
James Cook III News
James Cook III Remains a High-End Running Back Option Entering 2026
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III earned second-team All-Pro honors for his work in 2025, when he recorded 1,912 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns on 342 touches across 17 games. The 26-year-old has always been an uber-efficient rusher, and he saw his workload spike from 14.9 touches per game in 2024 to 20.1 touches per game in 2025. The Bills promoted former offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach ahead of the 2026 season and did not make any notable additions to their running back room, so there's little reason to think that Cook III's role in the team's offense will change. By measure of per-game PPR scoring, Cook III has been a solid RB1 in back-to-back seasons. Entering 2026, he remains a high-end running back option for fantasy managers in redraft leagues.
Jul 22, 2026 9:24 AM EST
Can James Cook III Crack the Top Five in 2026?
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III tied for the league lead with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024, and while those calling for regression ahead of the 2025 season were technically right, Cook was able to pair his 12 touchdown runs with 1,621 yards on the ground and the first rushing crown of his career. Cook has finished as the RB8 and RB6 in the past two seasons, and with Buffalo's offense remaining largely intact for 2026, there is no reason to expect any significant falloff. The largest change comes at the top, where Joe Brady will take over as head coach, though his previous promotion to offensive coordinator coincided with Cook's breakout, and no team has scored more offensive touchdowns across his two full seasons as playcaller. While the offseason trade for veteran receiver DJ Moore could allow for perennial MVP-contender Josh Allen to again throw for more than 4,000 yards, something he has not done in either of Cook's RB1 seasons, a more balanced offense could also lead to more scoring opportunities on the ground. Despite Allen scoring rushing touchdowns at a historic rate in recent years, Cook has still been one of the league's most active backs from within the five-yard line over the past two seasons, and he is RotoBaller's RB5 for 2026.
Jul 6, 2026 6:01 AM EST
James Cook III Set for More Involvement in Bills Passing Game?
New Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael may place a greater emphasis on involving running back James Cook III in the team's passing game, according to Matt Parrino of syracuse.com. Cook III recorded 44 catches for 445 yards and four touchdowns in 2023, but he's finished with fewer than 35 receptions and 300 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons. The 26-year-old saw his largest overall workload in 2025, topping 300 carries for the first time and recording 342 touches overall. Carmichael was a part of many offenses with the New Orleans Saints, which heavily featured running back Alvin Kamara as a pass-catcher, and could bring a similar flavor to Buffalo. If Cook III can up his receiving workload without seeing a significant drop-off in rushing production, he may have overall fantasy RB1 upside in 2026.
Jun 30, 2026 7:14 AM EST
James Cook III Working on Ball Security
After missing the media-accessible portions of organized team activities, Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III has been a full-go at this week's mandatory minicamp, and the reigning rushing king told reporters on Wednesday that one of his goals for 2026 is to take better care of the football. Cook fumbled six times in 2025, with three resulting in turnovers, after putting the ball on the ground only once in 2024, resulting in a league-leading 16 rushing touchdowns. If Cook can help to keep more drives alive and resulting in points, the fantasy ceiling rises even higher for a player who has also caught 109 passes over the past three seasons. With Joe Brady moving from offensive coordinator to head coach, there's a natural expectation that he will lean on his three-time Pro Bowl running back during the transition, and with a fourth straight top-12 fantasy finish a very realistic possibility, the 26-year-old Cook is RotoBaller's dynasty RB7.
Jun 12, 2026 5:28 AM EST
Can James Cook Continue to Ascend in 2026 and Beyond?
Although Buffalo Bills running back James Cook was a highly productive player in his first three NFL seasons, he took his game to a new level in 2025. Across 17 games, the 26-year-old recorded 1,912 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns on 342 touches. Cook has always been an extremely efficient rusher, but the Bills coaching staff finally entrusted him with a true RB1 workload in 2025. Cook averaged 20.1 touches per game last season, well beyond his previous career-high of 16.5 touches per game in 2023. While the Bills shook up their coaching staff heading into 2026, former offensive coordinator Joe Brady is now the head coach in Buffalo and appears unlikely to drastically alter Cook's usage. Entering his age-27 season with an excellent offensive environment around him in Buffalo, Cook profiles as an elite dynasty running back.
Apr 30, 2026 8:28 AM EST
James Cook Continues to Trend Up Every Year
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has been trending up in fantasy football year after year. He opened his career as the RB44 as a rookie in 2022, but he has been a top-12 fantasy running back every season since then. He jumped to the ranking of overall RB6 last year, carrying the Bills' offense with 1,621 rushing yards, 291 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns. Before the season, critics forecasted touchdown regression for Cook. While his touchdown total did scale back slightly from 18 to 14, he was still highly productive around the goal line, and he handled a new career-high rushing workload. The Bills underwent a coaching staff shakeup during the offseason, but new head coach Joe Brady was formerly Buffalo's offensive coordinator, so we don't expect the offense to look too different next year. Cook should continue to operate as the every-down back, rarely ceding touches to Ty Johnson and Ray Davis. He continues to have top-five upside in redraft and dynasty formats.
Apr 6, 2026 6:23 PM EST
James Cook a Strong RB1 in Fantasy Coming Off Career Year
The Buffalo Bills are in win-now mode, and running back James Cook is one of their primary weapons on offense behind Pro Bowl quarterback Josh Allen. Cook made his third straight Pro Bowl in 2025 in his fourth year in the NFL and had a career year, leading the league in rushing yardage (1,621) with 12 rushing touchdowns on a career-high 309 carries in 17 regular-season starts. The 26-year-old led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024 and doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. The former second-round pick in 2022 out of Georgia finished as the RB5 in half-PPR scoring in 2025, behind only Christian McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson, and Jahmyr Gibbs. In addition to his big numbers on the ground, Cook added 33 receptions for 291 yards and another two touchdowns through the air. Cook will go into the 2026 campaign as the clear workhorse for a Bills' offense that led the league with 159.6 rushing yards per game last year. He'll give fantasy managers a strong floor as a high-end RB1 this fall.
Mar 18, 2026 3:05 PM EST
James Cook III Solidified Himself as a High-End Running Back in 2025
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III solidified himself as one of the NFL's best running backs in 2025, racking up 1,621 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 309 carries across 17 games. The 26-year-old also impacted the game as a receiver, hauling in 33 receptions for 291 yards and two scores. Cook III has always been an efficient player, but he was able to reach new production heights in 2025 thanks to an increase in workload. After logging 239 touches across 16 games played in 2024, Cook III recorded 342 touches in 2025 and still averaged a highly efficient 5.6 yards per touch. Cook III signed a four-year extension with Buffalo before the start of the 2025 season, so he's locked in as the team's lead rusher for the foreseeable future. The Bills also promoted former offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach, so it seems unlikely that the team would radically shift its offensive approach going forward. Now that he's proven he can handle a significant workload, Cook III profiles as a high-end running back option for fantasy managers in dynasty formats.
Feb 13, 2026 7:31 AM EST
James Cook Facing Another Difficult Matchup in the Divisional Round
After finishing the regular season with an NFL-best 1,621 rushing yards, Buffalo Bills running back James Cook had an underwhelming outing in his first game of the postseason. The 26-year-old was held to just 46 rushing yards on 15 carries and five receiving yards on two catches by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cook's regular-season track record should afford him the benefit of the doubt from fantasy managers. However, he will face another very difficult run defense in the Divisional round when Buffalo travels to Denver to take on the Broncos. The Broncos defense finished the regular season ranked third in the NFL in yards per carry allowed (3.9) and tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns allowed (11). Additionally, Buffalo's already depleted pass-catching corps lost another two wide receivers in Gabe Davis (knee) and Tyrell Shavers (knee), who both suffered season-ending knee injuries in the Wild Card round. As a result, Denver could be even more geared up to stop Cook and take away the run. Cook remains a high-end running back option, but fantasy managers may want to downgrade expectations heading into the Divisional round.
Jan 13, 2026 7:00 PM EST
James Cook Heads into Playoffs Having Secured the Rushing Title
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook took two carries for 15 yards in an abbreviated appearance in the team's Week 18 win over the Jets. It was enough to keep distance between him and a surging Derrick Henry, with Cook ultimately securing his first regular-season rushing crown with 1,621 yards. Heading into the postseason, he should be viewed as one of the highest upside running backs in fantasy playoff leagues. Buffalo currently holds the fourth-highest Super Bowl odds in a wide-open AFC and is a slight road favorite over a 13-4 Jacksonville team that has been a headache for fantasy running backs throughout most of the season. Despite the tough matchup, Cook is RotoBaller's RB2 for the week, and he could be in line for a massive postseason if Buffalo can advance.
Jan 6, 2026 2:27 PM EST
James Cook Primed to Feast Again in Week 17
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook was dominant in Week 16's win over the Cleveland Browns, totaling 134 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on just 17 touches. Cook has ascended once again in the 2025 season, jumping from 79.2 scrimmage yards per game in 2024 to 121.3 this season. He currently leads the NFL in rushing yards and ranks RB6 in PPR formats. The Bills host the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17, who have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. While star defensive tackle Jalen Carter will be active this week for the Eagles, Cook and the Bills are running the ball with ease, so fantasy managers should expect more dominance from the fourth-year back.
Dec 27, 2025 10:18 AM EST
James Cook Scores Twice in Bills' Win Over Browns
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook had 16 carries, 117 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns during Sunday's Week 16 win over the Cleveland Browns. He also converted two targets into one catch for 17 receiving yards. Cook's quest for the NFL rushing title continued against a Browns defense that has been absolutely ripped apart by opposing running backs over the last three weeks. Buffalo's primary ball-carrier now has 14 touchdowns and over 1,800 scrimmage yards on the year, including five trips to the end zone in his last two games. Preseason concerns that Cook was due for regression have been completely unfounded, as he remains one of the top fantasy running backs while continuing to play a massive role around the goal line. He's a very strong RB1 option with a high ceiling heading into Week 17 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Dec 21, 2025 5:54 PM EST
James Cook Remains a High-End RB1 in Week 16
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook had a monster game in Week 15, totaling 111 yards and three total touchdowns against one of the strongest run defenses in the NFL, the New England Patriots. Cook has ascended every season of his career, as he ranks second in the NFL in rushing (1415) behind only Jonathan Taylor. They face the Cleveland Browns in Week 16, who started the season as one of the best defenses against the run, but have struggled in recent weeks. Both Tony Pollard and D'Andre Swift had over 100 scrimmage yards and multiple touchdowns against this Browns defense, so watch for another explosive game from the fourth-year back. Cook is a high-end RB1 who carries as much upside as any back in the NFL in Week 16.
Dec 20, 2025 10:24 AM EST
James Cook Dominates With Three Touchdowns in Week 15 Win
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook put up a dominant performance in his team's critical Week 15 win over its division rival, the New England Patriots, on Sunday. Cook recorded 22 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns, and two receptions for four yards and a score. The 26-year-old has now racked up 1,686 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns on 302 touches across 14 games this season. Cook has topped 100 scrimmage yards in five straight games and 11 out of 14 total contests in 2025. He also continues to dominate backfield touches in Buffalo, logging 22 of the team's 26 rushing attempts by running backs in Week 15. Cook profiles as a must-start fantasy running back heading into a Week 16 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
Dec 14, 2025 9:42 PM EST
James Cook Faces Tough Test Against Elite Patriots Run Defense
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has handled 83 carries over his last four games, totaling 388 rushing yards and one touchdown while adding 11 receptions for 143 yards and another score. The 26-year-old ranks second in the NFL with 1,308 rushing yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Cook faces a formidable challenge against a Patriots defense that ranks third in the league, allowing just 89.5 rushing yards per game and five rushing touchdowns all season. New England surrendered just 49 yards on 15 carries to Cook in their Week 5 meeting. Despite the difficult matchup, Cook's workhorse role remains secure with Ray Davis and Ty Johnson serving as change-of-pace options behind him. His 20.8 carries per game over the last month demonstrate elite volume, though modest receiving usage limits PPR upside against a stingy Patriots front. Cook ranks as RotoBaller's RB10 in PPR formats for Week 15.
Dec 13, 2025 5:18 AM EST
James Cook in Line for Another Big Day in Week 14
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook recorded a season-high 32 carries for 144 yards during last week's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite missing both starting tackles, Cook and the Bills' ground game tore up the Steelers for 249 total rushing yards. The 26-year-old has been an elite fantasy asset all season, handling 231 rushing attempts for 1,228 yards and eight touchdowns with 27 receptions (29 targets) for 236 yards and a touchdown. He ranks as the RB6 on the year, averaging 18.6 PPR points per game. The Bills' RB1 has already set a career high in rushing yards and is set up to surpass his career high of 237 carries in Week 14 against a porous Cincinnati Bengals defense. The Bengals have allowed the most PPR points per game to opposing running backs, setting Cook up for another potential massive game on Sunday.
Dec 6, 2025 7:30 PM EST
James Cook Handles Career-High 32 Carries for 144 Yards in Win
The Buffalo Bills leaned heavily on running back James Cook in their 26-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Cook handled a career high 32 carries for 144 yards to go along with three receptions (three targets) for a team-leading 33 receiving yards. The 26-year-old did it all for the Bills in a much-needed bounce-back win, and he continues to have an outstanding season after receiving a four-year, $48 million contract extension in the offseason. Cook has seen more work as a receiver lately as well, recording 14 receptions (14 targets) for 136 yards and a touchdown in his last four games. In the first eight games, he totaled 13 receptions (15 targets) for 100 yards and no touchdowns as a receiver. Cook will remain one of the best running backs in fantasy in a dream matchup next week against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dec 1, 2025 12:19 AM EST
James Cook Eyeing Another Dominant Outing in Week 13
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has been on a terror in his fourth season in the NFL, totaling 1,287 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games. Despite the Bills struggling against the Houston Texans in Week 12, Cook had a big game, totaling 129 yards and a touchdown on 20 attempts. Cook has ascended in every season he's been in the NFL, jumping from a 16.7 PPR points per game average in 2024 to an 18.7 average this season. While Cook has been matchup-proof this season, the Steelers are very tough against the run, allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. Despite the difficult matchup, Cook is a sure-fire RB1 in fantasy this week, as he looks to continue his dominance.
Nov 29, 2025 11:23 AM EST
James Cook Breaks Off Long Touchdown in Primetime Loss
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook had 17 carries for 116 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown during Thursday's Week 12 loss against the Houston Texans. He also caught all three of his targets for an additional 13 receiving yards. The highlight of his game was a 45-yard touchdown run to break the scoreless tie in the first quarter. Even as the Bills' offense was slowed down by the Texans' strong defense, Cook still had a very productive game and carved out a terrific fantasy performance once again. He logged his first rushing touchdown since Week 8 and now has nine trips to the end zone this season. He remains a high-end RB1 option heading into Week 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Nov 20, 2025 11:30 PM EST
James Cook III Remains RB1 Heading into Thursday's Game vs. Houston
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III is set to face a tough Houston Texans' defense on Thursday night that has allowed just 87.1 rushing yards per game, which ranks third in the NFL. It could be tough sledding for Cook on Thursday against a stout Texans defense, but he remains a must-start in Week 12. Cook is averaging 115.8 scrimmage yards per game and has produced eight touchdowns over 10 contests. The 26-year-old back is enjoying his best season, and the Bills are sure to feature Cook on Thursday. Look for another strong showing and RB1 potential for Cook this week. Despite the brutal matchup, Cook should be in all fantasy lineups and is ranked 11th among all running backs for Week 12.
Nov 19, 2025 11:53 PM EST
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