James Cook III
Running Back #4
James Cook III News
James Cook III Bounces Back with Dominant Week 2 Performance
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III put up a huge game in his team's 41-31 Week 2 win over the Detroit Lions, recording 21 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown. It was a nice bounce-back performance for the 26-year-old, who was held to 69 yards from scrimmage on 16 touches by the Houston Texans in Buffalo's season-opener. Cook III's fantasy production is impacted by the presence of Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who had two rushing touchdowns against Detroit and continues to be Buffalo's preferred option in short-yardage situations. Still, Cook III was the only Bills running back to receive a carry in Week 2, even in a game that his team largely controlled for 60 minutes. Buffalo's offense also looks like one of the best units in football so far, which should give Cook III plenty of chances to score touchdowns. Entering the Bills' Week 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, Cook III remains a clear fantasy RB1.
Sep 18, 2026 5:48 AM EST
James Cook III Remains a Strong RB1 for Week 2
The box score was fine, not great. Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III ran 13 times for 57 yards and finished with 69 total yards against Houston, but nothing about his role should worry fantasy managers. He was on the field for 72% of Buffalo's offensive snaps and clearly remained the lead option. Josh Allen simply handled the rushing touchdowns himself. Cook gets Detroit on Thursday with Buffalo expected to move the ball again, and Ty Johnson is questionable with a hamstring injury. That could leave even less competition behind him than usual. Cook also caught both of his targets in the opener, so he does not need a rushing touchdown to salvage his week. RotoBaller ranks him RB6 for Week 2. Allen is always going to steal some work near the goal line, but Cook's workload is plenty strong enough to keep him in the RB1 range against Detroit.
Sep 17, 2026 5:53 AM EST
James Cook III Not a Major Factor in Bills' Week 1 Win
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III rushed for 57 yards on 13 carries during Sunday's Week 1 win over the Houston Texans. He also caught three of his four targets for an additional 12 receiving yards. The Bills eked out a win, but it mostly came on the shoulders of the passing attack, as Josh Allen threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns. Allen also vultured two rushing touchdowns from Cook. The 26-year-old ball-carrier was the overall RB6 with 17.8 fantasy points per game last season, so fantasy managers would have liked to see him replicate that level of production in Week 1. With that being said, the Texans have one of the best defensive fronts in football, so we understand why Cook had trouble getting going on the ground. He'll have another tough test next week against the Detroit Lions, who just held the Saints' running backs to a total of 80 rushing yards.
Sep 13, 2026 2:29 PM EST
James Cook III Carries RB1 Upside Into Week 1
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III returns to Houston after rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries against the Texans last November. Cook went on to lead the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards in 2025, averaging 5.2 yards per carry while scoring 12 times on the ground. He also caught 33 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns, giving him another path to production in a difficult Week 1 matchup. Houston allowed only 1,593 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns last season while holding opponents to 4.0 yards per carry. Cook's lead role remains secure, even with Ray Davis and Ty Johnson behind him, and Johnson enters the weekend questionable with a hamstring injury. RotoBaller ranks Cook RB11 for Week 1. His volume and big-play ability keep him in the low-end RB1 range despite the strength of Houston's front.
Sep 12, 2026 7:29 AM EST
James Cook III Set For More Passing Work To Reduce Rushing Workload
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III led the league last year in rushing with 1,621 rushing yards on 309 carries, but look for him this season to be more involved in the passing game and be more explosive overall. According to a Sports Illustrated article, Bills offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael hinted that Cook was heavily involved in the run game last season and could see a reduction to his workload as a result of increased passing work. That's good news for Cook's health and a boost to fantasy managers with a big season upcoming due to potential big plays in the passing game with Josh Allen running the offense under new coach Joe Brady. Cook looks locked and loaded as a first round pick and this only increases his value. Last year, Cook had 33 catches for 291 yards and two receiving TDs. Look for those numbers to skyrocket this season if he stays healthy.
Sep 3, 2026 6:59 AM EST
James Cook III Remains a Top-Tier Running Back to Target in Fantasy Drafts
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III has been a top-eight fantasy option each of the last two seasons, and he shows no signs of slowing down ahead of the 2026 campaign. Cook rushed for a career-high 1,621 yards last year, added another 33 catches and 291 receiving yards, and scored 14 total touchdowns. His touchdown total dipped slightly from 2025 to 2026, but he improved in every other category. In addition to the overall counting stats, we're very impressed by the fact that he rushed for 5.25 yards per carry, which is the highest mark since his rookie campaign in 2022. Last year, fantasy managers said they were concerned about drafting Cook because he was due for touchdown regression and was going to lose volume to Josh Allen in the rushing game. Neither of those things happened, and even though Allen remains a presence in the rushing attack for 2026, this backfield belongs to Cook. He's an every-down back who should command a ton of volume (including around the goal line) in a very powerful offense. That's a recipe for success in fantasy football, and it's why Cook is a consensus first-round pick in drafts once again. Specifically, he ranks as the RB5 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings.
Aug 29, 2026 5:41 PM EST
James Cook III a Safe Pick with Upside in 2026
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III has finished as a top-10 running back in overall scoring in back-to-back seasons. He has rushed for 2,630 yards on 516 carries with 28 touchdowns across 33 games. In addition, Cook won the rushing title last year with 1,621 rushing yards. The 26-year-old has proven he can be a top fantasy producer by relying on his rushing production. However, Bills offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael has hinted that the Bills will look to use him more in the passing game this year, according to Alex Brasky of Sports Illustrated. Cook was labeled the best receiving running back in the 2022 NFL Draft coming out of Georgia due to his skillful route running and excellent hands. Conversely, Cook has mainly operated as an early-down runner and a goal-line back near the end zone. If Cook gets more involved in the passing game, it could boost him into a top 3 overall finisher at the position this season.
Aug 22, 2026 11:44 AM EST
James Cook III to be Used More in the Passing Game?
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael has hinted that the Buffalo Bills will look to use running back James Cook III more in the passing game this year, per Alex Brasky of Sports Illustrated. "Anytime you can get the ball in his hands, you have an opportunity for a big play. I think that he can bring value, not only in the run game and the pass game as well," Carmichael said. Cook led the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards and also scored 12 touchdowns on a career-high 309 carries in 17 regular-season games last year, adding 33 receptions for 291 yards and another two scores as a pass-catcher. It was a big year for the 26-year-old, but new head coach Joe Brady has hinted at the possibility of Buffalo lightening Cook's rushing load going into his fifth season in the league. One way to have Cook take less of a beating would be to cut back on his carries and give him more work in the passing game. Even if Cook's overall rushing workload drops, he could easily finish as a top-five RB in fantasy if he adds more targets in the passing game in Buffalo. The three-time Pro Bowler has had a nose for the end zone the last two years, scoring 28 rushing touchdowns after finding paydirt just four times as a rusher in his first two years in the league.
Aug 11, 2026 6:43 AM EST
James Cook III Could be Looking at Fewer Touches
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III led the NFL in rushing last year with 1,621 yards and 12 touchdowns on 309 carries in 17 regular-season games, with the Bills rushing the ball 52.4% of the time under offensive coordinator Joe Brady. The offense has leaned more heavily on the running game since Brady took over play-calling duties in Week 11 of 2023, but Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com questions whether the Bills will throw more under Brady in 2026. "I don't think you ever go into each game with a mindset of, 'This is how many carries he's going to have.' But it does pile up throughout the season, and I give him a lot of credit," said Brady. "I would love to be able to get Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Frank Gore Jr., those guys involved, and I hope those opportunities come up this year. James was just playing at such a high level last year. And this year again we're looking at everything." Cook is a three-time Pro Bowler who runs behind an elite offensive line, but fantasy managers may want to expect some regression in the rushing department in 2026, especially since the Bills made a concerted effort to upgrade their receiving room in the offseason. Don't forget that Cook had just four rushing touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons, then exploded for 28 rushing TDs in the last two seasons.
Jul 29, 2026 4:55 PM EST
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
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