Buffalo Bills running back James Cook rushed for 216 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries during Sunday's Week 8 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Cook had struggled in his two games prior to the Bills' bye week, but he returned from the hiatus with one of the best games of his career. He now has 753 rushing yards, 89 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns through seven games this year. It's safe to say that offseason speculation about Cook regressing was misguided. The 26-year-old continues to showcase elite rushing skills, as well as a tendency to score plenty of touchdowns. His ceiling might be a little lower next week in a neutral game script against the Kansas City Chiefs, but he's still a very strong RB1 option.
Oct 26, 2025 5:51 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook should be started with confidence as the team travels to Carolina to face the Panthers in Week 8. While the Bills have struggled through back-to-back losses, they should be back on track following their Week 7 bye. Cook's success has driven the offense to this point, as he's averaging 21.3 fantasy points in wins, but just 6.8 in their losses. Cook remains the featured back in Buffalo and should continue to see consistent targets in the passing game, making him a lock for fantasy lineups. Look for the Bills to bounce back, as they will need to be firing on all cylinders before their Week 9 matchup with the Chiefs.
Oct 25, 2025 2:06 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook will face one of his toughest challenges of the season when he takes on Atlanta's sixth-ranked run defense on Monday night. The Falcons have excelled at controlling time of possession and limiting offensive opportunities, though they've allowed a 44.7% scoring rate on drives, leaving the door open for Cook to find the end zone. The third-year back is averaging 107.8 scrimmage yards and one touchdown per game, but he's coming off a sluggish performance against New England's opportunistic defense. While Cook's volume and role in Buffalo's high-powered offense keep him in RB1 territory, fantasy managers should temper expectations--his Week 6 success will likely hinge on finding pay dirt against a disciplined Falcons front.
Oct 11, 2025 1:46 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III draws a difficult matchup in Week 5 against a Patriots defense that has surrendered just 77.5 rushing yards per game, tied for second-fewest in the league. While Cook may find tough sledding between the tackles, his versatility as a receiver should keep him firmly in the RB1 mix. Last week against Baltimore, he managed only 44 yards on the ground but offset that with 58 yards through the air, showing his ability to remain productive even when the rushing lanes are clogged. In what projects to be one of Buffalo's biggest games of the season, the Bills will likely lean on Cook in multiple ways to generate offense. Fantasy managers should continue to view him as a high-end starting option in both standard and PPR formats.
Oct 4, 2025 5:51 AM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook posted another huge game in Week 4 in his team's 31-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Cook recorded 117 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries and added three catches for 18 yards for good measure as well. The 26-year-old has now logged 401 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 75 carries and 12 receptions for 89 yards through his first four games of 2025. He dominated backfield touches in Week 4, earning 22 out of 24 rush attempts by running backs for Buffalo against New Orleans. As long as he's healthy, Cook is a must-start fantasy running back.
Sep 28, 2025 9:47 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook, coming off his second straight game with 100-plus yards rushing, has a chance to keep rolling against the winless New Orleans Saints in Week 4. Although the Saints rank a respectable 14th in rushing yards allowed (103.3 per game), they've given up the seventh-most fantasy points to RBs through three weeks. That bodes well for Cook, who ranks second at his position in fantasy points and has encouragingly carried over his 2024 touchdown prowess into this season. After scoring 16 times on the ground a year ago, Cook has already found pay dirt four times in 2025 as the second-biggest weapon (behind quarterback Josh Allen) on an elite offense.
Sep 26, 2025 1:44 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook was excellent on Thursday against the Miami Dolphins, carving up the Dolphins' defense with 108 rushing yards on 19 carries, which was suitable for 5.68 yards per carry. He also scored a touchdown on the ground, which was from two yards out to put the Bills ahead 21-14 in the third quarter. Cook also contributed 10 yards through the air on three receptions, to tally 118 all-purpose yards on the evening. Cook has now totaled over 100 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in each of his three contests so far in 2025, putting to bed any doubt about his touchdown regression from 2024. Up next for Cook is a home game against the New Orleans Saints, where the Bills will presumably be heavy favorites again, which sets the stage for additional rush attempts for Cook.
Sep 19, 2025 9:50 AM EST
After a stellar performance in a Week 2 win over the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills running back James Cook will take on one of the NFL's lowest-ranked run defenses on Thursday. Cook will match up against the division-rival Miami Dolphins, who have surrendered the eighth-most rushing yards per game (139.0) and the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs through two weeks. New England Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson had his way with the Dolphins last Sunday, as he piled up 142 total yards (54 rushing, 88 receiving) on 16 touches. Cook ranks fourth in the league in rushing yards (176) and has already found the end zone three times on the ground through two games. While Cook may have trouble matching last week's production (21 carries, 132 yards, two TDs), especially if he gets a lighter workload on a short week, he profiles as an RB1 going into Thursday.
Sep 17, 2025 1:33 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook rushed 21 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's Week 2 win over the New York Jets. He also converted his lone target into a three-yard reception. Cook has picked up right where he left off last year, racking up yardage and scoring touchdowns within a high-powered Buffalo offense. He now has 237 yards and three touchdowns through just two games. The recently paid running back shows no signs of slowing down, either, as he motors on toward a very favorable matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 3. He has firmly established himself as a low-end RB1 once again.
Sep 14, 2025 7:27 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (hamstring) practiced in full on Friday and will not carry an injury designation into his team's Week 2 matchup against the New York Jets. Cook was limited in practice on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, but he was able to log consecutive full practices to end the week. The 25-year-old recorded 102 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 18 touches in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens. Cook profiles as a high-end fantasy RB2 in Week 2.
Sep 12, 2025 3:13 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (hamstring) opened the season with a productive showing in a 41-40 win against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. Facing a defense that ranked first against the run last year, Cook only totaled 13 carries for 44 yards. However, he scored a rushing touchdown and chipped in five receptions for 58 yards. Cook figures to log more carries this week, largely because the Bills shouldn't spend the majority of the game trying to overcome a significant deficit. They were down multiple scores for most of the night against the Ravens, leading to a pass-happy approach that yielded an improbable comeback victory. While Cook did deal with a hamstring issue earlier this week, it shouldn't hamper his availability against the New York Jets on Sunday. The Jets stuffed the run in a Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh, allowing a meager 53 yards on 20 carries, but Cook is vastly superior to the Steelers' backs. He'll enter Week 2 as a solid RB2 option for fantasy managers.
Sep 12, 2025 11:39 AM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is fully healthy heading into Week 2 after logging a full practice Thursday and being removed from the injury report. Cook was heavily involved in the Bills' offense during their season opener against Baltimore, racking up 44 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground while adding five catches for 58 yards through the air. His dual-threat ability makes him a valuable piece in both real-life and fantasy football, as Josh Allen and the Bills continue to rely on his versatility. With a pivotal divisional matchup against the New York Jets on deck, Cook's role should once again feature high usage, giving him strong appeal as a locked-in RB2 with upside in PPR formats.
Sep 11, 2025 2:08 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (hamstring) was limited at practice on Wednesday because of a hamstring injury. There's no indication that Cook is dealing with a serious issue, but it's something to keep an eye on leading up to Sunday's game against the New York Jets. Cook played 56.5% of offensive snaps in the Bills' Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens and accounted for 102 total yards on 18 touches. The 25-year-old rushed for just 44 yards on 13 attempts, but he found the end zone on the ground (something he did a league-high 16 times in 2024) and got involved in the passing game. Cook caught all five of his targets for 58 yards, including a 51-yarder. If he's not at 100% against the Jets, it could lead to more opportunities for backups Ray Davis and Ty Johnson. Neither Davis nor Johnson made much of an impact in the opener.
Sep 10, 2025 4:18 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is coming off a 2024 campaign in which he unexpectedly tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing touchdowns after tallying just two in the previous season. He also surpassed 1,000 yards on the ground for the second year in a row, but fantasy managers may have to temper expectations in Week 1. Cook is set to battle the Baltimore Ravens, who boasted the league's top-ranked run defense last season, when the teams kick off Sunday. The Ravens held opposing rushers to a paltry 3.6 yards per carry - a far cry from Cook's 4.9 YPC. Cook faced the Ravens twice in 2024 and combined for 106 yards on 26 carries, four catches for another 24 yards, and zero scores. The explosive 25-year-old enters 2025 as a high-end RB2 in fantasy, but with the Ravens standing in his way, Cook may not storm out of the gates in the opener.
Sep 5, 2025 1:23 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is officially back in the fold after signing a four-year contract extension with his team on Wednesday. Soon after the signing was announced, Buffalo GM Brandon Beane told reporters that he views Cook as a three-down back. Beane said, "We do feel he can take more, but we like to use our three options and keep him fresh." Cook often lost passing-down work to Ty Johnson last season and only played on 48% of Buffalo's offensive snaps. It is unlikely that Buffalo installs Cook as their workhorse, as their running game was effective in 2024, but it would be a positive for fantasy managers if the Bills shifted some of the targets in the passing game onto Cook's plate. Either way, he sets up as a solid RB2 in fantasy with an RB1 ceiling if he starts catching more passes.
Aug 13, 2025 9:13 AM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension on Wednesday. Cook had been holding-in throughout training camp but returned to practice on Tuesday as the two sides were apparently getting close to a deal. The contract extension has a $30 million guarantee and will keep Cook in Buffalo as their primary back for the near future. With Cook back in the fold, fantasy managers can confidently draft him as a solid RB2 heading into drafts later this summer. His return bumps Ty Johnson and Ray Davis back to reserve roles, although they should remain involved as Cook played on just 48% of the team's offensive snaps in 2024.
Aug 13, 2025 8:05 AM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is expected to practice on Tuesday, according to head coach Sean McDermott. Cook has been holding in at camp for over a week while calling his absence a "business decision." He dressed for Buffalo's first preseason game against the New York Giants on Saturday but refused to take the field. According to McDermott, the Bills and Cook have been having good conversations, which may have led to Cook's change of heart when it comes to practicing. Assuming Cook continues to participate throughout the remainder of training camp, Cook sets up as a solid RB2 in fantasy drafts later this summer.
Aug 12, 2025 9:21 AM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is "not willing to play" as he continues to seek a contract extension with the Buffalo Bills. Cook is currently participating in a "hold-in" during the team's practices. He did not participate during their opening preseason game on Saturday afternoon. While the 25-year-old was present and participated during the team's early practice sessions in the offseason, this past week, he has opted not to participate as he seeks an extension. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status in case this holdout continues to extend into the final weeks of the preseason. Last season, Cook enjoyed a career year as he found the back of the end zone 18 times, including 16 times on the ground. He also racked up over 1,000 yards on the ground for the second-straight campaign. While Cook continues to remain sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Ray Davis and Ty Johnson to serve as the top options in the backfield.
Aug 9, 2025 5:56 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook was seen in full uniform going through pre-game warmups on Saturday before the team's preseason opener versus the New York Giants, according to ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg. Cook started training camp this summer participating with the team, but he recently made the decision to sit out of practices as he continues to negotiate a contract extension with the organization. It's unclear if the 25-year-old will actually take part in the preseason game on Saturday against the Giants, but it could be a sign that both sides are inching closer towards getting something done as he enters the final year of his current deal. Securing an extension would make Cook a more attractive RB2 target in fantasy as he comes off a second straight 1,000-yard rushing season with a league-high 16 touchdowns. Cooks remains Buffalo's RB1, but fantasy managers need to plan for plenty of TD regression.
Aug 9, 2025 1:16 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has continued to miss practice. According to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN, the running back did not come out during Thursday's session, which marks his fourth-straight missed session. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as Cook continues his "hold in" as he seeks a new contract. While it is a good sign to see Cook in the building, seeing him remain off the field could put his availability for the regular season in doubt. In the meantime, fantasy managers should expect Ray Davis and Ty Johnson to see most of the opportunities out of the backfield. Last season, Cook found the back of the end zone an impressive 16 times while tallying 1,009 yards on the ground. If he is able to settle this dispute, he should be viewed as a high-end RB2 playing a potent Buffalo offense.
Aug 7, 2025 10:49 AM EST
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