NFL DRAFT ROOKIE GUIDE IS NOW LIVE!
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook started hot but faded late as his team was sent home in Sunday's 27-24 Divisional Round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, carrying 18 times for 61 yards and catching four passes for 21 yards. With the Bills dominating on the ground in the first half, Cook picked up one chunk gain after another. But the Chiefs stiffened up to stifle Cook during the second half, leaving the 24-year-old with a fairly quiet evening despite his second straight week with 22 touches. Cook undoubtedly took a big step forward in 2023 -- garnering his first Pro Bowl nod and placing third at his position in scrimmage yards -- but his inability to find the end zone was a major shortcoming. Totaling five TDs on the season on 325 touches including the playoffs, Cook also failed to reach the 90-total-yard threshold in any of his final five appearances. That probably shouldn't prevent Cook from being selected as a top-12 fantasy RB, however, in 2024 drafts.
Jan 22, 2024 12:31 AM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook totaled his highest yardage (84) and catch output (four) since Week 15 in last Monday's 31-17 wild-card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, now putting up 18.8 touches for 62.5 scrimmage yards per game over his last four outings. On top of the 3.3 yards per touch paling in comparison to his regular-season 5.6 YPT, none of Cook's last 13 red-zone touches have resulted in a touchdown. The Kansas City Chiefs have been far leakier on the ground than through the air, however, tying for the fifth-most opponent yards per carry (4.4) in the regular season. With that said, K.C. let in the second-fewest rushing TDs (six) to opposing tailbacks this year. Cook torched the Chiefs for 141 yards and a score on just 15 totes when these sides battled in Week 14, ending as fantasy's PPR RB3 that week. Cook's $6,300 DraftKings salary is the sixth-highest figure among RBs for the Divisional Round, shaping up as a midrange RB1.
Jan 20, 2024 12:49 AM EST
It was a pretty quiet day for Buffalo Bills running back James Cook when the team defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-17 in Monday's wild-card round, but he still put in 79 yards on 18 rushing attempts and chipped in four receptions for four yards. The Steelers mostly bottled Cook up despite missing all-world defender T.J. Watt (knee) on Monday, as the explosive 24-year-old tailback was only able to round up a long gain of 12 yards on the evening. After Cook's five-game frenzy between Weeks 10 through 15 saw him stockpile at least 100 scrimmage yards in each meeting, the wheels have started to fall off just a bit. Failing to find the end zone since the hot streak ended, Cook has also been unable to transcend the 80-yard marker on the ground during this four-game cold spell. Cook did tally a season-high 83 receiving yards in Week 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs, who he will square off with in next Sunday's Divisional battle.
Jan 16, 2024 12:20 AM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook handled a featured role fairly well this year, ending as fantasy's overall RB12 in PPR scoring and notching his first career Pro Bowl nod. Though Cook finished behind only Christian McCaffrey and Breece Hall in scrimmage yards (1,567), he's sputtering a bit with just 154 rushing yards in his past three outings ahead of the postseason. It remains to be seen if the 24-year-old former second-rounder has maintained his grip on scoring-area work for Monday's wild-card matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, considering he has zero touchdowns in his last three games despite 11 red-zone touches, but the concerning weather could force both sides to employ a run-heavy approach. At an affordable $6,600 price tag on DraftKings, Cook is firmly in play as an RB1 option with the Bills positioned as double-digit favorites at home against a middling Steelers defense without its heart and soul, T.J. Watt (knee).
Jan 14, 2024 1:15 AM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook struggled to gain traction as the team clinched the AFC East championship in Week 18's 21-14 win over the Miami Dolphins, rushing 13 times for 36 yards with three receptions for 16 yards. Cook is among the league leaders at the RB position in dropped passes, and his most notable play of the night was a lowlight. This latest miscue came in the end zone on a drop near the end of the second quarter, and the Bills would go on to come away from that drive empty-handed. The 24-year-old Georgia product has made great strides as an all-purpose back in his second season, but consistency has been a major issue. Cook has now collected just 166 scoreless scrimmage yards in his last three games after wreaking havoc with five straight 100-yard days. Buffalo hopes to get the best version of Cook when the Pittsburgh Steelers come to town for a Wild Card contest next Sunday.
Jan 8, 2024 1:23 AM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is slowing up at the wrong time for fantasy managers after a sensational run of 462 rushing yards (80 carries) with 222 yards on 18 catches and four touchdowns through Weeks 10 to 14. Cook has totaled 118 scoreless ground yards with a loss of four yards on one catch in his past two games, which certainly wasn't what managers were looking for during the fantasy playoffs. The 24-year-old first-time Pro Bowler took a season-high five red-zone touches, however, in the Week 17 home win over the New England Patriots. That silver lining should bode well for Cook's TD prospects in what could be a high-scoring meeting for the AFC East title on Sunday night against the Miami Dolphins, which features the highest implied point total (48) that we'll find on the loaded 16-game slate. Trailing only Christian McCaffrey (calf) among tailbacks in total yards (1,515), Cook is a viable RB1 in Week 18.
Jan 5, 2024 11:59 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has cooled off dramatically since a stellar five-game hot streak of at least 100 yards in each contest. Although the team found themselves in a run-heavy game script in Week 17's 27-21 win over the New England Patriots, Cook turned 16 carries into 48 scoreless yards and caught one of his three targets for a loss of four yards. New England bottled up the slippery Cook on Sunday, keeping him in check for a long gain of just eight yards. The 2022 second-rounder has certainly improved this season, but he just hasn't been able to find a knack for the end zone. It has seemingly kept Cook out of contention for bell-cow status in Buffalo's backfield all year, as he ceded seven RB opportunities in this one. Though his lack of receiving usage remains odd, Cook will remain an interesting RB1 bet next Sunday night in a potential shootout with the Miami Dolphins.
Jan 1, 2024 2:43 AM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook's red-hot five-game run of at least 100 total yards in each outing was extinguished last Saturday for 70 scoreless yards and a lost fumble. Even so, Cook registered his highest snap share (72.7%) of the campaign in Week 16. Leonard Fournette was finally promoted from Buffalo's practice squad ahead of that tilt, but he filled in for Ty Johnson and took Latavius Murray's role, handling five carries for 20 yards and not threatening Cook's workload. Cook has been one of the NFL's best all-purpose backs this year, ranking third in rushing yards (1,038) and receiving yards (443) with a highly efficient 10.8 yards per catch and 1.86 yards per route run. The 4-11 New England Patriots have yielded the fifth-most catches (83) to opposing RBs and Cook has two 100-yard days in three career meetings with New England, keeping him firmly in play as an RB1 with plenty of scoring upside at home in Week 17.
Dec 29, 2023 11:48 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook administered a 221-yard volley last Sunday but stumbled as his team escaped with a 24-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16, rushing 20 times for 70 scoreless yards. The 24-year-old ran well in the first half before fumbling the football on Buffalo's first play of the second half, but fullback Reggie Gilliam fell on top of it to bail him out. Cook's second mishandled ball was of greater consequence; it was recovered by the Chargers for great field position and led to a go-ahead Bolts field goal. Perhaps something about SoFi Stadium gives Cook the jitters, as the second-year back fumbled on his first career touch in the same building and was promptly doghoused last season. Though it wasn't the curtain call fantasy managers may have envisioned after Cook's Week 15 blitz, the former second-rounder can be trusted as an RB1 at home in Week 17 versus the New England Patriots.
Dec 24, 2023 12:00 AM EST
On the heels of a 221-yard showcase last Sunday, Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (illness) won't let an illness cost him a Week 16 matchup with a Los Angeles Chargers team that sports one of the NFL's worst defenses. Collecting 21.0 touches for 141.1 total yards per game with four total touchdowns since offensive coordinator Joe Brady took over in Week 11, Cook has registered four straight finishes as fantasy's RB12 or better in full-PPR scoring. Cook's Week 10 fumble may have been the best thing that could have happened; he's rattled off five consecutive 100-yard showings ever since. The 24-year-old is now up to second in rushing yards (968) and yards per catch (10.9) among RBs after Week 15's surge. The Bolts have yielded the second-most catches to RBs (90). Cook may not be a workhorse as the leader of a backfield committee with Latavius Murray and Ty Johnson, but he's in the top-five RB1 conversation on Saturday.
Dec 22, 2023 11:23 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (illness) took the day off from practice on Wednesday because he was feeling under the weather. Cook's status is worth monitoring for Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers, but he should be fine to suit up by then. The 24-year-old exploded for his best game of the 2023 season in the Week 15 demolition of the Dallas Cowboys, as he posted season-highs in rushing attempts (25) and rushing yards (179) while scoring only his second rushing touchdown of the year. As long as he's active this weekend, the second-year back needs to be in all starting fantasy lineups in an excellent matchup against a Los Angeles Chargers defense that just surrendered a whopping 63 points to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Dec 20, 2023 1:43 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook dismantled the vaunted Dallas Cowboys defense in Week 15's easy 31-10 win, rushing 25 times for 179 yards and a touchdown with two catches for 42 yards and another score. Cook could have sent his fantasy managers further into orbit on Sunday evening, as Latavius Murray and Josh Allen vultured two TDs and Cook dropped a pass near the goal line in the third quarter. But Cook still authored an utter masterpiece here, first scoring on an 18-yard pass and later putting the cherry on top of his Week 15 cake when he flipped into the end zone for a 24-yard TD run in the fourth period. The Georgia product is playing at an extraordinarily high level, churning out 136.8 total yards on 19.6 touches per game with four TDs in five games since Week 10. Peaking at the right time, Cook has forced his way into the RB1 stratum against a potentially packed-in Los Angeles Chargers group in Week 16 on Saturday.
Dec 18, 2023 2:08 AM EST
A Week 10 fumble and ensuing benching may have served as Buffalo Bills running back James Cook's wake-up call. Cook has tallied four straight 100-yard showings, with his role having undergone a transformation since Buffalo installed offensive coordinator Joe Brady in Week 11. Though Cook's snap rate has dropped, the Bills are featuring the 2022 second-round pick by designing plays to scheme the ball into his hands and utilize his elusiveness, maximizing his playing time. And what he may lack in opportunity and touchdown chances, Cook's explosiveness (5.9 yards per touch) compensates for it with big-play upside out of the backfield. While we might be remiss to rank the red-hot Cook as a fantasy RB1 due to a snap share south of 50% since Brady took over, the 24-year-old is on the highest end of the RB2 spectrum for a rigid draw in Week 15 against a Dallas Cowboys defense yielding the third-fewest fantasy points per game to RBs.
Dec 16, 2023 10:52 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook recorded his fourth consecutive 100-yard showing in Week 14's key 20-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, rushing 10 times for 58 yards with five catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. Cook tormented the Chiefs out of the backfield, doing his damage through the air all in the first half. After dropping a would-be 30-yard TD on a wheel route in the first quarter of his last game, Cook made no mistake up the seam from 25 yards away this time around. The 24-year-old's recent surge is strangely accompanied by less than 50% of Buffalo's offensive snaps in each of his prior four outings. While Cook has certainly been highly productive since the Bills installed offensive coordinator Joe Brady in Week 11, fantasy managers may want to hold off on popping bottles until his snap rate irons out a bit. Cook is an RB2 with an arduous task looming ahead in the form of the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday.
Dec 11, 2023 1:00 AM EST
Mistakes have impeded a true Year 2 breakout out of Buffalo Bills running James Cook. Cook lost a fumble on the first play from scrimmage in Week 10 and dropped a 30-yard touchdown in the first quarter of Week 12. A strange trend has formed for Cook; he's occupied less than 50% of Buffalo's offensive snaps in each of their prior three outings but racked up at least 100 total yards each time out. The 24-year-old's identity remains his receiving talent, ranking fourth among RBs in yards per catch (9.3) and tenth in yards per route run (1.57). The Kansas City Chiefs have struggled a bit to stop the run lately with 127.1 average rushing yards allowed for 4.8 yards per carry over their last seven matchups. With Leonard Fournette still dwelling on the practice squad, Cook remains the Bills' nominal lead back for Week 14 as a fringe RB2/3 with upside in what could be a high-scoring affair.
Dec 9, 2023 9:42 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook could have enjoyed a much bigger fantasy day in Sunday's 37-34 overtime defeat to Philadelphia Eagles, compiling 16 carries for 43 yards with a season-high six receptions for 57 yards. Cook dropped a beautifully floated pass from quarterback Josh Allen on a wheel route in the first quarter, squandering a would-be touchdown. Cook remained heavily involved as a receiver for the rest of the contest in spite of that, recording season-high receiving numbers across the board, which is a promising development for those hoping to see the Bills utilize Cook's elusiveness. It was always likely to be tough sledding for the 24-year-old in wet conditions against Philadelphia's vaunted rushing defense, but it was also encouragingly Cook's third consecutive 100-yard performance. Barring a post-bye Leonard Fournette elevation from the practice squad, Cook should remain a fine RB2 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 10.
Nov 27, 2023 12:36 AM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook fully regained the backfields controls last Sunday with his first 20-touch outing since Week 2, after Cook lost a fumble on the first play from scrimmage in Week 10 and was promptly benched for about a quarter of action. Cook has also eclipsed 100 yards in consecutive games for the first time since Weeks 2-3, quietly ranking fourth among RBs in total rushing yards (688) and yards per touch (5.7) overall. With no sign of Leonard Fournette entering Week 12 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Cook remains in play as a fringe RB2/3 due to a nightmarish matchup. Philly had held each individual rusher they faced to less than 60 ground yards before Isiah Pacheco pierced their run fortress for 89 yards a week ago. Even so, the Eagles are stuffing opposing RBs for the fewest fantasy points per game (14.32) this year.
Nov 26, 2023 1:04 AM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook got things started to a much different tune in Week 11's eventual 32-6 shellacking of the New York Jets, piling up 64 scrimmage yards on 11 touches and a touchdown covering the first half. Cook wrapped up his day with 17 carries for 73 yards and three catches for 29 yards plus a short score through the air in the triumph. Though he didn't need to do much as Buffalo cruised their way through the second half, it was a relieving rebound for Cook and his fantasy managers, after the 2022 second-round pick temporarily got a ticket to the doghouse due to an early fumble last Monday night. A daunting task awaits Cook next Sunday in the form of a ravenous Philadelphia Eagles front seven, and it remains to be seen if the Bills opt to promote veteran Leonard Fournette from their practice squad ahead of time.
Nov 20, 2023 2:08 AM EST
The Buffalo Bills benched running back James Cook for about a quarter of play in last Monday night's loss to the Denver Broncos, but he still managed his most rushing yards (109) since Week 2. Even so, Cook's sit-down opened the door for coach's favorite Latavius Murray to emerge with a season-high 68 rush yards and a short touchdown on 11 touches. With Leonard Fournette's call-up having not yet arrived in Week 11, Cook's two Week 10 fumbles (one lost) may have sealed the deal for an even backfield split in snaps going forward. The New York Jets are far more vulnerable on the ground than the air, tied for the seventh-worst yards per carry allowed (4.3). The Bills also check in as touchdown favorites on Sunday. It tends to be a wise proposition betting on at-home RBs with favorable projected game scripts, so Cook at least belongs on the RB2/3 fringe for this arrangement.
Nov 17, 2023 11:48 PM EST
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook rode a seesaw in Week 10's 24-22 loss to the Denver Broncos, ultimately rushing 12 times for 109 yards with two catches for 11 yards. Cook had a ball ripped away from him on the first play from scrimmage. It appeared to be the last straw for Buffalo's coaching staff at first, as Cook was promptly doghoused for 16 straight plays thereafter. But the Bills stuck with the 24-year-old after putting him in time-out, and Cook's tumultuous night reached a fitting climax when he fumbled the ball a second time, only to witness a fortuitous bounce on a 42-yard dash into the red zone to facilitate the team's eventual go-ahead score. Fantasy managers should be relieved that Buffalo gave Cook a chance at a turnaround, considering how gloomy it looked after the first quarter. The 2022 second-rounder is a tenuous RB2 for Week 11's crucial divisional tilt with the New York Jets, where the 5-5 Bills are certain to be all hands on deck.
Nov 14, 2023 1:28 AM EST
Copyright 2024 Fantasy Football Calculator | Image Source: Icon Sportswire. Not affiliated with the National Football League (NFL).
Stats powered by FantasyData.com.
