2024 Rush/Rec Stats
ATT
207
YDS
1009
TD
16
YDS
258
TD
2
2025 Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
The Bills unleashed a new-look rushing attack in 2024, with offensive coordinator Joe Brady tapping into a dominant ground game that was largely dormant in prior years. The player reaping the greatest benefits was Cook, who went from a two-touchdown runner in 2023 to 16 touchdowns last year, even while taking 30 fewer carries. After just five carries inside the 5-yard line in his first 326 NFL rush attempts, Cook got 15 chances inside the 5 among his 207 carries last year. These developments are encouraging for Cook, yet his TD rate is plainly marked for regression in 2025. He mentioned wanting to take on more of the workload during contract negotiations this spring, but the Bills may want to protect their investment -- a four-year, $48 million extension signed in August -- and also seem to trust backups Ty Johnson and Ray Davis. Good as Cook is, he's still a smaller RB (5-foot-11, 190) who is not built for power functions, while Davis is dense (5-9, 220) and powerful. On the other hand, Cook doesn't necessarily need huge workloads to put up strong fantasy numbers when his per-touch efficiency ranks near the top of the league while playing in an elite offense. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Four-year extension with Bills
Cook and the Bills have reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension for the running back, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Per the report, Cook's four-year pact is for $48 million and includes $30 million guaranteed. The 2022 second-rounder, who had returned to practice Tuesday following a four day 'hold-in' is thus a candidate to play against the Bears on Sunday after not seeing any action in the Bills' preseason opener this past Saturday. As the 2025 regular season approaches, Cook remains the clear leader of a Buffalo backfield that also includes Ray Davis and Ty Johnson.
Per the report, Cook's four-year pact is for $48 million and includes $30 million guaranteed. The 2022 second-rounder, who had returned to practice Tuesday following a four day 'hold-in' is thus a candidate to play against the Bears on Sunday after not seeing any action in the Bills' preseason opener this past Saturday. As the 2025 regular season approaches, Cook remains the clear leader of a Buffalo backfield that also includes Ray Davis and Ty Johnson.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do James Cook's 2024 advanced stats compare to other running backs?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank.
The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Broken Tackle %
15.0%Positive Run %
84.1%% Yds After Contact
60.5%Avg Yds After Contact
2.9Rushing TD %
7.7%Touches Per Game
14.9% Snaps w/Touch
51.6%Air Yards Per Game
1.9Air Yards Per Snap
0.06% Team Air Yards
0.7%% Team Targets
7.7%Avg Depth of Target
0.8 YdsCatch Rate
84.2%Drop Rate
7.9%Avg Yds After Catch
8.1% Targeted On Route
17.1%Avg Yds Per Route Run
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2024 NFL Game Log
2024
2023
2022
2024 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where James Cook lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
Grouped
Side
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2024 James Cook Split Stats
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Measurables Review
View College Player Page
How do James Cook's measurables compare to other running backs?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
5' 11"Weight
190 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.42 secVertical Jump
33.0 inBroad Jump
124 inHand Length
9.38 inArm Length
30.75 inPast Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
Power and short-yardage running will probably never be part of Cook's skill set, and with that limitation comes a likely cap on his fantasy production. If he can overrule that limitation, it would have to be via pass-catching production, which was a clear strength last season for the 2022 second-round pick. Whereas Cook's rushing work from 2023 can be imitated easily enough, it's not so easy for an offense to find a running back that can turn 54 targets into 44 catches for 445 yards and four touchdowns. While that type of efficiency is difficult to maintain even for a skilled pass-catching back, Cook can make up for any efficiency losses with a larger target count this upcoming season. It might be necessary in order for him to repeat last year's fantasy production, as QB Josh Allen's dominance of goal-line carries means Cook isn't guaranteed to improve much on last year's total of two rushing touchdowns (on 237 attempts). The addition of rookie fourth-round pick Ray Davis could introduce a short-yardage nuisance and some competition for early down snaps, but as long as Cook maintains his monopoly on Buffalo's RB targets the formula from 2023 should mostly remain in place for 2024.
More Fantasy News
In line to practice Tuesday
Cook is expected to practice Tuesday according to Bills head coach Sean McDermott, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Doesn't play Saturday
Cook, who was in uniform during pre-game warmups, didn't play in Saturday's 34-25 preseason loss to the Giants, Jonah Bronstein of wivb.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Spotted in warmups Saturday
Cook participated in warmups ahead of Saturday's preseason opener against the Giants, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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No return to practice
Cook (contract) isn't practicing Thursday, Alex Brasky of Bills Digest reports.
ANALYSIS
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No practice again
Cook (contract) won't practice Wednesday, Matt Parrino of The Syracuse Post-Standard reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Nabs sought-after extension
Cook, who'd been staging a hold-in at Bills training camp, signed a four-year, $48 million extension Wednesday, Adam Schefter and Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com report.
ANALYSIS
Cook's deal includes $30 million guaranteed, according to Schefter. The deal was signed before Wednesday morning's practice and came just one day after Cook returned to practice Tuesday and participated fully in the session. The dynamic running back missed four training camp practices overall, as well as the Bills' first preseason game against the Giants.
Cook's deal includes $30 million guaranteed, according to Schefter. The deal was signed before Wednesday morning's practice and came just one day after Cook returned to practice Tuesday and participated fully in the session. The dynamic running back missed four training camp practices overall, as well as the Bills' first preseason game against the Giants.