James Cook

Cook is Buffalo's RB1, and his production comes almost entirely on the ground. Through six games in 2026 he has 117 carries for 627 yards (5.4 YPC) and 6 rushing touchdowns, about 19.5 carries and 104.5 rushing yards per game. He has also handled 21 red-zone carries, roughly 3.5 per game, so the scoring opportunities are coming to him. The passing-game role is modest: 14 targets, 10 catches and 89 yards, about 2.3 targets per game.

The trend over his four seasons is clear. In 2023 he averaged about 13.9 carries and 3.2 targets per game, with just 2 rushing touchdowns, and finished as the PPR 47. In 2024 carries were about 12.9 per game, but 16 rushing touchdowns on 48 red-zone carries pushed him to PPR 30. In 2025 he became a true workhorse at roughly 18.2 carries and 95.4 rushing yards per game, with 1,621 yards at 5.3 YPC, and finished as PPR 20 at about 17.8 points per game. This season extends that: more carries, more yards and more red-zone work per game than ever, for 18.9 PPR points per game and a current rank of 19. His efficiency has also risen every year, from 4.7 YPC in 2023 to 5.4 now. The one blemish is ball security. He has 2 fumbles lost in six games, nearly matching the 3 he lost across all of 2025.

For fantasy and DFS, Cook's value is volume and touchdowns rather than receptions, which limits his PPR floor compared with backs who catch more passes. Clutch Edge projects him for 17.1 points per game, below his 18.9 pace, which reflects some expected cooling. A touchdown per game is a steep rate to sustain, though his steady red-zone share gives it a real base. In DFS he fits best in lineups that expect a strong rushing day.

Several things would change the outlook. A drop in carry or red-zone volume would hurt most, since receiving work won't cover the gap. Continued fumbles could threaten his workload. On the upside, a bump back toward his 2023 target levels would raise both his floor and his ceiling.

Written by a language model from the stat lines below. Numbers from Sleeper; the 2026 line is the season in progress.