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 for some reason laid largely dormant in the prior years. The player who reaped the greatest benefits of Brady's success was arguably Cook, who went from a two-touchdown runner in 2023 to 16 touchdowns last year, even while attempting 30 fewer carries than in 2023. After seeing five carries inside the five-yard line over his first 326 NFL carries, Cook took 15 carries inside the five-yard line on just 207 carries last year. These developments are at once encouraging for Cook yet numbers plainly marked for regression. Cook is seeking a contract extension from Buffalo and if he receives one it will presumably be costly, at which point Cook's raised pay would be an ongoing incentive for the Bills to maintain Cook's workload despite the promise demonstrated by backup runners Ty Johnson and especially 2024 fourth-round pick Ray Davis. Good as Cook is, he's still a very light running back who is not built for power functions, while by contrast Davis is built dense and low to the ground. An extension would be big for securing Cook's workload projection going forward. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
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Overall
Skipping voluntary workouts
Cook is not present for the start of voluntary OTAs on Tuesday, Sal Capaccio of WGR Sports Radio 550 Buffalo reports.
ANALYSIS
Bills general manager Brandon Beane said it's "not fair" to assume Cook's absence at voluntary OTAs is related to his desire for a new contract, adding that "he'll be ready to go" for mandatory offseason activities. Nonetheless, coming off a 2024 campaign in which he scored 18 touchdowns (16 rushing) despite playing just 48 percent of offensive snaps in his 16 regular-season appearances, Cook has been open about his desire for both a substantial extension and increased playing time. Still, Buffalo has Ray Davis entering Year 2, and the team opted to re-sign pending free agent Ty Johnson, indicating some level of commitment to a backfield rotation. How much attention the team pays to the running back position in the 2025 NFL Draft, which kicks off Thursday, could be telling as to Cook's odds of attaining a new deal. He's currently heading into the final year of his rookie contract after having compiled back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane said it's "not fair" to assume Cook's absence at voluntary OTAs is related to his desire for a new contract, adding that "he'll be ready to go" for mandatory offseason activities. Nonetheless, coming off a 2024 campaign in which he scored 18 touchdowns (16 rushing) despite playing just 48 percent of offensive snaps in his 16 regular-season appearances, Cook has been open about his desire for both a substantial extension and increased playing time. Still, Buffalo has Ray Davis entering Year 2, and the team opted to re-sign pending free agent Ty Johnson, indicating some level of commitment to a backfield rotation. How much attention the team pays to the running back position in the 2025 NFL Draft, which kicks off Thursday, could be telling as to Cook's odds of attaining a new deal. He's currently heading into the final year of his rookie contract after having compiled back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
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
2023
2022
2024 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
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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 in
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Past 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
Wants extension, more playing time
Cook is seeking a contract extension and said he'd like to get more playing time as well, Ryan Talbot of newyorkupstate.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Finishes season with 19 rushing TDs
Cook rushed 13 times for 85 yards and two touchdowns while catching all three of his targets for 49 yards in Sunday's 32-29 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
ANALYSIS
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Posts 82 scrimmage yards in win
Cook rushed 17 times for 67 yards and caught all three of his targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 27-25 AFC divisional-round win over the Ravens.
ANALYSIS
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Romps over Denver in wild-card win
Cook carried the ball 23 times for 120 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 31-7 wild-card win over the Broncos.
ANALYSIS
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Finds end zone again Sunday
Cook carried the ball 10 times for 28 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Patriots.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Not present for voluntary workouts
Cook was not present for the start of the voluntary offseason program Tuesday, Matt Parrino of The Syracuse Post-Standard reports.
ANALYSIS
It was reported earlier in the offseason that Cook wouldn't hold out or take other action to demand a new contract. While presumably his absence from the voluntary sessions is contract related, general manager Brandon Beane noted that Cook has not communicated that directly.
It was reported earlier in the offseason that Cook wouldn't hold out or take other action to demand a new contract. While presumably his absence from the voluntary sessions is contract related, general manager Brandon Beane noted that Cook has not communicated that directly.