Bills handle Jets with ease as James Cook finds end-zone twice.
After throwing the ball 46 times in a comeback win against the Ravens last week, the Bills game this week vs the Jets was a little easier. The Bills stifled the Jets offense all night and let their recently extended bell-cow take over in James Cook. Cook finished the night with 21 carries for 132 yards and 2 TDs, with one those touchdowns coming on the end of a massive 44 yard run.
Cook was seen as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 before the season started mainly due to views that he would have some touchdown regression after scoring 18 times last year. Well those touchdowns haven’t stopped as hes already found the End-zone 3 times in two games. This Bills team can get it done both through the air and on the ground, which will continue to provide Cook with plenty of opportunities to continue his touchdown dominance.
Author: Brett Jackson (@Bjackson1189)
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook rushed 21 times for ...
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is "not willing to ...
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook did not practice at ...
Bills star running back James Cook signs a 4-year, $48 million deal to stay in Buffalo.
The Buffalo Bills are keeping their star running back home and happy. James Cook and the Bills have agreed to a 4-year deal worth $48 million. Cook had been ‘holding-in’ with hopes of cashing in on a productive 2024 season.
Cook was 2nd in total running back touchdowns with 18 and 8th in fantasy points per opportunity at 1.09 in 2024. Heading into his age 26 season, this is a huge deal for Cook as running back can be a crushing position as far as longevity is concerned.
The deal keeps Cook in Buffalo where the Super Bowl window is open. Not wanting to diminish the effort towards Buffalo’s first Super Bowl win, the team found a way to keep their star running back happy. In the event the Bills don’t have Cook due to injury, upstart 2nd year back Ray Davis will be ready to take over. Cook’s dynasty value is now safer due to contract certainty while Davis goes back to being a high upside handcuff for fantasy football.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has reported to training camp.
Despite wanting a new contract, Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has reported to training camp. Cook might not be holding out but it’s unclear how involved he’ll be.
Cook is coming off a career year that included 18 total touchdowns and is entering the last year of his contract. This will be a situation to monitor throughout the Summer, the fact that Cook is in camp is a good sign but that could change at any moment if talks stall.
James Cook is being drafted in the fourth and fifth rounds, there’s concerns over touchdown regression and the contract talks. If a deal gets done Cook could see his stock rise but for now we’re still in a holding pattern and I expect nothing to change in regards to his ADP.
Author David Leonard (@RealDelcoDave)
Buffalo Bills starting running back James Cook was absent from the start of OTAs as he seeks a contract extension.
As Buffalo opened their offseason Organized Team Activities, one member of the Bills was notably absent: James Cook. The running back seeks to leverage the absence to make the front office think twice about his lack of a contract extension.
Cook is entering the final year of his rookie deal, set to earn close to $6 million in 2025. He is reportedly seeking to become among the highest-paid running backs in the NFL, even pinning “$15 million a year” on Instagram. An annual salary of that size would place him third in the league behind only Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey. The Bills have balked at the request, seemingly to call Cook’s bluff. He would be unlikely to sit out the season and forego game checks while accumulating fines, so this is probably little more than an opportunity to skip practices often deemed by veterans as an “inconvenience.”
Cook had the best season of his career in 2024, totaling 1,267 yards from scrimmage (1,009 rushing) and scoring 18 total touchdowns while leading the league with 16 on the ground. The 16 rushing touchdowns bested his previous two seasons, when he garnered only two each. Fantasy managers are wary of the inevitable scoring regression headed his way, especially with Josh Allen and his quarterback, and increased carries for second-year back Ray Davis. Cook is currently the consensus RB14 according to ADP in redraft formats.
Currently, there have been no negotiations or offers from the Buffalo front office, with Brandon Beane saying there won’t be a new deal “anytime soon.”
Author: Sam Schneider (@BuyAndSellYou)
Unhappy with his current contract, James Cook skips voluntary workouts with the Buffalo Bills.
Adam Schefter reports that James Cook has skipped voluntary workouts with the Buffalo Bills. While not every veteran shows up to voluntary team workouts, it is notable as Cook wants a new deal with the Buffalo Bills.
The two sides are far apart as James Cook would like $15 million a year and Bills GM Brandon Beane would like to focus on the NFL Draft. Cook recently put his home up for sale. With Ray Davis in tow and the possibility of the Bills selecting a running back in the NFL Draft, expect there to be some movement after this week’s draft which will provide further clarity.
Should the Bills select a running back this weekend, look for trade rumors to kindle. Either way, it sounds like the Bills are ready to let James Cook play out the final year of his contract while Jame Cook decides if he wants to push for a holdout as the offseason wears on.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
James Cook’s Contract Drama: Fantasy Football Risks
James Cook’s contract negotiations with the Buffalo Bills are far from settled, as he’s seeking a substantial raise to $15 million per year. The Bills have yet to meet the demands, leading to further uncertainty about his future in Buffalo. The recent move of listing his house for sale has sparked speculation about a potential change of scenery, and while it could be a personal decision, it’s hard to ignore the timing. As the Bills navigate salary cap space and the upcoming draft, Cook’s future role with the team remains in serious question.
Despite a solid 2024 season where he eclipsed 1,000 yards and scored 19 touchdowns, Cook’s fantasy value was heavily reliant on an unsustainable spike in touchdowns, with nearly 30% of his fantasy points coming from these scores. The presence of Josh Allen, who consistently vultures goal-line touchdowns, severely limits Cook’s red-zone opportunities. With emerging competition from players like Ray Davis and potential rookies, Cook’s role in the backfield could be in jeopardy. For fantasy gamers, Cook presents a high-risk, high-reward option, and with the uncertainty surrounding both his contract and workload, they should tread carefully when considering Cook for their 2025 rosters.
Author: Mike Lindberg (@FFCanuck99)
