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)
ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg writes that Buffalo Bills running ...
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is officially present...
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is currently in ...
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)
James Cook’s Contract Dispute & Potential Decreased Role Risk
James Cook’s 2024 season was impressive, finishing as the RB8 with over 1,000 yards and a strong touchdown total, but the real story heading into 2025 revolves around his ongoing contract situation, which could have major implications for his fantasy value. Cook is entering the final year of his rookie deal and has expressed a desire for a significant pay raise, reportedly seeking $15 million per year, which would place him among the league’s highest-paid running backs. However, Bills GM Brandon Beane made it clear that contract talks have not progressed, stating that the team has “moved on” and is focused on the draft. Without an extension in place, Cook heads into a contract year with uncertainty clouding his future with the team. The Bills have not traditionally handed out big-money contracts to running backs, so Cook’s situation is one to monitor closely.
For fantasy gamers, this contract uncertainty is a major red flag. Cook’s 2024 success could be hard to repeat if his contract situation becomes a distraction or if a holdout occurs. Furthermore, the Bills’ continued reliance on quarterback Josh Allen for goal-line carries caps Cook’s touchdown upside, while the potential addition of a rookie or an expanded role for Ray Davis could further limit his touches. His current ADP as RB14 is reasonable based on his production last season, but the risk of a reduced role, coupled with the contract uncertainty, makes Cook a risky fantasy investment. Unless he gets a new deal or solidifies his role as the unquestioned lead back, Cook’s ability to return value at his current ADP could be in jeopardy.
Author: Mike Lindberg (@FFCanuck99)
The Buffalo Bills are bringing back RB Ty Johnson on a 2-year contract.
Ty Johnson returns to Buffalo, where he combined for 691 total yards and 5 touchdowns during the last two seasons. The 27-year-old played well in key spots for the Bills last year, averaging 5.2 yards per carry and a very respectable 15.8 yards on his catches.
This is good news for Josh Allen and, ultimately, James Cook, whose owners should worry less now about the team drafting a running back in the early or middle rounds. The team also signed Darrynton Evans for depth in a seemingly complete backfield that poses little threat to eating into Cook’s workload.
This could be considered sub-par news for Ray Davis owners, but as we saw last year, both running backs fit in well together behind Cook. Davis showed enough to hopefully challenge Ty Johnson for more snaps this year and should continue to see sparing opportunities around the goal line.
-Blake Stachel (IG: bllakkay)
James Cook’s 2025 Fantasy Outlook: Contract Demands & Declining Touches?
James Cook’s 2025 fantasy outlook is influenced by his recent contract demands, with the 26-year-old reportedly seeking $15 million per year. While Cook enjoyed a strong 2024 season with over 1,000 yards and 19 touchdowns, his production may not justify such a high salary. The Bills have been cautious about handing out large contracts to running backs, and this could lead to negotiations or potential distractions heading into 2025. This uncertainty could affect Cook’s focus and impact his performance if a deal isn’t reached.
On the field, Cook faces potential challenges that could limit his fantasy value. Josh Allen continues to play a significant role in the Bills’ goal-line offense, which could cap Cook’s touchdown potential. Additionally, the rise of Ray Davis and the possibility of the Bills adding a running back through the draft could reduce Cook’s overall workload. With a committee approach likely to continue, Cook’s touches might be more limited in 2025, making him a more uncertain fantasy option moving forward at his current price.
Author: Mike Lindberg (@FFCanuck99)
