James Cook is getting a little MVP buzz, and for Buffalo, that says plenty about how dangerous this offense can be.
The Bills’ running back has been put forward as a dark-horse candidate after a career-best season in which he led the league in rushing. That kind of production is enough to get his name into the conversation, even if Josh Allen remains the obvious headliner in Buffalo.
Still, the case for Cook is easy to see. Defenses are going to tilt toward Allen no matter what, and the addition of DJ Moore at receiver could draw even more attention away from the NFL’s leading rusher. As Patra put it, "That should keep lanes open for Cook to Corvette his way through," and the coaching change could matter too.
"Joe Brady, unshackled from his predecessor at head coach, could lean more on the pass attack, but he shouldn’t get too far away from Cook. He could even utilize his top RB more in the passing attack in 2026."
Cook’s résumé already looks strong. The former second-round pick out of Georgia is coming off his best year, finishing with 1,621 rushing yards and 95.4 yards per game.
Since taking over as Buffalo’s starting running back in 2023, he has averaged five yards per carry, 75 yards per game, and 10 touchdowns per season. He has also picked up a first down on 63% of his carries.
He is now in the first year of the four-year extension he signed before the start of 2025. If he keeps producing at the same level, that $46-million deal could wind up looking like one of the best bargains in the league.
An actual MVP run is still a long shot. A non-quarterback hasn’t won the award since Adrian Peterson in 2012, and over the last 20 years only two non-QBs have taken it: Peterson and LaDanian Tomlinson in 2006.
In Other News...
Bills Fans Need To Know What's Different Before Camp Starts
Bills training camp is about to look a little different this summer, and the changes start with the schedule. The team will open camp at St. John Fisher University with seven morning practices running from July 29 through Aug. 7, all of them set for 8:30 a.m. and none in the afternoon or evening. For fans who make the trip, there will also be a new routine to follow, including shuttle parking, a $1 ride fee, security screening and a stricter bag policy.
The shorter camp slate stands out on its own, especially for a team that has made Fisher a summer tradition since 2000. There will still be plenty for families to do once they get there, with a Kids Area offering football-themed games and entertainment, but the overall feel is clearly more streamlined than in past years. For a fan base that treats camp like the unofficial start of football season, those small changes may end up being part of the story all by themselves. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Fans Suddenly Have A Real Question About Michael Hoecht
Buffalo has spent years trying to put together a pass rush that can hold up from one season to the next, and Michael Hoecht looked like a useful piece of that puzzle after signing with the Bills in 2025. The outside linebacker brought the kind of versatility this defense values, with the ability to line up in different spots and in different stances, which made him an intriguing fit for a unit that has kept searching for the right combination up front.
Hoechts early work also suggested there was something to build on before his season was cut short. He had already flashed against Carolina and Kansas City, and now the real question for the Bills is whether that promise can carry over once he gets back on the field. He is rehabbing with an eye on 2026, and for a team that has invested so much in finding answers off the edge, his return could end up mattering more than it first seemed. [Read more 🡒]
James Cook Just Got The Recognition Bills Fans Wanted
James Cook has gone from a promising piece of Buffalos offense to one of its most dependable engines, and the recognition is starting to match the production. Since becoming the starter, he has topped 1,000 rushing yards in three straight seasons, and his role has only grown as the Bills have leaned on him to keep the offense balanced around Josh Allen. NFL.com analyst Kevin Patra recently put a label on what Bills fans have seen for a while, naming Cook the teams non-QB MVP.
The case is easy to make when you look at how often Cook has tilted games in Buffalos favor over the last two seasons, including some of the best stretches of his career. He led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2024 and has already given the Bills the kind of week-to-week stability teams usually have to pay a premium for, which makes the timing of his contract extension before the 2025 season feel especially important as his value keeps climbing. [Read more 🡒]