The Buffalo Bills have plenty of reasons to feel good about James Cook, and FOX Sports just added another one.
Ralph Vacchiano slotted Cook as the seventh-best running back in the NFL, and he didn’t hold back in explaining why the Bills’ back deserves that kind of respect. Vacchiano pointed to how Cook kept Buffalo’s ground game humming even when the passing attack “sagged a bit the last two years,” then highlighted the season that really put him on the map.
“as one of the NFL’s best and most powerful last season with a league-leading 1,621 yards, making him the first Bills player to lead the NFL in rushing since O.J. Simpson nearly 50 years ago. Cook is a bowling ball through the middle of the defense, able to bounce off contact and explode onto the second level, despite being just 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds.
"Cook would probably rank higher on this list if he contributed more in the passing game (33-291-2). But he’s so strong running the ball, it’s hard to be disappointed.
He ran for 28 touchdowns over the last two years. He’s the perfect weapon to wear down defenses late in games, and especially when the weather turns in Western New York late in the year."
Cook backed up that praise with a massive 2025 regular season, appearing in all 17 games and finishing with 1,621 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 291 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. He led the league in rushing yards and rushing yards per game, and he did it as a three-time Pro Bowler.
The playoff numbers were solid too. In Buffalo’s two postseason games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Broncos, Cook totaled 163 rushing yards and 29 receiving yards. The Bills got past Jacksonville before falling to Denver.
Now Cook heads into the 2026 season with 4,259 rushing yards, 32 rushing touchdowns, 1,174 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns on his career ledger. That kind of production makes him one of the league’s most dangerous dual-threat backs, and Buffalo clearly knows it has a major weapon.
The Bills are coming off a 12-5 season, and their sideline looks different after Sean McDermott was fired and Joe Brady was promoted to head coach.
Buffalo also had an active offseason. The front office added D.J.
Moore from the Chicago Bears and brought in Bradley Chubb and C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency.
With Brady in place, the Bills are set for a 2026 schedule that includes the Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Bears and Broncos.
And with Josh Allen still chasing a title, the pressure around Buffalo isn’t going anywhere.
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Bills Fans Already Face A New Stadium Access Problem
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Most of the available tickets are expected to come through the secondary market, which makes spontaneous attendance much tougher and adds another layer to an already high-demand environment. The Bills are also leaning into the buzz around the new building by offering behind-the-scenes tours, a sign that interest in the stadium itself is becoming part of the experience. What remains to be seen is how many fans will be able to get inside on their own terms once the novelty wears off. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Needs More From Dalton Kincaid Than Ever
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Josh Allens recent praise of their connection during joint practices only adds to the sense that Kincaids role is about to matter even more. The chemistry is there, or at least trending in the right direction, and the Bills have spent enough time waiting for Kincaid to stay on the field and become the kind of mismatch he was drafted to be. What remains is the part Buffalo has been chasing from him since day one, the kind of dependable production that could make this offense look very different if it shows up when the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Just Became Part Of A Browns QB Decision To Watch
A joint practice in Buffalo gave the Browns another look at their quarterback situation, and it did not exactly produce a clean answer. Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson both had mixed throws during the session, leaving the battle for the Browns starting job still very much in view as the preseason gets moving.
Watson has reportedly held the edge in the competition, but Sanders is set to start the upcoming preseason game, which should give Cleveland another data point before the real decision gets made. Browns coach Todd Monken has suggested veteran starters may sit out that game, and the Week 1 quarterback choice could come shortly after, keeping the Bills tied to one of the AFCs more closely watched camp stories. [Read more 🡒]