James Cook keeps stacking seasons, piling up production, and still somehow keeps finding himself a little lower on the running back pecking order than you’d expect.
That’s the latest wrinkle for the Bills back, who was ranked No. 6 on a 2026 running back list put together by Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus. Ahead of him: De’Von Achane, Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson.
The placement stands out because Cook has already put together the kind of résumé that usually pushes a back much closer to the top of these conversations. He led the league in rushing touchdowns with 16 in 2024, then followed that by leading the NFL in rushing yards with 1,621 in 2025.
According to Wasserman and Chadwick, " Cook was the NFL’s rushing leader in 2025, pacing the league with 1,621 yards. It was his third straight season topping 1,000 yards, which is one fewer than what his older brother, Dalvin, had in his career."
They also pointed to the splash plays and tackle-breaking that helped fuel the season, writing, " Cook’s 39 explosive runs placed second in the league last season, while his 62 forced missed tackles tied for third."
Cook’s numbers make the ranking feel like a tough sell. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry last season, and he did it without being used as a true third-down back. That only adds to the case that he belongs in the very top tier at the position.
He may not be the consensus No. 1 over Robinson or Gibbs, but being placed behind Henry, McCaffrey and even Achane is the kind of decision that will raise eyebrows. Cook has done nothing but get better, and if the Bills back wants to quiet the noise, 2026 gives him another chance to prove he belongs near the top of the running back list.
In Other News...
Bills Fans May Not Love Who's Emerging As Buffalo's Breakout Pick
Training camp is bringing a fresh look on defense for Buffalo, with Jim Leonhard installing a new scheme that could change how the front seven is used. For a team that spent last season sorting through roles and fit, the shift to a 3-4 setup is creating a new set of questions about which young players can grow into bigger responsibilities.
One name drawing attention is T.J. Sanders, the second-round defensive tackle from last year who had a modest rookie season but now looks like a possible leap candidate in the new system. His ability to line up inside and spend time at defensive end gives him a path to more snaps, and if the scheme unfolds the way some around the league expect, Buffalo may be hearing a lot more about him by 2026. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Defensive Tackle Faces Defining Test In Buffalos New Defense
Zion Logue has spent two seasons on Buffalos practice squad after arriving from Atlanta, and now the defensive tackle is getting a real look as the Bills sort through the pieces of a new front under coordinator Jim Leonhard. He has appeared in five games over the past two seasons and logged half a sack, but the next step is less about flashes and more about whether he can carve out a place on the 53-man roster.
The challenge is that Buffalos interior rotation is crowded, and Logue is trying to hold his ground at nose tackle while the Bills evaluate other options in the same lane. The added bulk he has brought into camp suggests the team sees a specific role for him in Leonhards odd-front defense, but the final answer will depend on how he stacks up against the other linemen fighting for those same snaps. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Fans Already Know This Final 53 Cut Will Sting
With training camp set to open July 29 at St. John Fisher University, the Bills are already in the familiar spot of having every roster spot scrutinized before a single padded practice begins. Around the league, beat writers are laying out their 53-man projections and pointing to the same truth Buffalo fans know well by now: the final cut is rarely about just talent, but about fit, depth and how quickly players can adapt once camp starts.
That matters even more with Jim Leonhard installing a new base 3-4 defense, because scheme changes tend to reshape the back end of the roster as much as the top. There will be plenty of attention on the usual training camp standouts, and rookie receiver Skyler Bell is one name drawing early buzz, but the real sting for Buffalo could come from how many familiar faces end up squeezed out once the competition gets serious. [Read more 🡒]