James Cook’s stock keeps climbing, and the NFL’s latest Top 100 list shows it in a big way. The Buffalo Bills running back jumped from No. 89 in 2025 all the way to No. 20 this year, a rise of 69 spots after another dominant season.
Cook was on the field for all 17 regular-season games in 2025 and made the most of every snap. He finished with 1,621 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 291 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. The three-time Pro Bowler led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing yards per game, putting together the kind of season that forces everyone to take notice.
He kept producing in the playoffs, too. Across two games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Broncos, Cook totaled 163 rushing yards and 29 receiving yards. Buffalo beat Jacksonville before falling to Denver.
For his career, Cook now heads into the 2026 season with 4,259 rushing yards, 32 rushing touchdowns, 1,174 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns. He has become one of the league’s most dangerous dual-threat backs, and the Bills know exactly how valuable that is.
Bleacher Report summed up his rise this way: "James Cook emerged as one of the league's top running backs last season," Bleacher Report wrote. "He was the second most important player on the Bills' offense.
He rushed for 1,621 yards and 12 touchdowns. Cook displayed his smooth, fluid movement skills while attacking the line of scrimmage.
He changed directions to force missed tackles with good suddenness. Cook caught the ball well in the passing game, adding another dimension to his skill set.
The Bills' offense is better when Cook is featured."
Buffalo is coming off a 12-5 season, and the organization made major changes around him. Sean McDermott was fired as head coach and Joe Brady was promoted to head coach.
The Bills also had a busy offseason, bringing in D.J. Moore from the Chicago Bears and signing Bradley Chubb and C.J.
Gardner-Johnson in free agency.
Now the pressure shifts to what comes next. With Cook, Moore and Josh Allen at the center of it all, Buffalo is aiming to finally break through and win a Super Bowl. The Bills enter the first year of the Brady era with matchups against 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.
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