James Cook

James Cook

24-Year-Old Running BackRB
Buffalo Bills
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Power and short-yardage running will probably never be part of Cook's skill set, and with that limitation comes a likely cap on his fantasy production. If he can overrule that limitation, it would have to be via pass-catching production, which was a clear strength last season for the 2022 second-round pick. Whereas Cook's rushing work from 2023 can be imitated easily enough, it's not so easy for an offense to find a running back that can turn 54 targets into 44 catches for 445 yards and four touchdowns. While that type of efficiency is difficult to maintain even for a skilled pass-catching back, Cook can make up for any efficiency losses with a larger target count this upcoming season. It might be necessary in order for him to repeat last year's fantasy production, as QB Josh Allen's dominance of goal-line carries means Cook isn't guaranteed to improve much on last year's total of two rushing touchdowns (on 237 attempts). The addition of rookie fourth-round pick Ray Davis could introduce a short-yardage nuisance and some competition for early down snaps, but as long as Cook maintains his monopoly on Buffalo's RB targets the formula from 2023 should mostly remain in place for 2024. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#39.99
ADP
$Signed a four-year, $5.83 million contract with the Bills in May of 2022.
Three TDs in Week 2 road win
RBBuffalo Bills
September 12, 2024
Cook rushed 11 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns and secured his only target for a 17-yard score in the Bills' 31-10 win over the Dolphins on Thursday night.
ANALYSIS
As the three-touchdown total and the 7.1 yards per carry figure substantiates, Cook was a one-man wrecking crew on the offensive side of the ball for the Bills in the lopsided victory. The third-year back opened the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown reception to cap off Buffalo's opening possession, and he added scoring runs of one and 49 yards in the second quarter. The fact the Bills already had a two-touchdown lead by halftime allowed head coach Sean McDermott to take it easy on Cook in the second half, with rookie backup Ray Davis nearly matching him in carries (nine) by night's end. Cook has 149 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards through two games heading into a Week 3 home matchup against the Jaguars on Monday, Sept. 23.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do James Cook's 2024 advanced stats compare to other running backs?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Broken Tackle %
    The number of broken tackles divided by rush attempts.
  • Positive Run %
    The percentage of run plays where he was able to gain positive yardage.
  • % Yds After Contact
    The percentage of his rushing yards that came after contact.
  • Avg Yds After Contact
    The average rushing yards he gains after contact.
  • Rushing TD %
    Rushing touchdowns divided by rushing attempts. In other words, how often is he scoring when running the ball.
  • Touches Per Game
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) he is averaging per game
  • % Snaps w/Touch
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) divided by offensive snaps played.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Broken Tackle %
13.3%
 
Positive Run %
80.0%
 
% Yds After Contact
30.9%
 
Avg Yds After Contact
1.5
 
Rushing TD %
6.7%
 
Touches Per Game
17.0
 
% Snaps w/Touch
60.7%
 
Air Yards Per Game
0.5
 
Air Yards Per Snap
0.02
 
% Team Air Yards
0.3%
 
% Team Targets
9.8%
 
Avg Depth of Target
0.3 Yds
 
Catch Rate
100.0%
 
Drop Rate
0.0%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
12.0
 
% Targeted On Route
16.7%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
2.04
 
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Buffalo BillsBills 2024 RB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
J.James Cook
#% of Team Snaps

5654%
2019%
2019%
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where James Cook lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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This Week's Opposing Pass Defense
How does the Jaguars pass defense compare to other NFL teams this season?
The bars represents the team's percentile rank (based on QB Rating Against). The longer the bar, the better their pass defense is. The team and position group ratings only include players that are currently on the roster and not on injured reserve. The list of players in the table only includes defenders with at least 3 attempts against them.
JAX
vs Jaguars
Monday, Sep 23rd at 7:30PM
Overall QB Rating Against
82.2
 
Cornerbacks
103.8
 
Safeties
39.6
 
Linebackers
61.8
 
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2024 James Cook Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do James Cook's measurables compare to other running backs?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
5' 11"
 
Weight
190 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.42 sec
 
Vertical Jump
33.0 in
 
Broad Jump
124 in
 
Hand Length
9.38 in
 
Arm Length
30.75 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring James Cook See More
Backfield Breakdown: RB Usage Report & Week 3 Waivers Preview
Yesterday
RW's Jerry Donabedian assesses the fallout from various backfield injuries and role changes in Week 2, highlighting Carson Steele, Cam Akers, Chuba Hubbard and others as potential fantasy beneficiaries.
Box Score Breakdown: Week 2 Snaps, Personnel and Usage
2 days ago
Week 2 was memorably brutal for injuries, but it wasn't all bad news for fantasy thanks to some young WRs getting elite usage and taking advantage. Jerry Donabedian has the scoop on everything Week 2.
Locker Thursday Night Football Review
5 days ago
Jim Coventry shares his experience and strategy from playing in Locker's contest for Thursday's Bills/Dolphins matchup.
Thursday Night Football DFS Breakdown: Bills vs. Dolphins
6 days ago
Mike Barner analyzes the DFS contests for the Thursday night game as Josh Allen is the far better option at quarterback.
NFL Game Previews: Falcons-Eagles Monday Night Matchup
6 days ago
Erik Siegrist previews the Monday night matchup as the Jalen Hurts and the Eagles play host to the Falcons.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
Cook played a minimal role in the Buffalo offense as a rookie, logging just 257 snaps in 16 games, but the second-round pick out of Georgia was effective when he got the ball. He had six carries of 20 or more yards, averaging 5.7 YPC on 89 attempts, but his receiving production was less encouraging as he caught just 65.6 percent of his targets for 5.6 YPT. Cook largely was prized for his pass catching coming out of Georgia last year -- an important point in a sales pitch that otherwise had to grapple with the fact that Cook was never more than a rotational back in college. Free-agent pickups Damien Harris and Latavius Murray are threats to handle some of the valuable rushing reps near the goal line, but Cook should have a fairly clear path to the passing-down work. Cook is the only member of the backfield with the potential to make an impact as both a runner and receiver, and he's the only one backed by a major investment from the team.
Drafted 63rd overall this year, Cook might be a luxury pick for a Super Bowl contender without many glaring needs, but that doesn't mean he won't have an impact. Dalvin's younger brother doesn't have a path to the same kind of role the elder Cook enjoys in Minnesota, but the Georgia product did show a well-rounded skill set last year, producing 1,012 yards and 11 TDs on only 140 touches as part of a backfield committee with fellow NFL draft pick Zamir White (fourth round). Cook lacks ideal size to grind out yards between the tackles, but that's not really the Bills' strength anyway, and his strong receiving production last season (284 yards, four TDs) suggests he could be a good fit in one of the NFL's more pass-happy offenses. Buffalo brings back Devin Singletary as the likely lead runner and still has Duke Johnson and Zack Moss as depth options, but Cook might ultimately prove to be the best of the bunch.
More Fantasy News
Posts 103 total yards in opener
RBBuffalo Bills
September 8, 2024
Cook rushed 19 times for 71 yards and caught all three of his targets for 32 yards in Sunday's 34-28 win over the Cardinals.
ANALYSIS
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Won't play in preseason finale
RBBuffalo Bills
August 19, 2024
Coach Sean McDermott relayed Monday that the Bills won't play their starters, a group that includes Cook, in the team's preseason finale against the Panthers on Saturday, Alec White of the team's official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Dominates first-team touches
RBBuffalo Bills
August 17, 2024
Cook rushed the ball six times for 25 yards in Saturday's 9-3 preseason win over the Steelers.
ANALYSIS
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Bottled up in preseason start
RBBuffalo Bills
August 10, 2024
Cook rushed four times for two yards and wasn't targeted in Saturday's 33-6 preseason loss to the Bears.
ANALYSIS
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Likely playing Saturday
RBBuffalo Bills
August 8, 2024
Cook and other starters likely will play about a quarter in Saturday's preseason game against Chicago, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could lose out on goal-line looks
RBBuffalo Bills
April 28, 2024
Cook could see fewer short-yardage opportunities after the Bills drafted running back Ray Davis in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
ANALYSIS
The 5-foot-8, 211-pound Davis has the build of a power runner, while the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Cook relies primarily on his quickness to elude defenders. Cook rushed 237 times for 1,122 yards in 2023 but scored only two rushing touchdowns, struggling to gain tough yards by the goal line. The addition of Davis, who scored 14 rushing touchdowns for Kentucky in 2023, could further complicate Cook's path to goal-line carries in a Buffalo offense that's already heavily reliant on both Josh Allen's arm and the quarterback's legs in the red zone.
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