Last offseason, the Buffalo Bills and their dynamic running back, James Cook, managed to navigate through a contract standoff to ink a four-year extension worth a cool $48 million. And boy, did Cook prove his worth. Leading the NFL in rushing, he was an unstoppable force throughout the season, setting the stage for another potential standout year in 2026.
In 2025, Cook was a workhorse, suiting up for all 17 games. He toted the rock 309 times, racking up an impressive 1,621 yards and punching it into the end zone 12 times. With an average of 5.2 yards per carry, Cook was the epitome of efficiency and power.
As we look ahead to the upcoming season, the Bills are contemplating a tweak in Cook’s workload. Joe Brady, Buffalo’s new head coach, recently shed some light on Cook’s role moving forward. While not committing to a specific number of touches for his star running back, Brady emphasized the importance of spreading the wealth in the backfield.
“Can’t have mindset of how many carries he is going to have,” Brady mentioned. “He played at such a high-level last year, but would love to have opportunities to get Ray Davis and Ty Johnson the ball.”
Strategically, lightening Cook’s load might just be a savvy move for the Bills. The last thing they want is for their standout back to be worn down or sidelined due to injury as the season grinds on. With the likes of Ray Davis and Ty Johnson waiting in the wings, both capable of making their mark in the Buffalo offense, the Bills have the luxury of depth at the running back position.
While Davis and Johnson are expected to share some of the workload, the primary objective remains to keep Cook fresh and firing on all cylinders, especially when the stakes are highest in the playoffs. Cook’s explosive ability to break off big plays has been a significant relief for Josh Allen and the aerial attack, a trend likely to continue.
All signs point to a potentially reduced workload for Cook this season, a strategy that could pay dividends when it matters most. With Cook’s game-changing talent, the Bills are poised to make another deep playoff run, keeping their eyes firmly set on the prize.
