Josh Allen gets all the love, but James Cook is the Bills player you should be drafting in fantasy football

Josh Allen remains one of the most coveted players in fantasy football, and for good reason. However, when draft day arrives in 2026, there is another Buffalo superstar who deserves just as much attention and potentially even more value. That guy is James Cook. His 2025 campaign proved that he is no longer merely benefiting from Allen’s gravitational pull. Cook is now the engine of a rushing attack that led the NFL in yards per game. His combination of workload, efficiency and scoring opportunity gives him precisely the profile fantasy managers should aggressively target. Allen may be the bigger name, but Cook could be the better investment.

New offensive engine

Cook entered the NFL with enormous expectations. His early career, though, was defined by efficiency rather than overwhelming volume. He flashed game-breaking acceleration, outstanding vision and the ability to create explosive plays in space. Yet, Buffalo initially deployed him as part of a broader running back rotation.

That changed dramatically when Joe Brady took over as offensive coordinator. Brady recognized that the offense could become even more dangerous by establishing a physical rushing identity. The results were spectacular.

Cook progressed from an explosive change-of-pace option into a legitimate feature back. He steadily earned more carries, more responsibility and more trust in high-leverage situations. His career statistics show the progression clearly: after recording only 89 carries in 2022, Cook jumped to 237 in 2023, 207 in 2024 and a career-high 309 in 2025. Cook has become Buffalo’s offensive centerpiece.

Statistical monster

The 2025 season was the moment Cook officially entered the elite running back conversation. He led the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards on 309 attempts. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry while scoring 12 rushing touchdowns. Cook also added 33 receptions for 291 yards and two receiving touchdowns. That gave him 1,912 scrimmage yards and 14 total touchdowns.

That is the statistical profile of a fantasy football superstar.

Cook became the first Buffalo running back since the franchise’s earlier greats to combine that kind of rushing volume with elite efficiency. The Bills’ offense itself averaged 159.6 rushing yards per game, best in the NFL.

Fantasy managers are often tempted to dismiss huge running-back seasons as products of touchdown variance or favorable game scripts. Cook’s 2025 production is harder to explain away. He handled 342 total touches while maintaining a 5.2-yard rushing average and remaining involved as a receiver. That is the profile of a first-round fantasy asset.

Cook over Allen?

The argument for drafting Cook ahead of Allen is an argument about economics. Quarterback is one of the deepest positions in fantasy football. Even after the elite quarterbacks come off the board, managers can still find players capable of producing QB1 numbers in the middle rounds.

The running back position is completely different. True three-down backs who can absorb 300-plus touches while playing in an elite offense are increasingly rare. When one becomes available, fantasy managers should be willing to pay a premium.

Cook is exactly that player. The Bills have already demonstrated that Brady’s offensive philosophy can support an explosive passing attack without sacrificing rushing volume. Buffalo ranked fourth in total offense, fourth in points per game and third in red-zone efficiency in 2025 while leading the NFL in rushing.

Intact blueprint

There was understandable concern when Sean McDermott’s tenure ended. That said, Buffalo’s decision to promote Brady to head coach provided the most important piece of continuity for Cook. Brady became Buffalo’s head coach in January after serving as offensive coordinator during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

That matters because the Bills are building on something that already worked. Brady’s 2025 offense produced the NFL’s top rushing attack. He specifically helped Cook capture the rushing title. Buffalo’s own analysis of Cook’s breakout season emphasized how Brady tailored the system around his players rather than forcing them into a predetermined scheme. Cook just needs to keep doing what made him one of the most productive players in football.

The projections

The natural objection is obvious: can Cook actually repeat a season as spectacular as 2025? He probably does not need to. A projection around 1,400 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns and more than 30 receptions would still put Cook firmly inside the elite fantasy football tier. That workload should translate to approximately 253.7 Half-PPR points and 270.4 PPR points.

Even with some regression from his career-best rushing total, that would be extraordinary production. The more important question is whether Buffalo has any reason to dramatically reduce Cook’s workload. There is little evidence suggesting it does.

The Bills ranked first in rushing attempts and rushing production while also maintaining an efficient passing game. Cook’s development has given Brady another way to protect Allen from unnecessary hits. That makes Cook’s floor remarkably sturdy. His, though, ceiling remains enormous.

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