James Cook Expected To Return On Sunday
James Cook (toe) is expected to play on Sunday, according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. Cook was sidelined last weekend due to a toe injury but looks poised to return after his one-week absence. As a result, rookie Ray Davis led the Buffalo backfield in the Monday night win over the New York Jets and was impressive. Cook opened the week as a limited participant on Wednesday but was upgraded to full participation on Thursday. Fantasy managers should monitor Friday's injury report in case the 25-year-old faces a setback. Cook has averaged 15.7 PPR points per game this season and should be locked into all fantasy lineups as a high-end RB2 facing the Tennessee Titans this weekend if he's active.
Source: Alaina Getzenberg
Buffalo Bills running back Source: Alaina Getzenberg
James Cook Could Stay Away From Voluntary Workouts
James Cook has been vocal about wanting a contract extension. Cook reportedly wants an extension worth $15 million per season. It doesn't seem that the Bills and Cook are seeing eye-to-eye on that topic. That being said, it wouldn't be shocking to see Cook stay away from voluntary workouts. It seems unlikely that Cook will sit out actual regular season games, but possibly he'll miss workouts to increase the pressure on the organization. Cook is deserving of a new contract after rushing for 1,009 yards with a career-high 16 touchdowns this past season. The Bills have already handed out extensions to other players, so maybe Cook isn't as valued to Buffalo as he thinks. Ultimately, the two sides should get a deal done, but it wouldn't be shocking to see Cook try to leverage the situation.
Source: New York Times
Buffalo Bills running back Source: New York Times
James Cook To Play For Bills In 2025
James Cook "will play for the Bills next season," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Things are "not great" between Cook and the Bills. The 25-year-old has a $5.3 million salary for the 2025 season, which is the last year of his rookie deal, and he's made it known he's looking for at least $15 million per year. Buffalo would like to sign him to a long-term extension, but at the moment the two sides aren't remotely close in negotiations. The former second-rounder (63rd overall) in 2022 out of Georgia has back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons and led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 16 regular-season games in 2024. Cook will be Buffalo's RB1 again in 2025, but fantasy managers must plan for TD regression, and the Bills could be looking to split the workload more with Ty Johnson and Ray Davis.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Despite a contract impasse with the Buffalo Bills and the fact that he put his house up for sale in Buffalo, running back Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Bills Not Close To Extension With James Cook
James Cook. "I don't see us getting something done anytime soon…..we're onto the draft….just because we don't get something done this year doesn't mean we can't get something done before he's a free agent," Beane said. Cook made it clear in February that he wants a contract extension and wants the ball more moving forward. The 25-year-old played only 48 percent of the team's offensive snaps in 2024, although he was very productive with 18 total touchdowns in 16 regular-season games. Cook's 16 rushing touchdowns -- he also had 1,009 yards on 207 rushing attempts -- led the league in 2024. Still, the Bills aren't making it a priority to give Cook an extension as he heads into the final year of his current deal. Cook will face obvious TD regression in 2025.
Source: WKBW - Matthew Bove
Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said the team isn't close to getting a long-term contract extension done with running back Source: WKBW - Matthew Bove
James Cook Seeking New Contract For $15 Million Annually
James Cook is seeking a contract extension with the organization. He wants a deal that would pay him $15 million per year. On Wednesday, Cook went on Instagram Live and specifically said, "15 mill." The former Georgia Bulldog is entering the final season of his rookie deal after rushing for at least 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons. Cook found the end zone 18 times in 2024. A $15 million salary would put Cook as the second-highest-paid running back in the NFL behind only Christian McCaffrey.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Buffalo Bills running back Source: Ian Rapoport
Read More News