Should I Draft James Cook Or Ray Davis? Who Is The Bills RB1 for 2024?

The Buffalo Bills' offseason subtractions at wide receiver have resulted in fantasy managers paying extra attention to the backfield. Buffalo's running back room could be the focal point of their offense now that Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis have departed.

Buffalo isn't heading into 2024 with just James Cook atop their backfield, though. They also drafted Ray Davis out of Kentucky to add an extra element to their rushing attack.

Who is the Bills' RB1 in the 2024 season? Should I draft Cook or Davis for fantasy football? Here's our analysis.

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Who is the Buffalo Bills' RB1?

Cook is the Bills' incumbent No. 1 running back and will return to that role in 2024. Even with the addition of Davis, the Bills' backfield belongs to Cook, who should contribute both on the ground and through the air.

Cook is coming off the best fantasy season of his young career. He finished the 2024 campaign with 1,122 rushing yards, 445 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. He was healthy for all 17 games and finished as the overall RB12.

The Bills also added a new name to their backfield in Davis, a fourth-round pick. Even with Cook on the roster, Buffalo is a terrific landing spot for Davis as he will have an opportunity to earn meaningful touches right away, especially in short-yardage situations.

Davis has excelled everywhere he's been, including collegiate stops at Temple, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky. He's no stranger to being a workhorse running back, tallying 1,129 rushing yards, 323 receiving yards, and 21 touchdowns as recently as 2023. He possesses solid burst and athleticism, as well as excellent vision when identifying gaps at the line of scrimmage.

Davis and Cook complement each other very well, but Cook is the starter in Buffalo.

Does James Cook end the season as a RB1? pic.twitter.com/IbJMYBIiEo

— Fantasy Footballers (@TheFFBallers) August 30, 2024

Who Should I Draft in Fantasy Football?

Both Cook and Davis have significant appeal in fantasy football at their current price tags.

For obvious reasons, Cook is a solid pick at his current ADP of 43 (RB14). Fantasy football strategy says to draft high-volume running backs on top offenses, and there are very few offenses that move down the field like Buffalo's.

It's easy to envision a world in which Davis enters the game often, especially when the Bills need a physical player to secure a few yards for the first down or touchdown. If Davis draws a high volume of goal-line work, he should add several touchdowns to his tally as a rookie. His nose for the end zone figures to make up for his subpar skills in the passing game.

Deciding which Bills running back to draft depends on your preference for the position. If you want to take a top name at the position and are willing to spend an earlier pick, Cook is the clear choice because of his role, volume, and skills.

However, if you're looking to wait a while or pick up a depth option at the position, Davis is one of the most exciting names, given his physical skill set and potential to score touchdowns. With an ADP of 174, he's one of the biggest rookie sleepers.

very easy to fall in like with Ray Davis pic.twitter.com/j5BefQ40Y0

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) August 19, 2024

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