During the Buffalo Bills' 36-10 home win over the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday, Bills Mafia held its breath, unsure whether their star running back, James Cook, would get up after a massive hit he took early in the fourth quarter. He was tackled in an odd manner in which he hit his head on the ground, and his upper body flipped on top of himself.
While taking a second to catch his breath, he got up, which relieved fans, and headed to the blue medical tent for some needed attention. Cook was evaluated for a head injury and received clearance to return.
With the Bills already beating the Ravens, Cook received the much-needed rest he hadn't had in the previous six games. He ran one 4-yard carry late in the game. Let's take a look at why not overusing the reliable running back will help the team in the long run.
Using other weapons will help James Cook later in the season
1.) Workload & health management
James Cook is no doubt one of the Bills' best running backs in franchise history, winning the rushing title with 1,621 yards in 2025. Currently, he has 707 rushing yards on 138 carries and seven touchdowns. He is on pace to rush for more yards than he did last year, with a projected total of 1,717 rushing yards on 335 carries and 17 touchdowns.
But now that it is November, the Bills need to manage his carries both short- and long-term. This way, he will be at his best when the cold hits Western New York in December and January, when the Bills can really run the ball to tire out defenses.
The less carries head coach Joe Brady can give him now, the healthier his body will be down the final stretch and into the playoffs.
2.) Ray Davis and Ty Johnson are ready and able
Obviously, Ray Davis and Ty Johnson aren't the same caliber running backs as James Cook, but since the team hasn't revamped its RB room, there must be a reason it keeps its standout running backs. Ty Johnson is one of the best third-down backs in the game, making sense as to why we don't see Cook a lot on the field on third downs.
Before Davis became an explosive kick returner, he rushed for 442 yards as a rookie backup running back. With Davis and Johnson alongside Cook, it makes sense to use these powerful backs in Cook's place to ease the pressure as the season continues and rely on him only when essential.
3.) Joe Brady's new structure
Cook ranks fifth place in the NFL in rushing yards thanks to Brady's increased use of 2-3 tight end formations, running between the tackles, and multiple pass-protection support. This mixed play calling can also help Cook build a more believable reputation as a better pass-catching back, especially against increased loaded boxes and blitz rates.
4.) Get more for their money
Cook is only in his first full year of a four-year, $48 million contract extension he signed during training camp in 2025. That contract looks like a steal now, as he's on pace to rush for over 1,000 yards again while making $13 million a year. He's also still 27 and may join Derrick Henry as one of only two running backs playing past 29, when backs usually start showing their age.
If the Bills want Cook to keep playing beyond his prime, they should gradually reduce his snaps, just like they did in the fourth quarter of the Ravens game when the game was out of reach.
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