While quarterback Josh Allen is known to put the team on his shoulders in big games, the Buffalo Bills' rushing attack has been integral to the team's recent success. The team has won 11 or more games and an AFC East title in five straight seasons, largely on the back of a top-10 rushing attack.
With James Cook's status for the season currently in peril due to an ongoing contract dispute between him and the franchise, the rest of the Bills' running backs need to step up. Ray Davis and Ty Johnson have proven that they are capable, but the fourth spot at the position has been a battle.
The two players competing for this spot on the end of the roster are free agent acquisition Darrynton Evans and second-year player Frank Gore Jr., who joined the team as an undrafted free agent ahead of the 2024 NFL season.
Frank Gore Jr. should be Bills' final running back on the roster
After just one preseason game, however, it became clear to Bills fans that Gore is the better running back and more worthy of a spot on the roster. Both players mixed in during the second half and played primarily against third-stringers, but Gore was far more impressive.
Not only did he run for 21 yards on five carries, which averaged out to 4.2 yards per rush, but he also caught five passes for 50 yards. By contrast, Evans ran just two times for four yards, which is 2.0 yards per carry, and he caught just two passes for 14 yards.
Evans did notch a receiving touchdown during the preseason contest against the New York Giants; however, Gore's performance was much stronger overall. Gore did get stuffed up the middle a few times, and was unable to punch in a touchdown from the one-yard-line, but that won't be his role.
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Gore came into the game and made several big plays, including an 11-yard run, as well as catches of 19 and 16 yards in the fourth quarter. He also recorded a solo tackle on special teams, and Evans just had an assisted tackle.
Davis would be the next man up as the workhorse back if Cook were to sit out or miss time for whatever reason, and Gore would become the third-down back if anything happened to Johnson. However, Evans is stuck somewhere in the middle, which is a bad spot to be in after the first preseason game.
Buffalo still has two exhibition contests against the Bears and the Buccaneers to fully sort things out. But on Saturday, the hype surrounding Gore from training camp manifested itself on the field against the Giants, and he is the clear frontrunner for the final spot in the running back room.