One huge factor that has helped the Buffalo Bills light up the scoreboard through the first four games is their rushing attack. The Bills are the top rushing team in the league with 654 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground. The best part is that Josh Allen is not their leading rusher.
Running back James Cook has already rushed for 401 yards and 5 touchdowns. He’s on pace for a career year, which shows just how valuable he is to the Bills and that he has been worth the contract that the Bills gave him this past offseason. Behind Cook is Allen, who has rushed for 159 yards and 3 scores.
After them two, the next leading rusher is Ty Johnson with 43 yards. Both him and Ray Davis haven’t scored a rushing touchdown this season, yet wideout Elijah Moore has.
Typically, the Bills have utilized a committee in the backfield to operate but with Cook averaging over five yards per carry, it’s nearly impossible to take him off the field. Now granted, we see Cook heading towards the sideline on third down but both Johnson and Davis haven’t been getting their reps. That could very well change after a recent update from offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
James Cook could see decrease in workload moving forward
Brady spoke with the media on Monday and he discussed how the Bills “want Cook playing in December and January” and that the Bills “have too good of a RB room for him [Cook] to be the only one toting the rock”, per Alex Brasky. Here’s the quote from Brady, per Brasky:
Joe Brady on Bills’ RB usage: “We want (James Cook) playing in December and January. I’ve got to be smart… We have too good of a RB room for him to be the only one toting the rock… We were at our best last year when everybody was rollin.. (Ray Davis) needs to be playing more.” pic.twitter.com/ImbiXvsOaH
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) September 29, 2025
I understand that the Bills want to get other players the reps, and to keep Cook healthy. However, you could make a huge argument that Cook has been extremely valuable to the Bills’ offense, sometimes even more than Josh Allen. When he gets the ball, it’s very rare that he doesn’t get atleast three to four yards per carry.
If the Bills decide to go this route, they could put themselves in tough situations where they may have to change the play calling for the worst. It’s simple, you don’t take your best players off the field if you can help it. Not to mention, Cook just got paid so this is the time to get him the carries and the production.