Every summer leading up to the start of the NFL season, there is a list that is created of the Top 100 players heading into the season based on the prior year’s production. The Buffalo Bills should have a good amount of players on there, and obviously the top Bills player should be Josh Allen (who has a major case to get the top spot).
We have our first Bill to make the list in running back James Cook, who lands at No. 89 as the one of the top 100 players going into this season. This is Cook’s first appearance on this list in his career and it’s a great time to enter onto it as he is entering his (potentially) final year in Buffalo so he will be looking to get paid after 2025.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:@BuffaloBills RB James Cook lands at No. 89! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/q5OMIpfnaY
— NFL (@NFL) July 7, 2025
Since the end of the season last year for the playoffs, Cook and the Bills have been in contract drama as Cook is standing his ground of no less than $15 million per year which would make him one of the highest paid running backs in the league. Some fans believe Cook deserves it, while some are saying to let him play out his contract and then move on.
Either way, no one can deny the fact that Cook is a dominant player for the Bills (the second best on offense behind Josh Allen). Buffalo is a better team with him on the field so they will have to make a decision on whether or not they want him back beyond the 2025 season.
James Cook's ranking is too low on NFL's Top 100 list
For Cook’s first appearance on this list, it’s a lower ranking than what people may have thought. He rushed for his second consecutive 1,000+ yard season and was tied for the most rushing touchdowns last year (16). In addition, he also takes pressure off of Allen from having to run the ball.
There have been games where Cook was the main focus of the offense and he delivered great results to set the Bills up to put points on the scoreboard. I’m not saying that Cook deserves to be in the Top 25 or anything like that. However, putting him just 11 spots ahead from the last spot seems a bit of a stretch considering what he has done for the Bills’ offense.