Photo Courtesy: Jim Dedmon
To say James Cook’s 19 rushes for 216 rushing yards and two touchdown performance led the way to a Buffalo Bills 40-9 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday is an understatement.
The 26-year-old’s 216 rushing yards Sunday were the most rushing yards by any player in a game this season. Cook’s outing also marked the first 200-plus yard rushing performance for a Bill in 15 years, dating back to Fred Jackson on Jan. 3, 2010. In not even a full game played against Carolina, the Georgia alum rushed for 121 more yards than expected, which ranks fourth-most in a game since 2018, according to Next Gen Stats.
This past Sunday was no fluke for the fourth-year back. This season, Cook ranks second in the league in rushing yards (753), first in the league in yards per carry (6.0, minimum 50 rushes), first in rushing yards per game (107.6), and fourth in touchdown runs (seven).
Since the start of the 2024 season, the Miami, Florida native ranks second in rushing touchdowns (23), fifth in yards per carry (5.3), and eighth in rushing yards (1,762), according to StatMuse.
One could argue that the Buffalo offensive line ranks as one of the best in the league, and although the argument holds, Cook clearly impacts the Bills’ effectiveness in the run game as he currently leads the league in rushing yards over expected (225) and rushing yards over expected per attempt (1.81), according to Next Gen Stats. The next closest rusher in rushing yards over expected per attempt is Kimani Vidal, with 1.49.
Editor’s Note: The Bills use Jackson Hawes (#85) to kick-out block the defensive end, use Reggie Gilliam, the fullback (#41), to lead block Cook’s vision does the rest on a well-executed counter run play.
Buffalo running backs not named Cook this year have run the ball 37 times for 110 yards (2.97 yards per carry), and have yet to find the endzone on the ground.
Cook’s value in the NFL’s top-ranked rushing offense should not be underestimated. The running back sits on pace to finish the season with 2,000-plus scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns. Management, staff, and fans should be happy Buffalo extended Cook to a four-year $48 million contract before the season instead of after it.