Is Bills' 'really special' James Cook the best RB in football?

Adam Schultz

Is Bills' 'really special' James Cook the best RB in football? image

The Buffalo Bills are 4-0 to begin the season, and one reason why is the play of running back James Cook, who, through the first month, has been superb.

With five rushing touchdowns to lead the NFL, along with 401 rushing yards, just 13 behind leader Jonathan Taylor, Cook is balling right now. But that is nothing new, coming off a 16-touchdown season in 2024 to go with 1,000 rushing yards, Cook is becoming one of the best backs in football.

And offensive coordinator Joe Brady detailed the key to Cook's hot start in 2025.

“He's running the ball really well,” Brady said. “The element that he's done a good job of adding to his game is being able to see the crease and understand how the blocks are being played. 

"He put his foot in the dirt and kind of goes, and you turn a four-yard gain into 15 or 10, and he has such a good understanding of what we're trying to do and how the guys are blocking it and reading it. He's really special right now."

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Is Cook the best running back in football?

Based on form, right now, you would have to say he is in the conversation, and his stats back it up as well. Leading the league in touchdowns and just 13 yards off leading the league in yards.

Plus, as a receiver, he's hauled in 12 receptions for 89 yards, so he isn't a one-trick pony, either. Cook is showing exactly why he was given the four-year, $48 million deal in the offseason, and right now, that feels like a steal.

Another 1,000-yard, double-digit touchdown season appears a formality, as he is slowly positioning himself to be seen as one of the best backs in football.

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Adam Schultz

Adam Schultz is a freelance writer at The Sporting News. An Australian journalist with years of experience covering the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL, Adam has interviewed several high-profile athletes in Australia for various sites and brings a unique view on the NFL.