Bills RB James Cook ran 12 times for 75 yards (6.3 yards per carry) and a TD in Sunday's 29-26 loss to the Patriots. He added 2 catches for 8 yards on 2 targets, totaling 16.3 PPR points. Cook played a season-low 59.3% of snaps (35 of 59) and ran 15 routes. His longest run went for 17 yards. Buffalo ran just 19 times as a team while playing from behind.
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Game Script Cost Him Snaps
The snap dip was about game script, not a demotion. The Bills spent more time in clear passing situations than in their first three games. Ty Johnson took every two-minute drill snap after Cook had played 26.7% of those snaps through Week 3. Johnson matched Cook with 15 routes on just 19 snaps. Cook was efficient with his chances, but he did not continue his two-game streak of 100+ yards rushing. New England entered ranked 13th in adjusted RB points allowed (21.89 per game).
Buffalo visits the Rams on Monday night in Week 5 and the Raiders in Week 6, then has its bye in Week 7. The Rams are the tough draw, allowing the 5th-fewest adjusted RB points (15.76 per game) and ranking 9th in run defense DVOA. Las Vegas is closer to neutral at 20th (18.87) and 16th in run DVOA. After the bye, Baltimore visits, ranking 16th (20.39) and 26th in run DVOA. Cook remains an RB1 going forward, though Johnson's passing-down work caps his ceiling in negative game scripts.
