2025 Dynasty Faller: James Cook
James Cook has had a mixed start to his NFL career. He underwhelmed as a rookie but rebounded in Year 2 with 1,122 rushing yards on 237 carries—though he scored just two touchdowns. Then, in 2024, despite a slight dip in volume (207 carries), he still topped 1,000 yards (1,009) and stunned fantasy managers with 16 rushing touchdowns.
Cook’s touchdown surge didn’t go unnoticed—he tied Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs for the league lead. As a result, the stock of his dynasty value spiked. According to Dynasty League Football (DLF), he’s currently ranked RB11 in both 1QB and Superflex startups—just ahead of Chase Brown, Kenneth Walker III, and rookies RJ Harvey and TreVeyon Henderson.
Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons on a high-powered offense? That makes him worth the RB11 price tag… right?
In the words of Lee Corso: “Not so fast, my friend.
Cook turns 26 this season and is already making contract noise. He’s skipped voluntary OTAs, and while that’s not uncommon, it becomes more meaningful if the holdout stretches into minicamp or training camp. Missed reps matter—especially for a back aiming to build on a breakout year and fend off an intriguing rookie.
Zooming out from Cook’s contract situation, his usage trends reveal some red
flags—especially in the red zone. In 2024, he logged 48 red-zone carries (up from just 33 the year before), including 15 inside the five-yard line. That volume helped fuel his 16-touchdown outburst—but it feels more like an anomaly than a trend. His red-zone usage nearly doubled, but that kind of spike rarely holds year-over-year.
Cook’s passing game involvement remains modest—averaging just 32 receptions per season—and his rushing efficiency hasn’t stood out. He ranked just RB24 in yards after contact per attempt (2.48, minimum 100 carries), and even rookie teammate Ray Davis edged him with 2.55. That doesn’t suggest Cook is in danger of losing his role outright—but it does signal a ceiling that’s likely already in view.
And don’t forget Josh Allen. He’s one of the most aggressive rushing quarterbacks in the league, routinely ranking in the top 5 in designed runs. That kind of dual-threat presence eats into running back scoring opportunities—especially in the red zone. And while Cook still saw a 48% snap share, rookie Ray Davis quietly carved out a 24.6% share of his own. With Davis showing more burst and efficiency on a per-touch basis, that split could tighten even further.
This isn’t a “don’t draft James Cook” warning. But in dynasty, I’m swinging for upside—and Cook doesn’t offer much more than we’ve already seen. I’d rather invest in younger, ascending backs like Kyren Williams, Chase Brown, TreVeyon Henderson, or even Kaleb Johnson—who you can get a round or two later with more room to grow.
Don’t count on another 16-touchdown outburst—it’s far more likely that Cook settles somewhere between his 2023 and 2024 outputs.
That kind of capped ceiling doesn’t justify the RB11 price tag. Take a calculated swing on someone with more explosiveness and more years ahead. You don’t win in a dynasty chasing last year’s box scores. Let someone else pay for the outlier—I’ll take the upside swing.