Fantasy grade, projections, percentile rankings, advanced usage, and weekly points.
James Cook III is a RB5 and grades as an Elite (A+) fantasy running back for the 2026 season. His consensus ADP is 15.6 (around round 2 in a 12-team league).
James Cook III is an NFL running back for BUF. Projected RB5. One of the best fantasy running backs in the league and an every-week must-start. Last season he averaged 18.9 fantasy points per game (RB12 in 2026).
A+ · Elite. Projected RB5. One of the best fantasy running backs in the league and an every-week must-start.
Athletic profile: James Cook III ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash (86th percentile at RB), a 33-inch vertical, a 124-inch broad jump, for a composite athletic score of 69 out of 100. Drafted in 2022 (Round 2, Pick 63) out of Georgia.
In 2026, James Cook III handled a 66.5% share of his team's carries (117 carries, 21 in the red zone) plus a 8.8% target share, for 131 total opportunities.
Per Pro Football Reference, he averaged 4.3 yards before contact and 1.7 yards after contact per carry with 5 broken tackles.
| Season | G | Rush | Rush Yd | TD | Rec | Rec Yd | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 117 | 627 | 6 | 10 | 89 | 18.9 |
| 2025 | 17 | 309 | 1621 | 12 | 33 | 291 | 17.8 |
| 2024 | 16 | 207 | 1009 | 16 | 32 | 258 | 16.7 |
| 2023 | 17 | 237 | 1122 | 2 | 44 | 445 | 13.7 |
| 2022 | 17 | 91 | 525 | 2 | 21 | 180 | 6.3 |
James Cook III grades as an Elite (A+) fantasy running back for 2026. Projected RB5. One of the best fantasy running backs in the league and an every-week must-start.
James Cook III has a consensus ADP of 15.6, which lands around round 2 in a 12-team league. Reach a little earlier if he is a priority for your build.
James Cook III has no injury designation in our latest data and is expected to be available, but always confirm his status close to kickoff.
Projected RB5. One of the best fantasy running backs in the league and an every-week must-start. Last season he averaged 18.9 fantasy points per game (RB12 in 2026). He projects for roughly 260.8 fantasy points in 2026.