James Cook vs Jeremiyah Love
2026 draft comparison · half-PPR
Updated Aug 20, 2026
Should you draft James Cook or Jeremiyah Love?
Last season — 2025, per game
Full game log & past seasons
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | YD | TD | TGT | REC | RYD | RTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | BAL | 18.7 | RB4 | 13 | 44 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 58 | 0 |
2 | NYJ | 26.0 | RB2 | 21 | 132 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
3 | MIA | 19.3 | RB7 | 19 | 108 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
4 | NO | 21.0 | RB10 | 22 | 117 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 0 |
5 | NE | 4.9 | RB38 | 15 | 49 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6 | ATL | 8.7 | RB18 | 17 | 87 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
8 | CAR | 33.6 | RB2 | 19 | 216 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
9 | KC | 13.0 | RB13 | 27 | 114 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
10 | MIA | 8.2 | RB31 | 13 | 53 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 0 |
11 | TB | 18.9 | RB9 | 16 | 48 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 66 | 1 |
12 | HOU | 20.4 | RB6 | 17 | 116 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 0 |
13 | PIT | 17.2 | RB9 | 32 | 144 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 0 |
14 | CIN | 10.1 | RB24 | 18 | 80 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 0 |
15 | NE | 30.1 | RB1 | 22 | 107 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
16 | CLE | 25.9 | RB6 | 16 | 117 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 0 |
17 | PHI | 8.2 | RB23 | 20 | 74 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
18 | NYJ | 1.5 | RB69 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | YD | TD | TGT | REC | RYD | RTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ARI | 11.8 | RB24 | 19 | 71 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 32 | 0 |
2 | MIA | 28.0 | RB2 | 11 | 78 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 1 |
3 | JAX | 16.7 | RB11 | 11 | 39 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 48 | 0 |
4 | BAL | 5.3 | RB45 | 9 | 39 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
5 | HOU | 16.9 | RB6 | 20 | 82 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 0 |
6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
7 | TEN | 9.2 | RB27 | 12 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
8 | SEA | 26.8 | RB1 | 17 | 111 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 0 |
9 | MIA | 9.4 | RB30 | 10 | 44 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 25 | 0 |
10 | IND | 15.0 | RB9 | 19 | 80 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
11 | KC | 17.2 | RB9 | 9 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
13 | SF | 18.5 | RB8 | 14 | 107 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
14 | LAR | 3.9 | RB38 | 6 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
15 | DET | 25.8 | RB3 | 14 | 105 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 0 |
16 | NE | 26.1 | RB5 | 11 | 100 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 1 |
17 | NYJ | 11.3 | RB13 | 15 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
18 | NE | 8.8 | RB28 | 10 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
No NFL stats yet · draft capital unavailable
Latest takes
“In this draft, I started with James Cook as my anchor running back, and then hammered wide receiver with my next three selections.”
Samwise· Aug 16“While Cook does not have the pass-catching profile that usually benefits from a full PPR format, he has been one of the absolute best assets to have on a fantasy roster over the past few seasons, finishing as a top-12 RB each of the last three years. There is hope that Cook may become more involved in the passing game for the Bills, which would only give his fantasy ceiling a boost.”
Kurt Mullen· Aug 14“Fantasy players that want to draft a safe first-round running back should target James Cook. He doesn’t have overall RB1 upside with Josh Allen ‘s role at the goal line.”
Mike Fanelli· Aug 12
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“Check out all of Fitz’s top fantasy football draft picks to target >> James Cook (BUF) James Cook led the NFL in rushing yards in 2025 (1,621).”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 10“James Cook (RB – BUF) has already shown flashes of every skill needed to be the overall RB1: a big receiving season, an 18-touchdown season, and a 1,600-yard rushing season, just never all in the same year.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 10“Repeat Seasons It should be more of the same for James Cook and Chase Brown , who saw little change in their offenses this offseason.”
Jordan Pullett· Jul 29“31 10 21 James Cook 13 5 8 Josh Jacobs 7 15 -8 Saquon Barkley 2 13 -11 Bucky Irving 10 33 -23 In past years, so many top RBs have gotten hurt that the Zero (or hero) RB draft strategies have become popular.”
Jordan Pullett· Jul 29“I recently gushed about James Cook and Ray Davis as players to target at Underdog at their ADPs .”
Josh Shepardson· Jul 21“James Cook was picked as the best value on the board at 11th overall, priced almost entirely off last year’s production rather than his upside. The case for a top-three running back season rests on four pillars, and Cook checks every one.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 20“James Cook was a no-brainer pick, and it came down to Derrick Henry and Ashton Jeanty for the RB2 slot.”
Kurt Blakeway· Jul 17“The Bills put their money where their mouth is by giving James Cook a ton of money, then followed that up with a bunch of touches (349, to be exact), and brought the rushing title back to Buffalo. James Cook led the NFL in 2025 with 11 games of 80+ rushing yards.”
Colt Williams· Jul 13“Well, so much for all of the regression talk about James Cook last year. Cook crushed all of the haters, improving his stock as the RB6 in fantasy points per game. He led the NFL in rushing yards (1,621) while finishing third in rushing attempts and sixth in rushing touchdowns (tied).”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 9“James Cook is expected to be more involved in the passing game under new offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, whose running backs have been heavily involved in the passing attack throughout his coaching history. Cook had a career-high 309 rush attempts in the regular season en route to the NFL rushing title last season, and shifting some of his carries into targets could be a wise move given his excellent receiving skills demonstrated at the NFL level.”
Josh Shepardson· Jul 9“Unlike Saquon Barkley, who also plays with a quarterback used heavily near the end zone, the Bills do mix in Cook near the end zone, instead of strictly relying on Josh Allen moving the pile. Cook had 14 rushing attempts inside the 5-yard line in 2025 (tied for 8th in the NFL) with 6 touchdowns on those runs.”
Rich Hribar· Jul 7“Cook got a new contract last offseason, which was well-earned on the field. He had the best season of his early career, setting career highs in rushing attempts (309), rushing yards (1,621), touches (342), and yards from scrimmage (1,912) to go along with 14 touchdowns.”
Rich Hribar· Jul 7
“Jadarian Price (RB – SEA) Believe it or not, Jeremiyah Love isn’t the only highly-touted rookie running back drafted from Notre Dame this offseason.”
Evan Tarracciano· Aug 19“Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love is expected to miss the rest of the preseason after suffering a high ankle sprain in the team’s preseason opener over the weekend. Following the game, head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters that Love “could have returned” following his injury, but with this new diagnosis, Love’s availability for Week 1 is in question.”
Tucker Bagley· Aug 18“Jeremiyah Love went top five in the NFL Draft to the Arizona Cardinals, who already have Tyler Allgeier and James Conner on the depth chart. With that type of draft capital investment, I think Love will be Arizona’s lead back in 2026, but he could have his workload eaten into by Allgeier and/or Conner.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 11
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“You could also add a running back such as Breece Hall or Jeremiyah Love .”
Tom Strachan· Aug 11“That’s not likely to happen again after the team drafted a running back, Jeremiyah Love , No.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 5“Draft Jeremiyah Love , Jordan Love and Colston Loveland . Name your team “Love Island” after the popular reality show.”
Frank Ammirante· Aug 4“com/gbdOyXuR12 — Fantasy Footballers (@TheFFBallers) July 6, 2026 Jeremiyah Love is entering a situation very similar to the one Ashton Jeanty faced last year.”
Jordan Pullett· Jul 29“The question will be how much Tyler Allgeier gets involved in that role versus Jeremiyah Love having all of that work.”
Rich Hribar· Jul 24“Sleeper: Jeremiyah Love, Running Back (RB13, Pick 24 Overall) It’s hard to call the number three overall pick in the real-life NFL Draft (the highest since Saquon Barkley went second in 2018) a sleeper, but here we are. Jeremiyah Love isn’t the prospect that Ashton Jeanty was last season, but Jeanty’s fall from grace has folks hesitant about clicking the button on Love earlier than the second or third round.”
Jeff Krisko· Jul 22“Jeremiyah Love (ARI) and a future 2027 1st for Gibbs comes out to a fair price in the current market.”
Jonathan Lange· Jul 21“The Cardinals kept Conne r on a reworked deal, signed former Falcons RB Tyler Allgeier to what is pretty decent money for a free agent back, then topped it all off by drafting first-round RB Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 pick. I’d say that’s pretty telling about where Benson stands in Arizona.”
Logan Ulrich· Jul 19“Love has all the talent in the world, and sure, maybe his receiving ability will pay huge dividends, but this is going to be a tough offense to work within to achieve the goals of being a top-10 fantasy football running back. The depth chart includes talent like Tyler Allgeier, who signed a sizable contract, as well as James Conner and Trey Benson.”
Richard Janvrin· Jul 12“Elite rookies like Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love offer early volume, but managers often overpay for youth or wait multiple seasons for clarity.”
Lawrence Iacona· Jul 9“Love was outstanding in college, averaging 6.9 yards per rushing attempt in back-to-back years, totaling at least 17 rushing touchdowns in both seasons. According to PFF, he averaged 4.5 yards after contact and a 32.7% forced missed tackle rate during his two years as the starter.”
Mike Fanelli· Jul 8“Jeremiyah Love enters 2026 with the clearest path to immediate fantasy relevance among rookie running backs. The Cardinals spent premium draft capital to make him the centerpiece of their backfield. Love enters the league with three-down credentials. He forced 22% missed tackles, posted a 16% explosive run rate and averaged 3.92 yards after contact at Notre Dame, while adding legit receiving chops that give him a built-in PPR floor.”
Dennis Sosic· Jul 6