James Cook vs Josh Allen
2026 draft comparison · half-PPR
Updated Aug 19, 2026
Should you draft James Cook or Josh Allen?
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 |
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | CMP | YD | TD | INT | RuYD | RuTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | BAL | 38.8 | QB1 | 46 | 33 | 394 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
2 | NYJ | 11.8 | QB25 | 25 | 14 | 148 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 0 |
3 | MIA | 23.0 | QB5 | 28 | 22 | 213 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
4 | NO | 25.9 | QB7 | 22 | 16 | 209 | 2 | 1 | 45 | 1 |
5 | NE | 20.4 | QB12 | 31 | 22 | 253 | 2 | 1 | 53 | 0 |
6 | ATL | 17.4 | QB17 | 26 | 15 | 180 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 0 |
7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
8 | CAR | 23.2 | QB9 | 19 | 12 | 163 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
9 | KC | 28.8 | QB3 | 26 | 23 | 273 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 2 |
10 | MIA | 20.3 | QB8 | 40 | 28 | 306 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 0 |
11 | TB | 44.7 | QB1 | 30 | 19 | 317 | 3 | 2 | 40 | 3 |
12 | HOU | 10.1 | QB22 | 34 | 24 | 253 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 0 |
13 | PIT | 17.7 | QB13 | 23 | 15 | 123 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 1 |
14 | CIN | 37.8 | QB1 | 28 | 22 | 251 | 3 | 0 | 78 | 1 |
15 | NE | 24.5 | QB6 | 28 | 19 | 193 | 3 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
16 | CLE | 6.9 | QB27 | 19 | 12 | 130 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
17 | PHI | 23.2 | QB6 | 35 | 23 | 262 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 2 |
18 | NYJ | 0.0 | QB42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | ATT | CMP | YD | TD | INT | RuYD | RuTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ARI | 31.2 | QB1 | 23 | 18 | 232 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 2 |
2 | MIA | 9.8 | QB28 | 19 | 13 | 139 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
3 | JAX | 30.9 | QB1 | 30 | 23 | 263 | 4 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
4 | BAL | 7.3 | QB28 | 29 | 16 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
5 | HOU | 14.6 | QB19 | 30 | 9 | 131 | 1 | 0 | 54 | 0 |
6 | NYJ | 24.4 | QB5 | 25 | 19 | 215 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
7 | TEN | 21.0 | QB6 | 33 | 21 | 323 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
8 | SEA | 20.8 | QB14 | 34 | 24 | 283 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 0 |
9 | MIA | 23.1 | QB7 | 39 | 25 | 235 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
10 | IND | 20.2 | QB7 | 37 | 22 | 280 | 0 | 2 | 50 | 1 |
11 | KC | 25.0 | QB7 | 40 | 27 | 262 | 1 | 1 | 55 | 1 |
12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
13 | SF | 28.4 | QB3 | 17 | 13 | 148 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
14 | LAR | 51.9 | QB1 | 37 | 22 | 342 | 3 | 0 | 82 | 3 |
15 | DET | 41.3 | QB1 | 34 | 23 | 362 | 2 | 0 | 68 | 2 |
16 | NE | 12.2 | QB24 | 29 | 16 | 154 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 0 |
17 | NYJ | 23.0 | QB12 | 27 | 16 | 182 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
18 | NE | 0.0 | QB45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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
“Leaving a crowded receiver room in Chicago for Buffalo in the offseason, Moore becomes the de facto first read for Josh Allen on all passing plays.”
Evan Tarracciano· Aug 19“In fact, he and Josh Allen are the only two QBs to have 300 fantasy points in each of the last two seasons.”
Ellis Johnson· Aug 19“Josh Allen should be the undisputed QB1, but the weekly scoring gap at the position is very narrow. Last season, the difference between Allen, the QB1, and Daniel Jones , the QB18, was only four fantasy points per game. With the position so deep, this further strengthens the case for a late-round quarterback strategy in 2026.”
Kyle Zeigler· Aug 18
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“While there are five quarterbacks in this tier, Allen stands clearly ahead of the rest. The superstar has finished as a top-five quarterback in six consecutive seasons despite not having a go-to No. 1 wide receiver since the Bills traded away Stefon Diggs.”
Mike Fanelli· Aug 16“Bills QB Josh Allen is an amazing football player and a time-tested fantasy asset.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 15“Josh Allen is microwave popcorn because when he gets hot, he absolutely pops off. One explosive play turns into another, the TDs start piling up, and suddenly you are staring at a fantasy score that felt impossible just a few quarters ago.”
Brooke Morgan· Aug 12“There’s no doubt that quarterbacks like Allen, Jackson, Drake Maye, and more should score more, but drafting any in the first few rounds is a bad idea.”
Wyatt Bertolone· Aug 12“Most notably, he oversaw the development of Josh Allen as Offensive Coordinator in Buffalo from 2018 through 2021.”
Kyle Lesti· Aug 11“The Sharp Football Analysis projections are aggressive in factoring in increased passing from Allen and are well above the Vegas passing yards total. ESPN’s publicly available projections have a moderate increase in passing attempts and yardage from last year and are still more than 300 yards over the passing total.”
Curtis Hirsch· Aug 10“Since the start of 2022, Allen is second in EPA per play and has finished among the top four quarterbacks in EPA per play in every single year.”
Curtis Hirsch· Aug 10“Josh Allen , Patrick Mahomes , Brock Purdy , Dak Prescott , and Jared Goff were the only quarterbacks selected as top-12 players who were also top 12 in points per game.”
Rich Hribar· Aug 5“Josh Allen 2026 Over/Under Predictions The Buffalo offense played at the league's slowest pace and ran the ball at the second-highest rate last season, which seems very counterintuitive for a team with Josh Allen at quarterback.”
Curtis Hirsch· Aug 5“Josh Allen is once again the consensus QB1 in fantasy. He finished QB1 in fantasy scoring last season for the fourth time in the last six years. After down years from Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts , the gap between Allen and other fantasy QBs seems to have widened.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 4“There is hope that a healthy Kincaid can live up to the hype that he has carried since entering the league as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft and be an elite TE option in an offense with Josh Allen .”
Kurt Mullen· Jul 29“With the first pick in the draft, Mike takes what feels like an obvious choice of Josh Allen, who has finished as the QB1 overall in four of the last six seasons.”
Kurt Mullen· Jul 29