James Cook
vs Omarion Hampton

“While the outcome was mild against a Houston defense we still buy as one of the best defensive fronts, Cook got the usage we wanted to see. He played 69.2% of the snaps (RB11) and saw 88.9% of the backfield touches (RB4). The one element that left more to be desired was the passing-game usage that was talked up this preseason.”

“James Cook (RB – BUF) In 2024, James Cook dominated, scoring 16 touchdowns and rushing for 1,009 yards. That production seemed unsustainable. In 2025, he recorded 1,621 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, and gave us even more reason to be confident.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“James Cook was a no-brainer pick, and it came down to Derrick Henry and Ashton Jeanty for the RB2 slot.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“While Omarion Hampton has been the lead back, he hasn’t come close to justifying his early second-round price tag over three weeks. Keaton Mitchell is eating into some of those high-value touches (not that the Chargers get many), and Hampton’s limited receiving role is capping his fantasy ceiling even further. If drafting today, I wouldn’t consider Hampton until the middle of the fourth round.”

“The Fantasy Points Data Suite also shows that, among 31 qualifying running backs, Omarion Hampton ranks 25th in yards before contact per attempt ( 1.28) and has been stuffed on 46% of his carries. It’s a nightmare for Hampton managers because Seattle hasn’t allowed a rushing touchdown in three games. The volume will be there, as Hampton commands 61.7% of the rushing attempts, but it’s hard to see him finding the end zone.”

“I have been in many situations where people have told me that they have a “great” trade offer… newsflash: fantasy managers can be remarkably persuasive when they are trying to convince you that Omarion Hampton is definitely worth the Lions defense and Brandon Aubrey . Before you accept anything, ask yourself the same basic questions we have been asking all along: Will this player actually make my team better? Would I have to get rid of one of the only reliable players that I have?”

“Hampton is still considered a borderline top-five dynasty running back in the eyes of many. Definitely don’t sell him for any less than what he’s currently worth. In player-for-player deals, I’d be happy shipping Hampton off for guys like Drake London or George Pickens .”

“Still, Omarion Hampton is an RB2 right now. No, that’s not what his redraft price tag was, and his dynasty price tag could be quite high. That said, two games in, with a shoddy offensive line and seemingly no signs of a turnaround, some owners could be hesitant.”

“Omarion Hampton ‘s 8% TPRR is worrisome for anyone who had RB1 aspirations for him.”

“There are so many disappointments here; even Omarion Hampton ’s 23 carries can not get me excited with the fumbling problem.”