James Cook - You hate him, you love him

[HamptonBillsfan]

7 minutes ago, PoundingDog said:

1st play of the game, he fumbled. Now you remember he fumbled in Houston game (we recovered). He fumbled in the Denvor playoff game, which was still a turning point of the game for me.

 

But despite his goofy, indifferent appearance, he does care. You see he cheered the defense making a stop. And then he just took over late 4th quarter, pretty much the main force to get the Bills the lead and expand the lead, as well as a minor icing of the game.

 

He's 27. I'm not sure he's going to change. We can't live with him on those mistakes, but we also can't live without him to drive the offense, sort of what we had with Allen before he matured. 

 

 BTW, James, please have both hands on the ball the last few carries you had - I just don't like to hold on my breath too much in those situations.

Whatever TOs Cook commits we shouldn’t care because his explosiveness and production make Josh and everyone better. Remember, defenses have to defend the run because Cook can rip off chunks on  any carry. In the red zone he has a nose for the end zone. You can’t worry about Josh throwing an occasional pick or Cook an occasional fumble because they make our offense great and those TOs are few and far between. Some efficiency experts want to obsess over a TO but you’re talking about arguably the best backs in football. The defense has to pick Cook after a fumble and that makes a complete team.

[PromoTheRobot]

25 minutes ago, Augie said:

What do you suggest? 

 

Perfection. Nothing less.

[NoSaint]

12 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

He's not making those kind of jump cuts with both hands tucked in squeezing the ball.

and I was a defender of his fumbles being overstated but it’s a bad run at the moment. Hopefully just lad of averages balances him back out 

[Billsfed1]

I’ll take Cook’s mistakes. The fumbles are annoying but he’s on pace for 1700 yards and another rushing title. 

 

You’re right tho. Just tighten up the ball security and he’ll have more opportunity…and at the same time won’t be hurting the team.

 

Were in a great spot with him tho…and to think I was considering last year if he was worth it at all

[Nihilarian]

In my view, Cook was the reason the Bills won today. 154 rushing yards on 24 carries, 1 TD, with a 6.5 yards per carry avg. Then consider the Chargers held the last two teams to a 2.7 YPC avg.

 

He opens up the offense so much that defenses start to focus on stopping him, which in turn opens up the passing offense.

 

No hate here...just love! 

Edited September 27 by Nihilarian

[T.E.]

14 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

He's not making those kind of jump cuts with both hands tucked in squeezing the ball.

It's really analogous to Allen throwing. Yes, he will make mistakes, but if the good play to bad play ratio is like 5:1, who cares at the end of the day?

[NickelCity]

On some of his fumbles I can't help but wonder if there's a friction band or something he could wear on his bicep

[Freddie's Dead]

Love him!  At $12M per, he is a *****in' steal!  We robbed him blind.  His asking price of $15M was reasonable, given his production.  If he keeps it up, the Bills will likely extend him and give him the bag.

[nedboy7]

Jamos Cook. 

[JBI$111]

Yes he fumbles occasionally, but he is one of the best running backs in the league, just phenomenal.

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

He’s got fumble issues but he’s just so good that I’m not sure it’s enough to even impact his usage 

[dave mcbride]

6 hours ago, Offside Number 76 said:

Running backs fumble.  It happens.  And do you really not know how to spell "Denver"?

 

EDIT:  OP did a little stealth edit there.  Had spelled it "Denvor."  And that's not a typo; the E and the O are not near each other.

 

I'm not taking seriously negative feedback about the reigning NFL rushing leader from someone who can't spell "Denver."

 Criticizing people for typos on a message board is a prototypical jerk move.

10 minutes ago, JBI$111 said:

Yes he fumbles occasionally, but he is one of the best running backs in the league, just phenomenal.

He led all non-QBs in fumbles in 2025 and has 3 fumbles in his last 4 games. It’s a real problem—fumbling rates from the late 1970s/early 1980s, which is where he’s currently at, don’t fly in the contemporary NFL. I keep thinking he’ll clean it up, but he doesn’t.

Edited September 28 by dave mcbride

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

As long as he is capable of 120, 130, 150 yards on the ground we will have to live with a fumble every other game. That is a lot of fumbles for a RB but his production is elite. Beside CJGJ, Cook was the number one reason the bills won today.

6 hours ago, RichRiderBills said:

I mean watch old games man. People fumbled all the time. He literally had one bad play the whole game that fumble otherwise great game for him 

 

He has 3 fumbles in his last 4 games. I could be wrong but that's a pretty bad stretch for a RB. So, I would say, no, RB's don't fumble all the time at the rate he is.

 

But either way, he had elite production in 3 of those 4 games and the Bills were 3-1 in those games with a chance to win the one they did lose. We have to let him cook and take the lumps as they come. 

[The Wiz]

any which way, this is insane body control.

 

 

[billsfan714]

Nobody hates him.

[ganesh]

James was a beast.  You could see that determination in his eyes in the 4th quarter to let his head coach know that he got this thing and can carry it on his back.  Brady obliged.  Game Over

[Charles Romes]

He had the most ball-secure season by an RB in the history of the franchise in 2024, after which they waffled on re-signing him.  1 fumble, zero lost fumbles in 2024. I think it’s something very specific he was scouted on. 

[GunnerBill]

Let me put it this way.... before the last couple of years if Josh had any sort of off day the Bills lost. Cook can be the reason they win games now like he was yesterday. I think he is just on an unlucky trot with the fumbles. The one in the playoffs I put on him but the last couple the ball being punched out in traffic - that is just an occupational hazard for a running back. 

[Puckman5]

10 hours ago, Offside Number 76 said:

Running backs fumble.  It happens.  And do you really not know how to spell "Denver"?

 

EDIT:  OP did a little stealth edit there.  Had spelled it "Denvor."  And that's not a typo; the E and the O are not near each other.

 

I'm not taking seriously negative feedback about the reigning NFL rushing leader from someone who can't spell "Denver."

I'm praying James doesn't fumble in either Myame game.  

[Buffaloflash]

13 hours ago, Matt_In_NH said:

speak for yourself, I just love him.   But I think he needs to keep two hands on the ball more.

I don't think he can make those sudden stops and starts, and change direction while accelerating through holes in the line with two hands on the ball. He does try to cover it up, when sensing contact.