Bills' James Cook Struggles with Fumbles Despite Career Year

Dominant running back's ball security issues kept him from elite RB ranking

Feb. 21, 2026 at 12:39pm

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James Cook had a standout season for the Buffalo Bills in 2025, leading the NFL in rushing and scoring 12 touchdowns. However, his issues with fumbling the ball - he led all running backs with the most fumbles and fumbles lost - prevented him from being ranked among the top running backs by PFF. Despite his impressive stats, Cook's seven fumbles, four of which were lost, kept his overall grade at 81.1, good for 10th among RBs. PFF analysts say that without the fumbles, Cook's grade would have jumped to 90.1, which would have placed him second on their list.

Why it matters

Ball security is a critical aspect of being an elite running back in the NFL. Cook's fumbling problems cost the Bills in key moments, including a crucial fumble in their playoff loss to the Broncos. As one of the league's most productive backs, Cook will need to address this issue to reach the next level and help the Bills' high-powered offense reach its full potential.

The details

Cook led the NFL in 2025 with 1,817 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, but his seven fumbles, four of which were lost, were a major concern. One example was in their Week 14 win over the Bengals, when Cook fumbled on first-and-goal from the two-yard line with the Bills trailing 21-18. The Bengals recovered and scored, taking a 28-18 lead, though the Bills ultimately won 39-34. Cook also had a crucial fumble in the Bills' playoff loss to the Broncos, with Buffalo leading 7-3 and driving for more points.

  • In Week 14 of the 2025 season, Cook fumbled on first-and-goal from the two-yard line against the Bengals.
  • In the Bills' 2025 playoff loss to the Broncos, Cook fumbled with Buffalo leading 7-3.

The players

James Cook

A running back for the Buffalo Bills who led the NFL in rushing yards (1,817) and rushing touchdowns (12) in 2025, but struggled with fumbles throughout the season.

Spencer Brown

An offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills who recovered one of Cook's fumbles against the New York Jets.

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What they’re saying

“How does a man who rushed for 1,817 yards, 1,067 of which came after contact, 12 touchdowns and 76 first downs in addition to forcing 66 missed tackles only come in 10th amongst the league's running backs? The answer is simple: Cook put the ball on the ground seven times, losing four of them. If we eliminate those seven fumbles, Cook's grade jumps to 90.1, which would rank second on this list.”

— Jim Wyman, PFF Analyst

What’s next

Looking ahead to 2026, Cook will still be a featured part of the Bills' offense, and he should be. That said, he needs to figure out a way to protect the ball better.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of ball security for elite running backs in the NFL. Despite his impressive statistical output, Cook's fumbling issues prevented him from being ranked among the top running backs and cost the Bills in key moments. If he can address this problem, Cook has the potential to take his game to the next level and become one of the league's premier ball carriers.