A 2nd-round pick (63rd overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Georgia, James Cook has built an NFL career since. Now with BUF, he's in his 5th NFL season. By ScoutIndex Rating he was one of the top RBs in football last season, scoring a 80.9 (96th percentile). His ball security stands out most — the 96th percentile at the position. Across 5 NFL seasons, he has totaled 4,886 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns.
Size
5'11", 190#
College
Georgia
Draft
Rd 2, 63rd overall (2022)
Seasons
2022–2026
2024 ScoutIndex Rating · RB
Methodology97th percentile among RBs
16 games · 239 touches
Week 1 projection · @ HOU
MethodologyMean (10th–90th percentile) · recent form × matchup. Informational, not wagering advice.
2024 attribute card
click a row to see the formulagroup averages
Athleticism
Speed79▶
Percentile of 40-yard dash time among RBs at the NFL Combine (faster = higher), 2000–present.
Burst52▶
Percentile of vertical jump + broad jump among combine RBs.
Agilityno data▶
Percentile of 3-cone + short shuttle among combine RBs (faster = higher).
Size21▶
Height/weight z-score vs. the RB cohort (from official bio, not combine-dependent).
Rushing
Rush Efficiency95▶
Rushing EPA ÷ carry.
Yards/Carry94▶
Rushing yards ÷ carry.
Conversion86▶
(Rushing first downs + ½ rushing TD) ÷ carry.
Receiving
Receiving88▶
Receiving EPA ÷ target, plus a reception-volume bonus — the same formula behind the Rating's receiving component.
Impact
Ball Security96▶
Fumbles lost ÷ touch (fewer is better).
Volume87▶
Carries + receptions this season.
Efficiency96▶
Total EPA (rushing + receiving) per game.
Career (regular season)
Career profile
Across 5 NFL seasons on file, James Cook has played in 72 regular-season games, all with BUF.
He has rushed for 4,886 yards and 38 touchdowns. As a receiver he has caught 140 passes for 1,263 yards and 9 touchdowns. His most productive rushing season was 2025 with BUF: 1,621 yards and 12 touchdowns in 17 games.
By the ScoutIndex Rating, his best qualified season was 2024: a 81.1, in the 97th percentile among RBs that year.
Career highs (regular season)
- Most rushing yards in a game216, 2 TD vs CAR, 2025 Week 8
- Most receiving yards in a game83 on 5 catches, 1 TD vs KC, 2023 Week 14
2024 splits
regular season| Split | G | Rush yds | Rush TD | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 8 | 466 58/g | 7 | 21 2.6/g | 151 19/g | 1 |
| Away | 8 | 543 68/g | 9 | 11 1.4/g | 107 13/g | 1 |
| In division | 5 | 303 61/g | 5 | 9 1.8/g | 68 14/g | 2 |
| Out of division | 11 | 706 64/g | 11 | 23 2.1/g | 190 17/g | 0 |
| In wins | 12 | 840 70/g | 14 | 27 2.3/g | 223 19/g | 2 |
| In losses | 4 | 169 42/g | 2 | 5 1.3/g | 35 9/g | 0 |
| On grass | 2 | 117 59/g | 2 | 2 1.0/g | 26 13/g | 1 |
| On turf | 14 | 892 64/g | 14 | 30 2.1/g | 232 17/g | 1 |
| Indoors | 4 | 287 72/g | 4 | 6 1.5/g | 59 15/g | 0 |
| Outdoors | 12 | 722 60/g | 12 | 26 2.2/g | 199 17/g | 2 |
2024 game log
| Wk | Opp | Line | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postseason | DEN | 120 rush yds, 1 TD | — |
| Postseason | BAL | 67 rush yds, 0 TD · 3 rec, 15 yds, 0 TD | — |
| Postseason | KC | 85 rush yds, 2 TD · 3 rec, 49 yds, 0 TD | — |
| Week 1 | ARI | 71 rush yds, 0 TD · 3 rec, 32 yds, 0 TD | 49.3 |
| Week 2 | MIA | 78 rush yds, 2 TD · 1 rec, 17 yds, 1 TD | 89.1 |
| Week 3 | JAX | 39 rush yds, 1 TD · 4 rec, 48 yds, 0 TD | 55.1 |
| Week 4 | BAL | 39 rush yds, 0 TD · 1 rec, 9 yds, 0 TD | 53.3 |
| Week 5 | HOU | 82 rush yds, 1 TD · 2 rec, 17 yds, 0 TD | 54.1 |
| Week 7 | TEN | 32 rush yds, 1 TD | 40.1 |
| Week 8 | SEA | 111 rush yds, 2 TD · 3 rec, 22 yds, 0 TD | 99 |
| Week 9 | MIA | 44 rush yds, 0 TD · 5 rec, 25 yds, 0 TD | 50.5 |
| Week 10 | IND | 80 rush yds, 1 TD · 1 rec, 5 yds, 0 TD | 60.6 |
| Week 11 | KC | 20 rush yds, 2 TD · 5 rec, 7 yds, 0 TD | 37.5 |
| Week 13 | SF | 107 rush yds, 1 TD · 1 rec, 13 yds, 0 TD | 72.6 |
| Week 14 | LAR | 20 rush yds, 0 TD · 2 rec, 9 yds, 0 TD | 39.8 |
| Week 15 | DET | 105 rush yds, 2 TD · 1 rec, 28 yds, 0 TD | 95.8 |
| Week 16 | NE | 100 rush yds, 1 TD · 3 rec, 26 yds, 1 TD | 80.1 |
| Week 17 | NYJ | 53 rush yds, 1 TD | 53.5 |
| Week 18 | NE | 28 rush yds, 1 TD | 45.8 |
James Cook — common questions
- What position does James Cook play?
- James Cook is listed as an RB.
- Which teams has James Cook played for?
- In the seasons on file (1999 onward), James Cook has played for BUF (2022–2026).
- Where did James Cook go to college?
- James Cook played college football at Georgia.
- When was James Cook drafted?
- James Cook was selected in round 2, 63rd overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft.
- How many touchdowns has James Cook scored?
- James Cook has 47 touchdowns in the regular-season games on file (38 rushing, 9 receiving).
- What is James Cook's ScoutIndex Rating?
- James Cook rated 89.0 for 2026, the 98th percentile among RBs (provisional or limited sample). Ratings run 0–99; about 60 is a league-average qualified starter.
Related players
Top teammates, last season on file
- Josh AllenQB · 2026
- Dalton KincaidTE · 2026
- Khalil ShakirWR · 2026
- Keon ColemanWR · 2026
- DJ MooreWR · 2026
- Ty JohnsonRB · 2026
- Josh PalmerWR · 2026
- Ray DavisRB · 2026
Drafted in round 2, 2022
- Logan HallDE · pick 33
- Christian WatsonWR · pick 34
- Roger McCrearyCB · pick 35
- Breece HallRB · pick 36
- Jalen PitreSAF · pick 37
- Arnold EbiketieLB · pick 38
- Kyler GordonCB · pick 39
- Boye MafeDE · pick 40
Also from Georgia
- Daylen EveretteCB · 2026–2026
- Christen MillerDT · 2026–2026
- Micah MorrisG · 2026–2026
- CJ AllenLB · 2026–2026
- Monroe FreelingOT · 2026–2026
- Oscar DelpTE · 2026–2026
- Dylan FairchildG · 2025–2026
- Tyrion Ingram-DawkinsDT · 2025–2026