James Cook III absolutely put in work Monday night, toting the rock 31 times for a monster 107 yards and a touchdown in the Buffalo Bills’ Week 9 win over the Minnesota Vikings. He was the workhorse, no doubt about it, grinding out tough yards to seal a crucial victory.
Grind Over Explosion: The Numbers Don’t Lie
Look, the 107 yards and a score are impressive, especially with that kind of volume. Cook’s fourth-quarter touchdown essentially put the game out of reach, which is exactly what you want from your primary back in a tight game. But here’s the kicker: Cook averaged just 3.5 yards per carry on those 31 touches. Compare that to Jahymr Gibbs, who went for 153 yards against this *same* Vikings defense in Week 8, averaging a blistering 6.7 yards per pop. Cook’s performance was more about sheer will and wearing down the Minnesota D than explosive plays, and eventually, it worked. They just kept handing him the ball until the Vikings had nothing left.
What’s Next for Cook’s Workload?
That kind of pounding, 31 carries in one game, can take a toll. And the Bills know it. There’s already talk that they might dial back Cook’s usage a bit in Week 10 when they face the Jets. After taking that kind of hit count, it’s not hard to see why. But even with the potential for reduced touches, he’s still locked in as a solid RB1 for your fantasy lineup. The guy gets volume, and he delivers.
The Bills are now looking ahead to Week 10 against the Jets. The big question will be how much Cook sees the field after such a heavy workload, and if his body can recover quickly.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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