RADIO
Ray Davis Could Offer Handcuff Value
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis could be a sneaky addition for dynasty managers ahead of the 2026 season. Davis is entering his third season with the Bills and is currently battling for the primary backup role behind James Cook III. Last season, Davis saw a minimal role in the Bills' rushing attack. He rushed 58 times for 275 yards and didn't find the end zone on the ground. He didn't see a ton of action on the ground, but Davis did rush for nearly five yards per carry. Davis has shown the ability to be a viable option when given the opportunity. There's unlikely to be a ton of chance to do damage on the ground as long as Cook stays healthy. The expectation is that Davis and Ty Johnson are going to split up the reps behind Cook. Davis could be one injury away from being a relevant fantasy contributor, which makes him worth considering stashing as a handcuff in dynasty formats.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Can James Cook III Crack the Top Five in 2026?
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III tied for the league lead with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024, and while those calling for regression ahead of the 2025 season were technically right, Cook was able to pair his 12 touchdown runs with 1,621 yards on the ground and the first rushing crown of his career. Cook has finished as the RB8 and RB6 in the past two seasons, and with Buffalo's offense remaining largely intact for 2026, there is no reason to expect any significant falloff. The largest change comes at the top, where Joe Brady will take over as head coach, though his previous promotion to offensive coordinator coincided with Cook's breakout, and no team has scored more offensive touchdowns across his two full seasons as playcaller. While the offseason trade for veteran receiver DJ Moore could allow for perennial MVP-contender Josh Allen to again throw for more than 4,000 yards, something he has not done in either of Cook's RB1 seasons, a more balanced offense could also lead to more scoring opportunities on the ground. Despite Allen scoring rushing touchdowns at a historic rate in recent years, Cook has still been one of the league's most active backs from within the five-yard line over the past two seasons, and he is RotoBaller's RB5 for 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
James Cook III Set for More Involvement in Bills Passing Game?
New Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael may place a greater emphasis on involving running back James Cook III in the team's passing game, according to Matt Parrino of syracuse.com. Cook III recorded 44 catches for 445 yards and four touchdowns in 2023, but he's finished with fewer than 35 receptions and 300 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons. The 26-year-old saw his largest overall workload in 2025, topping 300 carries for the first time and recording 342 touches overall. Carmichael was a part of many offenses with the New Orleans Saints, which heavily featured running back Alvin Kamara as a pass-catcher, and could bring a similar flavor to Buffalo. If Cook III can up his receiving workload without seeing a significant drop-off in rushing production, he may have overall fantasy RB1 upside in 2026.
Source: syracuse.com - Matt Parrino
Source: syracuse.com - Matt Parrino
Is Ray Davis Still Worthy of a Dynasty Roster Spot?
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis flashed upside as a rookie in 2024, finishing the year with 631 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns on 130 touches. However, Davis' production fell across the board in his second season in 2025, as he logged just 361 scrimmage yards and two scores on 68 touches. Buffalo chose to feature star running back James Cook III more heavily in 2025, and Davis also fell behind Ty Johnson on the Bills' running back depth chart. With former Bills play-caller Joe Brady being promoted to head coach, Cook III's usage seems unlikely to change in 2026. Because Johnson profiles as more of a receiving threat, Davis may be more likely than Johnson to take over the RB1 role if Cook III were to suffer an injury. Still, Davis and Johnson would likely split snaps to some degree in that scenario. Cook III has also been exceptionally durable in his career, missing just two games across his first four NFL seasons. Davis is worth stashing in deeper dynasty formats, but his handcuff upside may not be high enough to make him roster-worthy in shallower leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
James Cook III Working on Ball Security
After missing the media-accessible portions of organized team activities, Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III has been a full-go at this week's mandatory minicamp, and the reigning rushing king told reporters on Wednesday that one of his goals for 2026 is to take better care of the football. Cook fumbled six times in 2025, with three resulting in turnovers, after putting the ball on the ground only once in 2024, resulting in a league-leading 16 rushing touchdowns. If Cook can help to keep more drives alive and resulting in points, the fantasy ceiling rises even higher for a player who has also caught 109 passes over the past three seasons. With Joe Brady moving from offensive coordinator to head coach, there's a natural expectation that he will lean on his three-time Pro Bowl running back during the transition, and with a fourth straight top-12 fantasy finish a very realistic possibility, the 26-year-old Cook is RotoBaller's dynasty RB7.
Source: Alec White & Maddy Glab
Source: Alec White & Maddy Glab
Ty Johnson Taking Part in OTAs
After missing both of the Buffalo Bills' playoff games in January, running back Ty Johnson (ankle) is back to 100% health and has been taking part in the team's OTA practices this offseason, according to Jeffrey Barnes of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph. In his third year in Buffalo in 2025, the 28-year-old played in 17 regular-season games but saw only 50 rushing attempts for 200 yards and a career-high three touchdowns while adding 24 receptions for 263 yards and two more TDs on 33 targets. The former sixth-rounder by the Detroit Lions in 2019 out of Maryland will continue to be a sparsely used change-of-pace back in Buffalo (mostly on passing downs) behind starter James Cook III and alongside Ray Davis. If something were to happen to Cook, Davis, not Johnson, would most likely see the majority of early-down snaps for the Bills. With limited opportunities probably coming again in 2026, Johnson should go undrafted in most redraft leagues. In half-PPR formats, RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 73 RB for 2026.
Source: Bluefield Daily Telegraph - Jeffrey Barnes
Source: Bluefield Daily Telegraph - Jeffrey Barnes
Ray Davis Still a Dynasty Stash Despite a Lack of Standalone Value
Buffalo running back Ray Davis has done very little through his first two seasons in the league, but he remains a frustrating dynasty hold unless the Bills make a move to prove otherwise. Davis recorded only 275 rushing yards in his second season, with more than half of that coming in a career-best Week 18 performance in which the team rested its starters, providing a glimpse of what he could do with a lead role, even if it did come against a gutted Jets team playing for draft position. For most of the season, veteran Ty Johnson served as the primary change-of-pace back behind James Cook III, largely for what he offers as a receiver. While Johnson is still with the team, it would likely be Davis who steps in as the primary ball carrier should Cook miss extended time, making him a must-stash. The three-time Pro Bowler Cook has been extremely durable to this point, missing only two games across his first four seasons, but with Buffalo running the ball at one of the league's highest rates in Joe Brady's offense, the lead back role is capable of providing week-winning volume for whoever is handling it. Davis is an unproven but important insurance back, but his ranking of RotoBaller's dynasty RB66 reflects his lack of standalone value.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
James Cook III Absent From OTA Practices This Week
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III has not been present for the team's OTA practices this week, according to Matt Parrino of Syracuse.com, and third-year RB Frank Gore Jr. has stood out in his absence. Gore looked "explosive and decisive" while running through holes. Although OTAs are voluntary in the offseason, it's notable that Cook is a no-show, especially after already signing a four-year, $46 million contract extension last summer. Cook may already be unhappy with his contract after all of De'Von Achane, Kenneth Walker III, Breece Hall, and Travis Etienne Jr. were given bigger deals this offseason. The three-time Pro Bowler led the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards on a career-high 309 carries last year while scoring 12 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games to finish as the RB5 in half-PPR scoring. He also had 33 catches for 291 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air. Cook has now scored on the ground 28 times in the last two seasons, and he'll continue to be viewed as a top-five fantasy RB with QB Josh Allen leading an explosive offense behind a strong offensive line.
Source: Syracuse.com - Matt Parrino
Source: Syracuse.com - Matt Parrino
James Cook III Remains a High-End Dynasty RB1 Entering 2026
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III earned second-team All-Pro honors for his work in 2025, recording 1,912 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns on 342 touches across 17 games. The 26-year-old has been a highly productive player for Buffalo in all four of his NFL seasons. However, the Bills significantly upped Cook III's usage in 2025, as his 20.1 touches per game were nearly four more than his previous career high of 16.5. Buffalo failed to make any significant additions to their backfield in either free agency or the draft, putting Cook III in a position to dominate touches once again in 2026. Given the strong offensive environment around Cook III in Buffalo, there's little reason to think he won't continue to provide high-end RB1 production for dynasty managers for years to come as he enters his age-27 season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
