James Cook III Week 1 Outlook - Bills at Texans

By Ellis Johnson (FantasyPros), Mon, Sep 7th 2026, 7:15pm EDT

Will James Cook be able to follow up his 1,820 yards and 14 touchdown 2025 season? Usually, that is an incredibly high bar to reach. However, the situation has remained perfect for Cook. With Josh Allen at QB, we already know this will be one of the best offenses in the league despite new Head Coach Joe Brady. This offseason, the coaching staff has been very vocal about getting Cook more involved in the receiving game. Since he only had 40 targets and under 300 receiving yards last year, increasing his receiving production could take his fantasy production to new heights. However, he opens the season against the Texans, who have arguably the best defense in the league. You have to play him regardless of matchup, but don't be discouraged if he struggles this week.