James Cook III for Jonathan Taylor (2026)

Should I Trade... ?

Summary
Game Log
Stats
Projections
Points
Targets
Notes

Player Summaries Comparison
	Jonathan Taylor RB - IND Jonathan Taylor RB - IND	James Cook III RB - BUF James Cook III RB - BUF
Most Accurate Experts

Top ExpertsTop RB ExpertsTop Player Experts	See who the Most Accurate Experts would trade Upgrade Now

Rankings

Rest of Season	# 3	# 5	-
Draft	‐	‐	-

Matchup

Opponent	vs. BAL	at HOU	-
Matchup Rating	This is a 4 star matchup. RBs perform a little better than their average vs BAL	This is a 3 star matchup. RBs perform close to their average vs HOU	-

Fantasy Points

Season Total	316.3	269.2	-
Avg Game	18.6	15.8	-
Avg Projection	267.3	236.9	-

Schedule

SOS Rank	5	30	-

Misc

Injury Alert	‐	‐	-

Expert Ranks
	Jonathan Taylor	James Cook III	Add Player

Joel Smyth J. Smyth Yahoo! Sports Yahoo! Sports 08/02	#3	#5	-

Bart Wheeler B. Wheeler Hail to Fantasy Football Hail to Fantasy Fo... 08/02	#3	#5	-

Joe Serpico J. Serpico Pressbox Pressbox 08/02	#3	#5	-

Luke Renton L. Renton The Franchise Tag UK The Franchise Tag UK 08/02	#3	#5	-

Justin Weigal J. Weigal FantasySharks FantasySharks 08/02	#3	#6	-

Jonathan Stone J. Stone Stone Cold Fantasy Stone Cold Fantasy 08/02	#2	#6	-

Scott Pianowski S. Pianowski Yahoo! Sports Yahoo! Sports 08/01	#3	#5	-

Andrew Scott A. Scott Fantasy In Frames Fantasy In Frames 08/01	#6	#5	-

Francisco (Chato) Romero F. (Chato) ... Estadio Fantasy Estadio Fantasy 08/01	#3	#5	-

Frank Ammirante F. Ammirante The Game Day The Game Day 08/01	#3	#5	-

Wolf Trelles-Heard W. Trelles-... FantasyPros FantasyPros 08/01	#3	#5	-

Mike Bland M. Bland Points Over Expected Points Over Expected 08/01	#3	#5	-

Hayden Winks H. Winks Yahoo! Sports Yahoo! Sports 08/01	#3	#5	-

Scott Engel S. Engel RotoBaller RotoBaller 08/01	#4	#3	-

Chris Welsh C. Welsh FantasyPros FantasyPros 07/31	#5	#3	-

Kevin Steele K. Steele The Fantasy Authority The Fantasy Authority 07/31	#3	#6	-

Justin Fuhr J. Fuhr Pro Football Mania Pro Football Mania 07/31	#3	#4	-

Matthew Hill M. Hill DataForce Fantasy Football DataForce Fantasy ... 07/31	#3	#6	-

Mauricio Gutierrez M. Gutierrez Estadio Fantasy Estadio Fantasy 07/31	#3	#5	-

Pete Nova P. Nova FF Faceoff FF Faceoff 07/31	#3	#5	-

Kyle Senra K. Senra Going For 2 Going For 2 07/31	#3	#6	-

Kevin Roberts K. Roberts The DFS Build The DFS Build 07/31	#3	#5	-

Seth Miller S. Miller Crossroads Fantasy Football Crossroads Fantasy... 07/31	#9	#5	-

Ryan Weisse R. Weisse Club Fantasy FFL Club Fantasy FFL 07/31	#6	#5	-

Joshua Kimmel J. Kimmel FantasyNow+ FantasyNow+ 07/31	#5	#3	-

Matt Harmon M. Harmon Yahoo! Sports Yahoo! Sports 07/30	#3	#6	-

Shaun Evans S. Evans FantasyNow+ FantasyNow+ 07/30	#7	#5	-

Dylan Licciardo D. Licciardo FF Gamers FF Gamers 07/30	#3	#5	-

Doug Burrell D. Burrell Draft With Doug Draft With Doug 07/30	#4	#5	-

Nate Marcum N. Marcum Fantasy In Frames Fantasy In Frames 07/30	#6	#5	-

Lou Brunson L. Brunson Optimus Fantasy Football Optimus Fantasy Fo... 07/30	#1	#5	-

Nic Bodiford N. Bodiford NerdBall Fantay Football NerdBall Fantay Fo... 07/30	#10	#6	-

Brady Auer B. Auer BA Sports Podcast BA Sports Podcast 07/29	#2	#4	-

Kyle Krajewski K. Krajewski First Seed Sports First Seed Sports 07/29	#3	#5	-

Brad Beatson B. Beatson Bandit Fantasy Football Bandit Fantasy Foo... 07/29	#3	#5	-

Dalton Del Don D. Del Don The Deep Shot The Deep Shot 08/01	#3	#5	-

Justin Bauerle J. Bauerle FantasyNow+ FantasyNow+ 07/28	#5	#3	-

Sky Guasco S. Guasco Razzball Razzball 07/28	#5	#3	-

Gary Davenport G. Davenport Footballguys Footballguys 07/28	#2	#4	-

Michael Hauff M. Hauff FF Faceoff FF Faceoff 07/27	#3	#5	-

Dr. Roto D. Roto FullTime Fantasy FullTime Fantasy 07/27	#6	#2	-

Josh Norris J. Norris Yahoo! Sports Yahoo! Sports 07/26	#6	#5	-

Huseyin Aksu H. Aksu Fantasy Couch Fantasy Couch 07/29	#3	#5	-

Rich Piazza R. Piazza Fantasy Shed Fantasy Shed 07/25	#5	#3	-

Des Bieler D. Bieler The Washington Post The Washington Post 07/25	#3	#5	-

Jeremy Shulman J. Shulman Fantasy Football Universe Fantasy Football U... 07/24	#3	#5	-

Joe Wiggans J. Wiggans IDP Guys IDP Guys 07/24	#6	#7	-

Rudy Gamble R. Gamble Razzball Razzball 07/23	#5	#13	-

Mason M. Fantasy In Frames Fantasy In Frames 07/23	#5	#6	-

Adrian Alpanseque A. Alpanseque Estadio Fantasy Estadio Fantasy 07/22	#4	#5	-

Jamie Calandro J. Calandro RotoBaller RotoBaller 07/21	#4	#6	-

Matthew Korn M. Korn DFS Dashboard DFS Dashboard 07/20	#5	#3	-

Ellis Johnson E. Johnson FantasyPros FantasyPros 07/19	#5	#6	-

James Emrick-Wilson J. Emrick-W... The Armchair Sports Corner The Armchair Sport... 07/19	#4	#5	-

Jacob Piccolo J. Piccolo TrueRGM TrueRGM 07/27	#5	#3	-

Andrew Leduc A. Leduc That Sports Podcast Network That Sports Podcas... 07/18	#6	#3	-

David Heilman D. Heilman Dynasty Trade Calculator Dynasty Trade Calc... 07/17	#4	#5	-

Matt Donnelly M. Donnelly Dynasty Vipers Dynasty Vipers 07/17	#5	#3	-

Dennis Sosic D. Sosic Fantasy Six Pack Fantasy Six Pack 07/17	#4	#5	-

Justin Lampkin J. Lampkin Clock Management Fantasy Football Clock Management F... 07/16	#6	#5	-

Jorge B. Edwards J. B. Edwards Fantasy In Frames Fantasy In Frames 07/26	#3	#5	-

Muntradamus M. Beast Dome Beast Dome 07/15	#3	#5	-

Matt Okada M. Okada 4for4.com 4for4.com 07/15	#3	#5	-

Kelly Kirby K. Kirby FantasyPros FantasyPros 07/14	#4	#5	-

Kev Wheeler K. Wheeler Wheel Route FF Wheel Route FF 07/14	#5	#7	-

Elliot Berkovits E. Berkovits Packer Report Packer Report 07/14	#4	#5	-

Kev Mahserejian K. Mahserejian Razzball Razzball 07/13	#3	#5	-

Jason Willan J. Willan Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts 07/30	#3	#5	-

Pierre Camus P. Camus Fantasy Endgame Fantasy Endgame 07/13	#4	#5	-

David Biggs D. Biggs Drink Five Drink Five 07/12	#4	#3	-

The Tecmo Weave T. Tecmo Weave Lab 52 Lab 52 07/12	#4	#5	-

Adam Dove A. Dove The Fantasy Couriers The Fantasy Couriers 07/12	#4	#9	-

Brian Hartman B. Hartman QB List QB List 07/27	#5	#6	-

Lee Wehry L. Wehry FantasyPros FantasyPros 07/10	#3	#4	-

Daniel Mader D. Mader Fantasy Football Advice Fantasy Football A... 08/01	#4	#3	-

Nick Raducanu N. Raducanu Dr. Roto Dr. Roto 07/07	#3	#5	-

Steven Pintado S. Pintado QB List QB List 07/06	#5	#3	-

Kyle Yates K. Yates Yates Fantasy Football Yates Fantasy Foot... 08/02	#3	#5	-

Mike MacGregor M. MacGregor Draft Buddy Draft Buddy 07/28	#5	#6	-

Edward Gorelik E. Gorelik End of Football End of Football 07/25	#4	#5	-

Derek Brown D. Brown FantasyPros FantasyPros 07/31	#5	#3	-

Brandon Murchison B. Murchison RotoBaller RotoBaller 07/24	#3	#6	-

Ken Zalis K. Zalis Pressbox Pressbox 08/01	#3	#5	-

Benjamin Klotz B. Klotz Touchdown Squad Touchdown Squad 06/30	#6	#3	-

Judy Adabie J. Adabie Fan Girl Football Fan Girl Football 07/07	#8	#3	-

Alfredo Brown A. Brown Footballguys Footballguys 08/01	#3	#5	-

Mick Ciallela M. Ciallela Fantrax Fantrax 06/28	#3	#6	-

Ben Wasley B. Wasley Hashtag Football Hashtag Football 07/21	#1	#5	-

Drew DeLuca D. DeLuca Going For 2 Going For 2 08/01	#3	#4	-

Blake Fincher B. Fincher Fantasy Football Cafe Fantasy Football Cafe 06/26	#3	#5	-

Nick Zylak N. Zylak Fantasy Football Advice Fantasy Football A... 06/25	#3	#4	-

Scott Bogman S. Bogman FantasyPros FantasyPros 07/13	#4	#5	-

Bradley Stalder B. Stalder Player Profiler Player Profiler 06/15	#3	#5	-

Matt De Lima M. De Lima Dr. Roto Dr. Roto 06/12	#3	#5	-

Pat Fitzmaurice P. Fitzmaurice FantasyPros FantasyPros 08/01	#5	#6	-

Andrew Erickson A. Erickson FantasyPros FantasyPros 07/31	#4	#3	-

Stacy Perez S. Perez Fan Girl Football Fan Girl Football 05/29	#6	#7	-

Seth Woolcock S. Woolcock FantasyPros FantasyPros 07/31	#7	#3	-

Ed Birdsall E. Birdsall Talking Points Sports Talking Points Sports 07/29	#3	#5	-

Joe Orrico J. Orrico No Expert Fantasy Football No Expert Fantasy ... 05/21	#4	#6	-

Cameron Sheath C. Sheath Cam Sheath Fantasy Football Blog Cam Sheath Fantasy... 08/01	#3	#5	-

Tom Strachan T. Strachan NFL Best Ball NFL Best Ball 07/25	#4	#5	-

Wyatt Bertolone W. Bertolone Player Profiler Player Profiler 08/01	#3	#5	-

Andy Behrens A. Behrens The Deep Shot The Deep Shot 08/02	#3	#5	-

Jacob Hubman J. Hubman The Fantasy Headliners The Fantasy Headli... 05/11	#3	#5	-

Richard Savill R. Savill Fantasy Six Pack Fantasy Six Pack 07/27	#3	#5	-

Brandon Funston B. Funston The Athletic The Athletic 07/29	#3	#5	-

Site Rankings S. Rankings Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts 07/30	#3	#5	-

Elisha Twerski E. Twerski USA Today USA Today 04/28	#2	#4	-

Brad Evans B. Evans Bally Sports Bally Sports 04/27	#4	#6	-

Fantasy BR F. BR Fantasy BR Fantasy BR 04/27	#3	#5	-

Jacob Gibbs J. Gibbs SportsLine SportsLine 07/28	#3	#5	-

Kyle Soppe K. Soppe Pro Football Network Pro Football Network 05/20	#5	#7	-

Justin Sablich J. Sablich 5th Down Fantasy 5th Down Fantasy 04/20	#2	#4	-

Tera Roberts T. Roberts OddsChecker OddsChecker 07/09	#4	#5	-

Justin Jaksa J. Jaksa Dr. Roto Dr. Roto 03/24	#3	#5	-

Kyle August K. August Fantasy Football Smackdown Fantasy Football S... 03/09	#3	#5	-

Smitty S. TheFantasyFootballShow TheFantasyFootball... 01/07	#7	#9	-

Marc Shannep M. Shannep Fantasy Knockout Fantasy Knockout 07/15	#4	#5	-

Nick Vertucci N. Vertucci Sundays Are For Football Sundays Are For Fo... 01/07	#3	#5	-

Player Game Logs Comparison
	Jonathan Taylor RB - IND Jonathan Taylor RB - IND	James Cook III RB - BUF James Cook III RB - BUF
2026 Schedule
Week 1	vs. BAL	at HOU
Week 2	at KC	vs. DET
Week 3	vs. HOU	vs. LAC
Week 4	at WAS	vs. NE
Week 5	at PIT	at LAR
Week 6	vs. TEN	at LV
Week 7	at MIN	BYE WEEK
Week 8	at JAC	vs. BAL
Week 9	vs. DAL	at MIN
Week 10	vs. MIA	at NYJ
Week 11	at HOU	vs. MIA
Week 12	vs. NYG	vs. KC
Week 13	BYE WEEK	at NE
Week 14	at PHI	at GB
Week 15	at TEN	vs. CHI
Week 16	vs. CIN	at DEN
Week 17	at CLE	at MIA
Week 18	vs. JAC	vs. NYJ

Player Projections Comparison
	Jonathan Taylor RB - IND Jonathan Taylor RB - IND	James Cook III RB - BUF James Cook III RB - BUF
Rushing

Rush Attempts	327.4	287.3
Rush Yards	1,509.4	1,403.5
Rush TDs	12.9	10.3

Receiving

Receptions	45.1	33.3
Rec Yards	338.2	281.4
Rec TDs	1.5	1.9

Points

Fantasy Points	267.3	236.9

Player Fantasy Points Comparison
	Jonathan Taylor RB - IND Jonathan Taylor RB - IND	James Cook III RB - BUF James Cook III RB - BUF
2025 Points
Week 1	9.8	16.2
Week 2	27.5	25.5
Week 3	29.8	17.8
Week 4	9.6	19.5
Week 5	28.6	4.9
Week 6	19.7	8.7
Week 7	31.2	‐
Week 8	35.4	33.6
Week 9	5.7	12.5
Week 10	46.6	5.7
Week 11	‐	17.4
Week 12	6.6	18.9
Week 13	12.1	15.7
Week 14	11.4	9.1
Week 15	10.1	29.1
Week 16	13.9	25.4
Week 17	14.4	7.7
Week 18	3.9	1.5
Total	316.3	269.2
Average	18.6	15.8

Player Targets Comparison
	Jonathan Taylor RB - IND Jonathan Taylor RB - IND	James Cook III RB - BUF James Cook III RB - BUF
2025 Targets
Week 1	3	5
Week 2	2	1
Week 3	4	3
Week 4	5	4
Week 5	4	1
Week 6	4	0
Week 7	3	‐
Week 8	2	0
Week 9	2	1
Week 10	3	5
Week 11	‐	3
Week 12	3	3
Week 13	5	3
Week 14	0	2
Week 15	4	3
Week 16	3	2
Week 17	6	4
Week 18	2	0

Notes for Player Combination
	Jonathan Taylor RB - IND Jonathan Taylor RB - IND	James Cook III RB - BUF James Cook III RB - BUF
Expert
Derek Brown FantasyPros	Jonathan Taylor was the RB4 in fantasy points per game last year, but his season was a tale of two halves. With Daniel Jones (Weeks 1-13), he was the RB2 in fantasy points per game, averaging 21.7 touches and 132.1 total yards. After Jones was out of the lineup (Achilles), Taylor was the RB22 in fantasy points per game with 21.6 touches and 75.4 total yards per game. Last year, among 49 qualifying backs, Taylor was 17th in explosive run rate, 28th in missed tackle rate, and 13th in yards after contact per attempt. Jones is set to return this season, but the big question for Taylor and the Indy offense is how effective he'll be in 2026 coming off the Achilles injury. Taylor should see plenty of volume this season to return top 15-20 production in fantasy, but if you're drafting him with an RB1 price tag, it's fair to wonder if he can be a top three back this season, with his quarterback's play in question. Last year, Taylor was first in snap share, second in opportunity share, fourth in weighted opportunity, and second in red zone touches. I have more questions about his 2026 outlook than most, but he's still a solid pick in 2026, even with the questions about Jones.	Well, so much for all of the regression talk about James Cook last year. Cook crushed all of the haters, improving his stock as the RB6 in fantasy points per game. He led the NFL in rushing yards (1,621) while finishing third in rushing attempts and sixth in rushing touchdowns (tied). Cook had 14 total touchdowns compared to the 18 that he spiked in the previous season. Cook remained extremely efficient as a rusher, ranking 15th in explosive run rate and 11th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). His passing game usage was nearly identical to the previous season, with 40 targets (38 targets in 2024) and 8.8 yards per reception (8.1 in 2024). We can quibble about where Cook sits in the RB1 rankings in 2026, but he remains a rock-solid RB1 in one of the best offenses in the NFL.
Andrew Erickson FantasyPros		James Cook led the NFL in rushing yards in 2025 (1,621). He finished as the RB6 in PPG and RB6 in total points scored. At 26 years old, the Bills RB is in his Uber Prime. He is improving every single season. And he has yet to be fully unlocked as a receiver despite being heavily touted as a pass-catcher coming out of Georgia. If Cook gets unleashed on all three downs under a new HC, he could flirt with an RB1 overall status as the engine to the Bills' offense. The 200-pound back has a 44-catch and 445 receiving yards season on his resume, which only Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Christian McCaffery, and De'Von Achane hit last season with 1,000 rushing yards to boot.
Chris Welsh FantasyPros		#2 in Rush Yards Over expected at 1.14 (NFLSavant)