Football families usually have a hierarchy. The older brother sets the bar, and the younger one spends his life trying to clear it. For years, that bar was set impossibly high by Dalvin Cook.
But things have changed. Fast.
If you look at the 2025 NFL season stats, the power dynamic in the Cook household has officially flipped. James Cook isn't just "Dalvin’s little brother" anymore. He’s the rushing king. Honestly, it’s one of the most fascinating sibling transitions we’ve seen in pro sports because it happened almost exactly as the elder Cook’s career began to fade into the twilight of practice squads and veteran minimums.
The 2025 Season: When James Cook Took the Crown
Let's talk about what just happened in Buffalo. James Cook didn't just have a "good" year. He blew the doors off the building. Leading the NFL in rushing is a feat Dalvin never actually accomplished, despite his four consecutive Pro Bowls in Minnesota.
James finished the 2025 regular season with 1,621 rushing yards. Think about that.
He averaged 5.2 yards per carry. That’s elite efficiency. While guys like Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey usually dominate the headlines, James Cook quietly became the engine of a Buffalo Bills offense that finally prioritized the ground game. He had nine games with over 100 yards. He even dropped a 216-yard masterpiece on the Carolina Panthers in Week 8.
He's a Pro Bowler again. An All-Pro.
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Meanwhile, Dalvin's 2024 and 2025 campaigns felt... heavy. After his time with the Vikings ended, the juice just wasn't the same. He bounced from the Jets to the Ravens, then to the Cowboys. In Dallas, he spent a significant chunk of time on the practice squad. It’s the brutal reality of the NFL running back aging curve. One day you’re the most dangerous man on the field; the next, you’re a "situational veteran."
Comparing the Peaks: Who Was Actually Better?
This is where the barbershop debates get heated. You’ve got the old-school Dalvin fans who point to his 2020 season. That year, Dalvin put up 1,557 yards and 16 touchdowns in just 14 games. His "yards per game" that season was a staggering 111.2.
James’ 2025 season is eerily similar on paper, but the context is different.
Dalvin was a volume monster. He lived in the zone-blocking scheme and would cut you to ribbons. James is different. He’s a "home-run hitter." In 2025, James had five different games with a play of 40+ yards. He’s faster in the open field than Dalvin was at the same age.
- Dalvin Cook (Peak 2020): 1,557 yards, 16 TDs, 5.0 YPC.
- James Cook (Peak 2025): 1,621 yards, 12 TDs, 5.2 YPC.
James actually tied the Bills franchise record for rushing touchdowns in 2024 with 16, matching O.J. Simpson's 1975 mark. He’s proving that he can handle the goal-line work, which was the biggest knock on him coming out of Georgia. People thought he was too small. They said he was a "third-down back."
They were wrong.
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The Miami Roots and a Shared Burden
Both brothers grew up in the Miami-Dade area, but their paths weren't identical. Dalvin went to Florida State. James went to Georgia. There was a moment in high school where James was committed to FSU to follow Dalvin, but he flipped. He wanted his own identity.
That desire for a separate legacy defines their relationship.
Off the field, they are incredibly close. When their father, James Cook Sr., passed away in 2020, Dalvin stepped up as the patriarch. He's coached James through the business side of the league. You've probably seen Dalvin on social media hype-man mode every time James breaks a long run. There’s no jealousy there. Just a lot of pride.
But you can still see the competitive fire. When James was holding out for his extension—eventually signing a deal worth roughly $11.5 million a year—the ghosts of Dalvin’s massive Vikings contract loomed large. The Bills were hesitant because they saw how fast Dalvin’s body broke down after age 28.
Why the "Cook Style" Works Differently Now
The NFL has changed since Dalvin was a rookie in 2017. Back then, you wanted a guy who could carry it 25 times and take a beating. Today, you want a James Cook.
James is a better receiver than Dalvin ever was. In 2025, he hauled in 32 catches for nearly 300 yards. He’s a mismatch against linebackers in space. The Bills use him as a chess piece, not just a battering ram. This versatility is likely why James will have a longer "prime" than his brother. He doesn't have to run into a wall of 300-pounders every play to be effective.
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Is Dalvin done? Kinda. He’s a free agent heading into 2026. At 30 years old, the market for running backs is a desert.
But his impact lives on through James. Every time James makes a subtle cut at the line of scrimmage, you see Dalvin's coaching. Every time he stiff-arms a safety, you see the Miami toughness they both share.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re a fan or a fantasy manager looking at the 2026 landscape, the takeaway is clear.
Watch the contract situation in Buffalo. James Cook has outperformed his current deal significantly. While he’s locked in for now, the Bills' front office knows they have a superstar who is the focal point of the offense alongside Josh Allen.
Keep an eye on Dalvin’s 2026 landing spot. If he signs with a contender as a backup, he could still provide value in short-yardage or as a mentor. But don't expect the 1,000-yard seasons to return.
Study the Bills' offensive line changes. Part of why James exploded in 2025 was the play of Dion Dawkins and the emergence of Ray Davis as a physical complement. If that O-line stays healthy, James Cook could legitimately challenge for back-to-back rushing titles, a feat even the legendary Thurman Thomas didn't achieve in Buffalo.