Jordan Mason stands out as the clearest 2025 league-winner candidate among backups, should Aaron Jones miss time in Minnesota. Mason’s SF stint hinted at explosive efficiency: 120 scrimmage yards per game, ~5.1 yards per carry, and three touchdowns across five games, with heavy volume when the matchup opened. In Seattle, Zach Charbonnet would be the top-handcuff play behind Kenneth Walker III, thanks to superior yards created per touch and a proven track record when given a bigger role. Tyler Allgeier sits behind Bijan Robinson in Atlanta, but his five-year ceiling is enormous if Robinson is sidelined, given his pass-game chops and past 1,000-yard season. In Buffalo, Ray Davis remains a prime late-round stash behind James Cook, who signed a fat extension; Davis logged meaningful snaps and goal-line work in 2024 and could thrive as the lead back if Cook falters. Trey Benson in Arizona represents a high-upside change-of-pace and a potential majority back if James Conner’s durability wanes, thanks to Benson’s speed and breakaway ability. Drafts at pick around 100 could unlock several of these paths to fantasy glory.

James Cook signed a four-year, $48 million extension with $30 million guaranteed, locking him in as the Bills’ RB1 through 2028 and ending a hold-in that followed the 2024 postseason. The emotional signing underscored Buffalo’s commitment to a new, youthful core the front office is building around Cook.

Cook has cleared 1,000 rushing yards in each of the last two seasons and tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing TDs last year, posting 18 total TDs and earning his second straight Pro Bowl. The deal pairs him with Josh Allen in a high-powered, balanced offense, and Beane emphasized that Cook’s role will grow while staying complementary to the attack’s other weapons in Joe Brady’s system.

Buffalo’s plan centers on drafting, developing, and re-signing, and the extension signals a continued commitment to a diversified, weapon-rich offense. Cook played about half the snaps last season, and the team expects a workload increase without sacrificing efficiency or keeping him fresh for late-season windows as Buffalo aims to sustain an elite pace.

For fantasy players, the extension provides a clearer floor for Cook’s touches and an upside trajectory as the backfield inches toward more opportunities. The Bills’ commitment to their passing game and blocking should keep Cook productive, while the team’s depth behind him could create occasional committee dynamics depending on game flow and health.

Preseason wind-down tightens the fantasy draft clock as position battles sharpen and breakout candidates emerge. Michael Penix Jr. looks primed for big play potential with Atlanta, yet his game-to-game consistency on short and intermediate throws will shape weekly upside. In Buffalo, Ray Davis could nudge into the backfield mix, but the Cook-Davis-Johnson trio probably holds steady snaps. Jacksonville features a crowded backfield with Etienne and Bigsby cycling touches, while the passing game around Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy in KC is a high-variance but high-ceiling scenario once Rice clears a potential suspension. Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa loom as safe, upside-rich options in Miami, and J.K. Dobbins’ health remains a critical early-season variable for Baltimore.

Green Bay’s WR1 debate centers on Matthew Golden and Jayden Reed, offering Week 1 dart throws with a path to consistent targets. CJ Stroud’s Texans carry a muted air-yard expectation, but Joe Mixon’s volume questions and the upside of rookies around the backfield keep the backfield lens crowded. The Jaguars’ Etienne-Bigsby duo and Omarion Hampton in Los Angeles add nuance to late-round strategies, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba anchors Seattle’s pass game as a breakout candidate. The mix of proven backs, emerging WRs, and rookie intrigue sets up a fantasy season that rewards disciplined depth-chart reading and timely waiver adds.

Overall, managers should prioritize stable workload pieces with high-weekly ceiling and be ready to pivot around suspensions, injuries, and coaching plans that tilt touches toward hot hands or specific roles. The teams highlighted here offer a blend of proven volume and breakout potential, making early-round decisions about who to trust and who to fade crucial for fantasy success this season.

Ray Davis enters 2025 as the Bills’ No. 2 back behind James Cook, but his path to meaningful fantasy production is narrow. The No. 128 pick in 2024 held the backup role even as Cook dominated goal-line carries and Ty Johnson claimed third-down work. With Cook’s contract dispute and Johnson’s two-year deal in play this offseason, avenues for Davis to command more work outside of situational two-down duties look limited. Davis offers contingency value, but not a clear standalone fantasy ceiling.

Fantasy managers should view Davis as a late-round stab or dynasty stash rather than a weekly starter. He could see touches if Cook falters or is limited, especially in early-season matchup scripts that favor grind-it-out drives. In deeper rosters or best-ball formats, Davis provides insurance depth and possible emergency upside, but in standard redraft, his upside remains capped behind Cook’s floor and Bills’ collective offensive approach.

James Cook suited up for Buffalo’s preseason opener and warmed with the first team, a subtle signal that health and readiness may outweigh the ongoing extension talks. Cook led the NFL in rushing TDs in 2024 and remains the focal point of Buffalo’s backfield, even as a hold-in unfolds. Ray Davis backed him in the Giants game, even serving as an emergency kicker, underscoring the Bills’ depth behind Cook. Cook’s agent has publicly stated Cook wants to stay in Buffalo and pursue a fair, top-of-market deal, a development that could shape workload early in 2025.

From a fantasy lens, Cook’s status is a two-edged sword: a clean resolution would keep his ceiling sky-high, while a drawn-out negotiation could shift reps toward Davis and other backs at times. Allen’s warmups and participation keep the offense humming, and Buffalo’s trajectory toward another deep playoff run hinges on a healthy, productive backfield capable of absorbing workload if/when the deal lands.