The Buffalo Bills need more Ty Johnson in their life.
So much so that the veteran runner distinctly becomes the team’s RB2 behind reigning rushing champ James Cook.
Sure, Josh Allen has called Johnson “the best third-down running back in the league,” and while that descriptor comes directly from a common football label unrelated to depth-chart hierarchy, it does insinuate said player is his respective club’s RB3.
Teams land their RB2 in many ways, but a homegrown draft pick is typically favored over
a journeyman in these battles for complementary roles. As a draft nerd, I get it. But it’s time for Johnson to serve as Buffalo’s clear RB2 ahead of Ray Davis.
Last season, discounting what felt like an exhibition game in Week 18 against the Jets, Davis and Johnson both toted the rock exactly 37 times.
Here’s how they compared statistically:
Johnson was indisputably more effective — especially considering all of Davis’ 10-plus yard carries came in one game, against Pittsburgh.
The term “third-down back” originates from yesteryear, when first and second down were unmistakably rushing downs, and third down was the clear passing down in the NFL.
Of course, that’s no longer the case.
And I assume with Joe Brady operating what should be his — completely unencumbered — offense in 2026, the Bills will migrate from their standing as one of the run-heaviest teams in football to closer to the middle of the pack in passing frequency. In short, second down is a passing down. Heck, for the Bills, first down should be too, even with Cook in the backfield.
Cook has become of the NFL’s best bellcow backs. Josh Allen is, in my estimation, the best player in the NFL, and it’s always more efficient moving the football through the air than on the ground. Johnson’s pass-catching prowess should be prioritized as playing-time justification over Davis too.
When Davis was on the field in 2025, the Bills ran the ball close to 58% of the time. When Johnson was on the field, Buffalo threw it nearly 75% of the time. If the latter becomes their unquestioned RB2, let’s assume the Bills would give Johnson more than three carries per game, right around what he averaged in 2025. In theory, that would tip the play-prediction scales closer to a 50-50 split if Johnson’s out there.
And this push for an increased role for Johnson goes well beyond Johnson himself.
It’s not insinuating Davis should be cut. Or that the Bills should adopt a true running back committee.
Davis was an All-Pro returner last season. If that’s what he can focus on and be utilized for — while slotting into RB3 duties — he becomes tremendous return-on-investment as a former fourth-round pick.
As for Cook, he proved more than capable of handling an old-school sized workload in 2025.
But the Bills have now entered the period of his career — and contract — when optimizing his workload becomes vital. History suggests if they want three more years of prime Cook, they should ever-so-slightly lighten his carry totals… starting in 2026.
And I want Johnson, the more multi-dimensional and explosive running back, as Cook’s primary backup in 2026.
