Bills Starting RB: Damien Harris Emerging as Favorite vs. James Cook?

As the top option for the New England Patriots in 2021, new Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris posted career-high numbers in carries (202), rushing yards (929) and rushing touchdowns (15).

The Buffalo Bills have yet to make it clear who their starting running back will be once they take the field at MetLife against the New York Jets in Week 1 this September.

Luckily, second-year back James Cook has an "obvious" answer: himself.

But Pro Football Focus seems to have another.

PFF recently revealed its top-32 running backs headed into the season. And unsurprisingly, it was tough to find any Bills high up on the list. But it was first-year Bill and former New England Patriot Damien Harris, not Cook, that was the only member of Buffalo to crack the list, as PFF ranked him at No. 24.

Here's why:

When healthy, Harris has been a productive and efficient player. He earned 86.1 and 86.8 rushing grades in 2020 and 2021, respectively. He also averaged more than 4.5 yards per carry during that time. He wasn't able to hold off Rhamondre Stevenson on the Patriots' depth chart (Harris’ hamstring injury in Week 5 didn’t help that), but Harris is still a top 32 back.

Sure, Harris' numbers last season left more to be desired based on the production he had shown in 2021. After falling behind the aforementioned Stevenson in New England's backfield, Harris would finish the year with 106 carries for 462 yards and three scores in 11 games.

But as the top option the year prior, he shined. Harris posted career-high numbers in carries (202), rushing yards (929) and rushing touchdowns (15) and had just two fumbles (both lost) for the season. These are starter-worthy numbers in Buffalo if he can remain consistent and healthy.

At the end of the day, the Bills will likely deploy a running back-by-committee approach with Cook, Harris and Latavius Murray. Nyheim Hines will also earn some touches as a receiver with the occasional carry. 

But someone will have to lead the team in rushing at season's end. And with Harris' combination of solid age (26) and experience, he could very likely emerge as the go-to back once the Bills start to get comfortable with the flow of the season.

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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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