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Even with the NFL's reigning rushing champion on the roster, Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady recognizes the value of diversifying the backfield. Brady recently stated that the team must find more opportunities for running backs other than James Cook, specifically mentioning third-year backup Ray Davis.
Davis, a 2024 fourth-round pick, has seen his role diminish significantly. Through three games, he has recorded just one carry for three yards and has not been targeted in the passing game. He has played only 20 offensive snaps, which amounts to 10 percent of the team's total offensive plays. This lack of usage has sparked debate among analysts, with some suggesting the Bills should trade Davis for draft capital.
Brady addressed the situation when asked about Ty Johnson's return to the lineup in Week 3. Johnson, the team's third-down back, played 15 snaps in his first game back from a hamstring injury suffered on August 8. "But the running back right now, I got to get Ray playing more," Brady said. "I know that, probably, question [about playing time] eventually needs to come, but it's reality. [Ray] He's too good of a player."
Key Analysis
Davis's production dipped in 2025 after a promising rookie campaign. As a rookie, he accumulated 631 yards from scrimmage and scored touchdowns in six different regular-season games, plus one in the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens. However, in 2025, his workload was nearly halved. Before rushing for 151 yards in the regular-season finale against the New York Jets, Davis had carried the ball only 37 times for 124 yards. His offensive snaps dropped from 264 as a rookie to 168 in 2025.
Brady believes that involving Davis more is crucial for maintaining a fresh and healthy backfield over a long season. "I got Ray, Ty coming back, giving him those ops with Jimbo," Brady said. "Ray's worked his ass off and deserves that. Those will be some things that we got to naturally be able to get some more [of] to be able to last all 20 games [into the postseason]."
On a positive note, Davis has made his mark as an All-Pro kick returner. However, he appears to have fallen behind Greg Dortch on the kick return depth chart. Despite this, Davis may see more touches in the coming weeks, potentially starting in Week 4 when the Bills host the New England Patriots on October 4.