The Buffalo Bills selected former Georgia running back James Cook with the 63rd pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft in April.
Cook, who accounted for 1,012 total yards and 11 touchdowns last season, brings a versatility to the NFL that should allow him to shine with Buffalo’s high-powered offense.
CBS Sports rated the top-five rookie running backs for the upcoming season. Cook checks in, rounding out the ratings at No. 5.
Here’s the breakdown on Cook:
In fantasy football, you want to draft backs who are part of high-quality offenses, even if they aren’t in obvious feature-back roles. That’s precisely the reasoning why Cook’s on this list. The Bills have one of football’s most fun, explosive attacks. That will lead to Buffalo playing with leads in the second half often and for as many mouths as there are to feed, Cook’s 4.42 speed out of the backfield will add a new component for Josh Allen.
And Cook’s part-receiver, part-back, with silky-soft hands and experience running routes in the slot and the perimeter. Cook won’t be a high-volume type, but expect plays to be tailored for him in new OC Ken Dorsey’s game plan. Buffalo’s offensive line is solid too. And it’s not like defenses will feel comfortable loading the box against the Bills. Last year, Devin Singletary saw a loaded box on just under 14% of his runs, the eighth-lowest rate among qualifying backs.
He has a chance to play early for a Buffalo team that has no true No. 1 guy at the running back position and brings a versatility that can be dangerous to an already exciting Bills offense.
“I’m versatile, you know? I can do it all,” Cook said in his first media appearance as a Bill. “I can play in the slot. I can play out wide. I can run between the tackles. So I just feel like I can do it all and I’m versatile.”
Cook emerged as a weapon in UGA’s national championship season as a runner and a pass catcher.
The Florida native and brother of Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook had big performances in the national semifinal and title game for the Dawgs.
