The New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills will face off for the first time this season on Sunday.
Buffalo has talented players on both sides of the ball, as they are one of the most dominant teams in the AFC. Running back James Cook would be a perfect addition to the Patriots’ backfield, so he is my pick for this week’s Gimme Him player.
Yes, Rhamondre Stevenson is still a top back, even behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. This selection wouldn’t be replacing Stevenson. It would be pairing the two together. Antonio Gibson has done a nice job in the backfield for New England, but Cook would take things to another level.
The Georgia product has 171 carries for 828 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. He is coming off a game against the Detroit Lions last Sunday, which saw him record 14 carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
Success is nothing new to Cook, who tallied 237 carries for 1,122 yards and two touchdowns in his first Pro Bowl season in 2023.
Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt has shown a willingness to run the ball this season. This tracks with the offense he ran in Cleveland. Having Cook as a part of the backfield would do wonders for a run-heavy offense. It would also take some additional pressure off quarterback Drake Maye.
It’s tough to imagine this happening in real life. Nevertheless, Cook would give the Patriots offense an instant boost.
