The Buffalo Bills selected Georgia RB James Cook in the 2nd round (63rd overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft, giving the Bills yet another impressive skill position player.
The Bills rested starters in the preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts Aug. 13, but Cook wasn’t terribly impressive in his pro debut. He managed just 5 rushing yards on 3 carries (1.7 yards per carry) and caught 1 pass for 5 yards.
Below, we look at James Cook’s 2022 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.
Cook is looking to rise up the depth chart, vying for the backup job to RB Devin Singletary, the presumed starter. But the rookie will have to leapfrog RB Zack Moss, as well as veteran RB Duke Johnson, so it will be uphill climb for the second rounder.
James Cook’s ADP: 101.49
(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)
Cook’s ADP puts him squarely in the neighborhood of rounds 9-10 in fantasy leagues of 12 or more teams. His ADP has been rising, and he has the 3rd-highest ADP among rookie running backs, behind New York Jets RB Breece Hall (43.62) and Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III (86.08).
In keeper league drafts, Cook has risen significantly, and his ADP is 37.08, putting him in the back end of the 3rd round or early 4th round (depending on how many teams are in your league), just ahead of Green Bay RB AJ Dillon (37.30) and Tampa Bay RB Rachaad White (38.39).
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James Cook’s 2021 stats
Games: 15 (at Georgia)
Carries | rushing yards: 113 | 728
Rushing touchdowns: 7
Receptions | receiving yards: 27 | 284
Receiving touchdowns: 4
Where should you draft Cook?
Cook has tremendous potential, and the Bills certainly think so after nabbing the lead back of the NCAA national champs in the 2nd round. The rookie should be able to help the Bills in 2022, although he has plenty of company in the running backs room, and that’s a bit disconcerting.
Cook is unlikely to jump over the incumbent starter Singletary, but it’s not hard to fathom the former UGA Bulldog leaping over Moss. The former standout at Utah has been unable to stay healthy for long stretches, and Cook has a very similar skill set. In fact, Cook is very good catching the ball out of the backfield, and he could carve himself out a nice role as the 3rd-down back sooner rather than later.
In keeper formats, Cook has a lot of upside, and that’s why he isn’t lasting past the 4th round. However, in redraft leagues, it would be wise to tread lightly. While the trend in recent seasons has been to rely a little more heavily on rookies earlier than the past, it’s still good practice to go with the tried and true over unproven rookies, limiting your roster to one, maybe two, 1st-year players at best.
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