With Nyheim Hines going down to a freak injury expected to sideline him for all of the 2023 season, James Cook has been receiving plenty of hype as the new 3-down back for Buffalo. Much of that excitement comes from the role he projects to have in the receiving game, but we’re here to throw some more gas on the media fire around Cook – but this is about his potential in the ground game.
Last season among RBs with 75+ attempts, James Cook ranked 2nd in yards per attempt (5.7), behind just Breece Hall; was 1st in breakaway run percentage (48.6%); and was forcing missed tackles at the same rate per attempt (21%) as Tony Pollard. He’s a more than capable runner that has yet to see the opportunity, and that could come in 2023.
With coaches commenting on James Cook as a 3-down back, it’s likely that we see his carries jump significantly higher in 2023 than his meager 89 total in 2022. And if he can keep up the efficiency he’s demonstrated in the run game to complement a heavy dose of work in the receiving game, Cook could return seriously on investment at his current RB29 price tag on Underdog.