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RB James Cook, BUF (4 Viewers)

Feel like Cook is gonna be one of those guys that slips in the draft. His issue last year wasn't talent, it was usage. Ideally the Bills reevaluate how they use him this year. Davis will certainly be a factor but I think Cook could be a steal as an RB2 or Flex.
 
Read that PFF ranked Cook as the fourth worst pass blocking RB last year and was tied for second in league for most fumbles by a RB last year with 4. Together with his drops and his 55% usage Cook is more risky than he appears on the surface if you are looking only at his yards, Coaches want reliable backs and Cook will need to improve to keep his job as the main back.
 
Moonlight said:
Read that PFF ranked Cook as the fourth worst pass blocking RB last year and was tied for second in league for most fumbles by a RB last year with 4. Together with his drops and his 55% usage Cook is more risky than he appears on the surface if you are looking only at his yards, Coaches want reliable backs and Cook will need to improve to keep his job as the main back.
Click to expand...
yeah, if you are getting your QB killed by missing blocks you wont stay on the field that long. that part (at the very least) needs to improve
 
RenegadeRoy said:
Feel like Cook is gonna be one of those guys that slips in the draft. His issue last year wasn't talent, it was usage. Ideally the Bills reevaluate how they use him this year. Davis will certainly be a factor but I think Cook could be a steal as an RB2 or Flex.
Click to expand...
FBG has him as RB10, FantasyPros has him as RB14.

I worry that they still don't use him at the goal line. Allen already commands so much of those touches. And now they bring in 220 Lb Ray Davis. He got 237 rushes last year. I don't think that goes up. I honestly think they probably want to run him a little less.

Maybe he sees a slight uptick in the passing game, but I don't think a Josh Allen RB is ever going to be catching 60+ balls.

All that said, he finished as RB11. He can certainly still finish as a RB1. I just think if you're getting him as RB10 or RB14--he's not going to outperform that by a ton. I've seen him go rounds 3/4 in mock drafts. I think I'd rather target other positions at that point.
 
Cook is a 24 year old pro bowl rb who is coming off a 1500 total yard season on a high powered offense that lost Diggs and Davis. They dont have a clear wr1. When Brady took over his touches per game went up to 21. His ADP on fantasypros sits at rb16. All day at that. Can't imagine him lasting that long though.
 
Moonlight said:
Read that PFF ranked Cook as the fourth worst pass blocking RB last year and was tied for second in league for most fumbles by a RB last year with 4. Together with his drops and his 55% usage Cook is more risky than he appears on the surface if you are looking only at his yards, Coaches want reliable backs and Cook will need to improve to keep his job as the main back.
Click to expand...

Some context to assuage those concerns....

2023 RB Highest Route Participation % / Pass Block %
  1. Achane 95.4% / 0.5% (stayed in to block once)
  2. McLaughlin 90.7 / 5.6 (PB 6x; not enough to qualify for following stat)
  3. Juszczyk 88.6 / 8.3
  4. McCaffrey 88.6 / 9.2
  5. Mostert 85.7 / 10.6
  6. Gibbs 85.7 / 10.1
  7. A Jones 85.6 / 10.6
  8. Cook 85.3 / 10.2
  9. B Robinson 84.5 / 11.4
  10. J Taylor 84.0 / 11.3
2023 RB Lowest Pass Block % (min. 24) / Pass Block Grade
  1. Juszczyk 8.3 / 74.8
  2. McCaffrey 9.2 / 24.8
  3. Gibbs 10.1 / 26.8
  4. Cook 10.2 / 23.5
  5. Mostert 10.6 / 66.0
  6. A Jones 10.6 / 63.2
  7. J Taylor 11.3 / 57.1
  8. B Robinson 11.4 / 56.8
  9. D Swift 12.8 / 48.9
  10. A Ekeler 13.4 / 29.3
  11. Hall 13.7 / 53.9
  12. White 14.1 / 53.5
Does it matter if the pass catcher can't block? What is the impact?

Pass Pro Opportunities / Pressures Allowed / Types of Pressure
  1. Juszczyk 23 opp / 1 pr / 1 sk 0 hit 0 hur
  2. McCaffrey 52 / 7 / 0 sk 0 hit 7 hur
  3. Gibbs 44 / 10 / 0 sk 1 hit 9 hur
  4. Cook 37 / 10 / 0 sk 1 hit 9 hur
  5. Mostert 30 / 3 / 0 sk 1 hit 2 hur
  6. A Jones 24 / 2 / 0 sk 1 hit 1 hur
  7. J Taylor 20 / 4 / 0 sk 0 hit 4 hur
  8. B Robinson 56 / 3 / 0 sk 0 hit 3 hur
  9. D Swift 45 / 5 / 1 sk 0 hit 4 hur
  10. A Ekeler 50 / 8 / 1 sk 1 hit 6 hur
  11. Hall 49 / 2 / 0 sk 0 hit 2 hur
  12. White 83 / 7 / 0 sk 1 hit 6 hur
sk - sack
hit - QB hit
hur - hurries

Now those are the stats, here is my conjecture. Please feel free to chime in with your own thoughts & conclusions.

I think as offenses have evolved, OCs have recognized a couple things. In designing protection assignments, you can leave a back in, have a TE stay in, or let the free runner go. Just put more players in the pattern. You don't have to worry as much about the safety of the QB because of the way they call the game these days - you breath on a QB after the ball comes out, there's going to be a flag.

That puts a lot of stress on defenses - they might get pressure, but the play design won't allow enough time for the sack, and because they've dropped one less, that's one less tackler.

Now that kind of thinking is probably scheme specific. In Miami they could give a rat's *** if their RBs can block or not. Detroit has similar concepts. With other teams, max protect might be integral to what they are doing (because of longer developing plays, double moves, deep shots.)

LMK what you think about that theory.
 
BobbyLayne said:
Moonlight said:
Read that PFF ranked Cook as the fourth worst pass blocking RB last year and was tied for second in league for most fumbles by a RB last year with 4. Together with his drops and his 55% usage Cook is more risky than he appears on the surface if you are looking only at his yards, Coaches want reliable backs and Cook will need to improve to keep his job as the main back.
Click to expand...

Some context to assuage those concerns....

2023 RB Highest Route Participation % / Pass Block %
  1. Achane 95.4% / 0.5% (stayed in to block once)
  2. McLaughlin 90.7 / 5.6 (PB 6x; not enough to qualify for following stat)
  3. Juszczyk 88.6 / 8.3
  4. McCaffrey 88.6 / 9.2
  5. Mostert 85.7 / 10.6
  6. Gibbs 85.7 / 10.1
  7. A Jones 85.6 / 10.6
  8. Cook 85.3 / 10.2
  9. B Robinson 84.5 / 11.4
  10. J Taylor 84.0 / 11.3
2023 RB Lowest Pass Block % (min. 24) / Pass Block Grade
  1. Juszczyk 8.3 / 74.8
  2. McCaffrey 9.2 / 24.8
  3. Gibbs 10.1 / 26.8
  4. Cook 10.2 / 23.5
  5. Mostert 10.6 / 66.0
  6. A Jones 10.6 / 63.2
  7. J Taylor 11.3 / 57.1
  8. B Robinson 11.4 / 56.8
  9. D Swift 12.8 / 48.9
  10. A Ekeler 13.4 / 29.3
  11. Hall 13.7 / 53.9
  12. White 14.1 / 53.5
Does it matter if the pass catcher can't block? What is the impact?

Pass Pro Opportunities / Pressures Allowed / Types of Pressure
  1. Juszczyk 23 opp / 1 pr / 1 sk 0 hit 0 hur
  2. McCaffrey 52 / 7 / 0 sk 0 hit 7 hur
  3. Gibbs 44 / 10 / 0 sk 1 hit 9 hur
  4. Cook 37 / 10 / 0 sk 1 hit 9 hur
  5. Mostert 30 / 3 / 0 sk 1 hit 2 hur
  6. A Jones 24 / 2 / 0 sk 1 hit 1 hur
  7. J Taylor 20 / 4 / 0 sk 0 hit 4 hur
  8. B Robinson 56 / 3 / 0 sk 0 hit 3 hur
  9. D Swift 45 / 5 / 1 sk 0 hit 4 hur
  10. A Ekeler 50 / 8 / 1 sk 1 hit 6 hur
  11. Hall 49 / 2 / 0 sk 0 hit 2 hur
  12. White 83 / 7 / 0 sk 1 hit 6 hur
sk - sack
hit - QB hit
hur - hurries

Now those are the stats, here is my conjecture. Please feel free to chime in with your own thoughts & conclusions.

I think as offenses have evolved, OCs have recognized a couple things. In designing protection assignments, you can leave a back in, have a TE stay in, or let the free runner go. Just put more players in the pattern. You don't have to worry as much about the safety of the QB because of the way they call the game these days - you breath on a QB after the ball comes out, there's going to be a flag.

That puts a lot of stress on defenses - they might get pressure, but the play design won't allow enough time for the sack, and because they've dropped one less, that's one less tackler.

Now that kind of thinking is probably scheme specific. In Miami they could give a rat's *** if their RBs can block or not. Detroit has similar concepts. With other teams, max protect might be integral to what they are doing (because of longer developing plays, double moves, deep shots.)

LMK what you think about that theory.
Click to expand...
That’s some very good contextual information. Some of the best pass catching backs aren’t very good at pass blocking because they don’t do it very much. Too busy running pass routes.

A poor pass blocking grade for them has less of an impact overall than you would gather if you look just at their pass blocking grade.

Ideally you would like better pass blocking when asked because hurries and sacks do matter but you can live with it if the good more than outweighs the bad.
 
MrSoup said:
FarFromHome said:
Doesn't he feel like Lesean McCoy kinda? Same physical attributes down to 40 time. Same style.
Click to expand...
Easy Top 5 RB in the NFL if goal line opportunities increase. Which I believe they will. Josh Allen can’t keep pounding those goal line runs forever.
Click to expand...
Even if goal line chances do not improve, he may be more involved in the passing game which will help. That is what excited me most about when he came out. I think there is room to grow there. I think 60 catches is realistic for him this year.
 
I don't hate Cook. Contrary, actually. But Ray Davis looks like lightning in a (Red Stripe) bottle. Should be enough Buffalo meat for both to eat.
 
Who is Cook competing with for touches in the backfield?

In ESPN, he's at #26 early round 3 in a 12 teamer. In PPR, this seems like value. The offense is going to move the ball and they may need him more than ever after losing Davis and Diggs. And he's young.

Seems like a no brainer. So it probably isn't.

Keep running into Cook vs. Achane in mocks either late 2nd or early third.
 
King of the Jungle said:
Fantastic post @BobbyLayne . I think Cook is one of the better RB values out there right now.
Click to expand...
thats a great post.

3rd down backs are widely considered to be either pass blockers or pass catchers.

you dont play on third down if you are not one of the two. he is a pass catcher. thats acceptable. and if he creates mismatches in the secondary with the pass catching ability he does not necessarily need to sit back and block. that's something the TE can do. (or a fullback)

there are many ways to sort out the blocking. it doesnt NEED to be the RB. its just convenient if it is because hes already in the backfield and can go where he is needed. but a creative OC can make it work with a TE instead or can use 2 RB's in the backfield. one who blocks and one who goes for a pass.

obviously the need for the RB to block also can depend on how good the actual line is. some lines only need the help if there is a blitz. Some need the help on every play. so the RB has to be suitable to the offense and the scheme.
 
MrSoup said:
Easy Top 5 RB in the NFL if goal line opportunities increase. Which I believe they will.
Click to expand...
kyoun1e said:
Who is Cook competing with for touches in the backfield?
Click to expand...
I am bullish on Cook because of his skillset and because the Bills look like they want to run a ton, but I think Ray Davis will be the beneficiary of Allen reverting to his mean in rushing tds. Cook will be the starter but Davis looks like a guy who will will play a lot imo.
 
jtd13 said:
MrSoup said:
Easy Top 5 RB in the NFL if goal line opportunities increase. Which I believe they will.
Click to expand...
kyoun1e said:
Who is Cook competing with for touches in the backfield?
Click to expand...
I am bullish on Cook because of his skillset and because the Bills look like they want to run a ton, but I think Ray Davis will be the beneficiary of Allen reverting to his mean in rushing tds. Cook will be the starter but Davis looks like a guy who will will play a lot imo.
Click to expand...
How can you say “Davis looks like a guy who will play a lot” when they haven’t even had a preseason game yet?

This is 2023 Tank Bigsby hype all over again.
 
MrSoup said:
jtd13 said:
MrSoup said:
Easy Top 5 RB in the NFL if goal line opportunities increase. Which I believe they will.
Click to expand...
kyoun1e said:
Who is Cook competing with for touches in the backfield?
Click to expand...
I am bullish on Cook because of his skillset and because the Bills look like they want to run a ton, but I think Ray Davis will be the beneficiary of Allen reverting to his mean in rushing tds. Cook will be the starter but Davis looks like a guy who will will play a lot imo.
Click to expand...
How can you say “Davis looks like a guy who will play a lot” when they haven’t even had a preseason game yet?

This is 2023 Tank Bigsby hype all over again.
Click to expand...
McD makes rookies earn their playing time, I do not see Davis becoming a big factor this year without an injury occurring. Cook has added weight and appears to be ready for no less of a workload he received last year with potential for more in the passing game as the offense gets use to a variety of new faces at receiver.
 
MrSoup said:
jtd13 said:
MrSoup said:
Easy Top 5 RB in the NFL if goal line opportunities increase. Which I believe they will.
Click to expand...
kyoun1e said:
Who is Cook competing with for touches in the backfield?
Click to expand...
I am bullish on Cook because of his skillset and because the Bills look like they want to run a ton, but I think Ray Davis will be the beneficiary of Allen reverting to his mean in rushing tds. Cook will be the starter but Davis looks like a guy who will will play a lot imo.
Click to expand...
How can you say “Davis looks like a guy who will play a lot” when they haven’t even had a preseason game yet?

This is 2023 Tank Bigsby hype all over again.
Click to expand...

How can you say Cook will get goal line opportunities when he has never been given goal line opportunities in college or the pros?

I don't know that we should use preseason to predict who's going to play either. But Davis is a mature (old) rookie who complements Cook well, and his profile looks like a guy who will be the goalline back here.
 
King of the Jungle said:
MrSoup said:
jtd13 said:
MrSoup said:
Easy Top 5 RB in the NFL if goal line opportunities increase. Which I believe they will.
Click to expand...
kyoun1e said:
Who is Cook competing with for touches in the backfield?
Click to expand...
I am bullish on Cook because of his skillset and because the Bills look like they want to run a ton, but I think Ray Davis will be the beneficiary of Allen reverting to his mean in rushing tds. Cook will be the starter but Davis looks like a guy who will will play a lot imo.
Click to expand...
How can you say “Davis looks like a guy who will play a lot” when they haven’t even had a preseason game yet?

This is 2023 Tank Bigsby hype all over again.
Click to expand...
McD makes rookies earn their playing time, I do not see Davis becoming a big factor this year without an injury occurring. Cook has added weight and appears to be ready for no less of a workload he received last year with potential for more in the passing game as the offense gets use to a variety of new faces at receiver.
Click to expand...
No disagreement that Cook looks ready for a similar workload to last year. I am bullish on him because the offense went through the RBs a lot last year after Brady took over as OC, including through the passing game. But even when he got more work down the stretch last year he wasn't the GL back very often. He's not been asked to play that role any time at Georgia and on the Bills. It's more likely Davis is that guy this year than Cook, even if Cook is the 1A (which he definitely is).

If he is a turnover machine for the first 2 weeks of the season like Bigsby was, then maybe they change their plan, but I think this is likely their plan for 2024.
 
Agree with the above (King of Jungle)

Important to remember that Ray Davis was a Day 3 pick of what was considered to by the entirety of the scouting community to be a below-average 2024 RB Draft Class. HC tendency tea leaves read to me like he'll have a mountain to climb to become a trusted, relevant part of the offense. The Bills potentially adding a veteran banger during preseason cuts concerns me a lot more than Ray Davis' impact on James Cook's 2024 touches, IMHO.

Part of Cook's offseason maturation process was adding needed mass to his body to better absorb the punishment of being a featured back, including goal-line work, and I agree that it's in Brady/Allen's best interest to rely on familiar faces (Cook, Kincaid, Shakir) as they transition from losing 4 of 5 WR that caught Allen passes in 2023 (Diggs/Davis/Harty/Sherfield).

In the passing game, I think seeing him in line for averaging 3rec/game is completely reasonable, which would = +/-51 receptions.
 
Zack Moss played 45% of snaps week 1 as a rookie under McDermott. What is driving the "McDermott will make the rookie earn it all of year 1" narrative?
 
jtd13 said:
Zack Moss played 45% of snaps week 1 as a rookie under McDermott. What is driving the "McDermott will make the rookie earn it all of year 1" narrative?
Click to expand...
He didn’t seem to put too much on James Cook, Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir, and Kincaid early in their rookie years. Maybe just a coincidence? Obviously different circumstances for each as well, but seems like he makes offensive rookies earn the trust before involving them too heavily in the game plan.
 
For the first 9 games last year, Cook averaged 14.4 touches and was RB20
For the last 8 games last year, Cook averaged 18.9 touches and was RB9

For his size, I'd say he held up very well. He doesn't need to be the GL back to be a RB1.
 
King of the Jungle said:
jtd13 said:
Zack Moss played 45% of snaps week 1 as a rookie under McDermott. What is driving the "McDermott will make the rookie earn it all of year 1" narrative?
Click to expand...
He didn’t seem to put too much on James Cook, Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir, and Kincaid early in their rookie years. Maybe just a coincidence? Obviously different circumstances for each as well, but seems like he makes offensive rookies earn the trust before involving them too heavily in the game plan.
Click to expand...
Got it. I honestly haven't followed it enough to know, I was a bit surprised to see it being kinda taken as a given.
 
Cook had the 4th most running yards last year and only 2 rushing TDs. I don't see how those low TDs continue even if he isn't the goal line guy (which I also think his GL usage will increase as they want to preserve Allen a bit).

Also, the Bills offense seemed to function much better when they gave Cook more opportunities. I think it's going to be a good year for Cook. I'd rather have him than try to figure out that WR landscape.
 
Just hard to imagine a scenario where Cook isn't a top 10 fantasy RB. Injuries or turnovers are the only two things I see that would stop his rise. If he doesn't hold on to the ball Davis will begin to eat into that workload. I have no idea how quick Davis is at fully understanding the complexities of an NFL offense. Dudes an old man for a rookie, just don't know if that helps or hurts him this year. Imo
 
A particular note about Zack Moss, in relation to Ray Davis: Moss was a Day 2 pick of a much better Draft Class, and entered the NFL as a somewhat of a unique 'known commodity' to NFL Coaches and Personnel Execs, being the younger cousin of both Santana Moss and Patrick Peterson, many who got to know him informally, hanging around his cousins' NFL Teams during his prep school and college years. He was on NFL Coach/GM radar long before most typical young football players.
 
nittanylion said:
A particular note about Zack Moss, in relation to Ray Davis: Moss was a Day 2 pick of a much better Draft Class, and entered the NFL as a somewhat of a unique 'known commodity' to NFL Coaches and Personnel Execs, being the younger cousin of both Santana Moss and Patrick Peterson, many who got to know him informally, hanging around his cousins' NFL Teams during his prep school and college years. He was on NFL Coach/GM radar long before most typical young football players.
Click to expand...
Ah so that's why moss got overdrafted by a round, family name. Makes sense now.

But in all seriousness, it was a 3rd vs a 4th round pick. Saying day 2 and day 3 repeatedly when it's end of day 2 vs beginning of day 3 seems a bit misleading.
 
Last edited:
RenegadeRoy said:
Also, the Bills offense seemed to function much better when they gave Cook more opportunities. I think it's going to be a good year for Cook. I'd rather have him than try to figure out that WR landscape.
Click to expand...

This is where my head is at.

His ADP of about 25, early 3rd in a 12 team, seems too juicy to pass up.

Meanwhile, all the WRs to me are priced at their ceiling in round 2: Pittman, Olave, London, Harrison, Adams, Hate them all at this price.

Have the #3 pick in one league and probably going CD or Hill in round 1, skip WR in round 2 and grab Cook as my RB1.
 
I traded him and a pick for Taylor in a TD heavy league. Fantasy is game. And sometimes it’s messed up. Cook is on pace for 25 plus tds!
 
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