BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues
ROSTERED IN: 22% of Leagues
ANALYSIS: James Cook was a second-rounder in the 2022 NFL Draft, going 63rd overall to the Buffalo Bills following a phenomenal final season for the Georgia Bulldogs that saw him accumulate 1,012 scrimmage yards (728 rushing and 284 receiving), 11 total touchdowns (seven on the ground, four in the air), and a measure of 6.4 yards per carry on the way to a College Football (Invitational) Championship. Cook was fortunate enough to land with one of the top teams in the NFL, who are led by one of the league's best quarterbacks, and are always willing to mix things up in the backfield.
He had some eyebrow-raising outings in the first few weeks of play (11 carries for 53 yards in Week 2, four receptions for 37 yards in Week 3), but his offensive-snap counts were wildly inconsistent up until Week 5 against Pittsburgh. In the four games from that point, he has taken 49 offensive snaps with no fewer than ten in a given week, and has amassed 29 combined over the last two contests with the Packers and Jets. More importantly, he has taken 15 carries for 89 yards and his first career TD; and while he wasn't involved in the passing game through Weeks 5 & 6, he saw three catches on five targets for 59 yards receiving since Week 8. Cook now ranks second among Buffalo backs in rushing yards and carries behind Devin Singletary, and with Zack Moss being traded to a sputtering Colts squad for Nyheim Hines (six off. snaps, one target, zero catches, zero carries in his Bills debut), Cook has established himself as the clear #2 option. With even Singletary's role and effectiveness being frustratingly inconsistent this season, James Cook is a high-upside gamble worth taking for those in deeper formats who are fortunate enough to still have that option off the waiver wire.
More Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Kadarius Toney Start 'Em, Sit 'Em – Super Bowl 58 Fantasy Football Picks
BALLER MOVE: Consider in Large-Field GPPs POSITIONAL VALUE: WR/Flex DFS Dart Throw ANALYSIS: Kadarius Toney is perhaps the biggest wild card of the Super Bowl LVIII matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. The mercurial wide receiver has battled injury issues and controversy off the field, as well as drops and ineffectiveness... Read More
Stefon Diggs Start 'Em, Sit 'Em – NFL Playoffs Fantasy Football Picks
BALLER MOVE: Start in 10+ Team Leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: WR1 ANALYSIS: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs was the WR10 during the regular season, averaging 13 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The superstar wide receiver started the year on fire but tailed off towards the end. He scored fewer than 6.9 fantasy points in... Read More
Jayden Reed Start 'Em, Sit 'Em – NFL Playoffs Fantasy Football Picks
BALLER MOVE: Start in 10+ Team Leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: WR2 ANALYSIS: Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed had low expectations entering the season. Many thought the Packers’ passing attack would suffer without Aaron Rodgers. Instead, the rookie wide receiver was a fantasy star. Reed was the WR23 during the regular season, averaging 11.6 half-point... Read More
Chris Godwin Start 'Em, Sit 'Em – NFL Playoffs Fantasy Football Picks
BALLER MOVE: Start in 10+ Team Leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: WR2 ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin had a slightly disappointing year. The former Penn State star was the WR31, averaging 9.9. half-point PPR fantasy points per game during the regular season. Mike Evans had a massive year as Baker Mayfield’s go-to target, leaving... Read More
Brandin Cooks Start 'Em, Sit 'Em – NFL Playoffs Fantasy Football Picks
BALLER MOVE: Start in 10+ Team Leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: Low-end WR2 ANALYSIS: Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks had a solid regular season. The veteran was the WR36, averaging 9.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. While he struggled early in the year, Cooks picked up his play when it mattered most for the Cowboys.... Read More
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!Win More With RotoBaller
Be sure to also check out all of our other daily fantasy football articles and analysis to help you set those winning lineups, including this new RotoBaller YouTube video:Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!