X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

The Best Rookie Running Back Value Pick For 2022 Fantasy Football Is...

james cook fantasy football rookies rankings running backs draft sleepers NFL draft

Many rookie running backs look like great draft targets and values . But who will produce this year, and who is the best value in 2022 drafts?

Since 2012, an average of over three rookie running backs per season have finished inside the top 24 at the position for fantasy football. In the same span, there have never been less than two. We saw a maximum of six in 2020.

In 2022, Breece Hall is the only rookie running back currently being selected in this range as RB19 in half-PPR formats.

History tells us it's almost a guarantee that another rookie will be a viable RB1 or RB2 in fantasy this year. The question is who has the best shot to return this value at a worthwhile draft price? Let's find out.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

2022 Rookie Running Back Breakdown

Let's get this out of the way first. If you managed to draft Dameon Pierce in the eighth round or later in your home leagues, congratulations, you've found the best rookie running back value. Once the Texans cut Marlon Mack though, Pierce's fantasy draft stock went through the roof.

Pierce is still probably a fine value in the sixth or seventh round, but Rex Burkhead still figures to be involved in what projects to be a bad Houston Texans offense. There's just a little too much risk for Pierce to be considered the best rookie running back value at his current cost.

Breece Hall's average draft position in the fourth round is acceptable value as well, but there are multiple wide receivers going in this range that present both higher floor and ceiling outcomes. The Jets will also utilize second-year running back Michael Carter, who will still be the RB1 in New York according to some reports.

Kenneth Walker III is being drafted early in the ninth round, but his Week 1 status is up in the air as he is still recovering from a hernia procedure. Rashaad Penny has been dominant when healthy and projects to be the starter in Seattle. It is unclear exactly what Walker's role will be when he returns to action.

The rookie running back I would like to highlight as the best value is James Cook, second-round NFL Draft pick for the Buffalo Bills.

Cook, like the aforementioned rookies, will share his team's backfield with other players. The Bills, however, outproduced both the Texans and Jets by over 1,200 yards and 150 points in 2021. The Seahawks, who should see a decline this year without Russell Wilson under center, were also far behind the Bills in offensive output last season.

Cook does not profile to be a Derrick Henry or Jonathan Taylor type of back capable of handling 20+ carries per game. He averaged just 7.5 rushing attempts per game in his final year at Georgia, which was the most of his collegiate career. He did average 6.6 yards per carry though, so he can definitely be effective when given the opportunity.

 

James Cook's Outlook For 2022 Fantasy Football

Devin Singletary will most likely see the bulk of carries for the Bills, especially towards the beginning of the season. But where Cook shines is in the passing game, which happens to be Buffalo's bread and butter.

In college last season, Cook turned 32 targets into 27 receptions, 284 yards, and four touchdowns. He did this in an offense that gave four other backs more than 50 total touches. Cook showcased his versatility as a receiver out of the backfield, in the slot, and on the outside.

The Bills threw the fifth-most passes in the league last year and less than 15% of them went to running backs. They finished 25th in total running back targets. This may have been part of the team's gameplan last season, but Buffalo's offseason moves suggest that they want to change their philosophy in 2022.

The Bills quickly agreed on a two-year deal with pass-catching specialist J.D. McKissic in free agency, only for him to change his mind and return to Washington. It was after this that they decided to spend an early draft pick on James Cook. He was selected in the same round as Hall and Walker and 44 picks ahead of Pierce.

With Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders out of town, there are over 180 targets vacated in Buffalo's offense. Jamison Crowder was added and big things are expected out of Gabe Davis and Isaiah McKenzie, but it is still highly possible that Cook carves out a role for himself in one of the most explosive offenses in football.

Zack Moss was a healthy scratch multiple times last season, so the team clearly has not yet been convinced that he is the complementary piece needed to spell Singletary. Cook has an obvious opportunity to be the primary pass-catching back as well as the RB2 that could steal some touches on early downs.

As the fourth rookie running back off the board, James Cook is a screaming value late in the ninth round. He can easily make a fantasy impact right away and his snap count should increase as the season goes on.

Just like the rookie running backs taken ahead of him, Cook will have to compete for touches. His unique skillset and high draft capital, however, assure that he will be involved on a high-scoring Buffalo offense.



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!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Randy Rodríguez

Randy Rodriguez to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic to Miss the Rest of EuroBasket
Denny Hamlin

Picking Up Where He Left Off At Darlington
Kyle Larson

The Sky Is The Limit for Kyle Larson at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

a Strong DFS Play at Darlington This Weekend
Tyler Reddick

Shouldn't Be Overlooked at Darlington This Weekend
Alex Bowman

An Easy Place-Differential Play in DFS This Weekend
Ty Gibbs

Could Be Strong at Darlington This Weekend
Erik Jones

Has Best Darlington Qualifying Effort Since Last Win
Zane Smith

Hopeful For Another Solid Run At Darlington
AJ Allmendinger

Still Seeking First Top-10 Finish at Darlington
Chase Elliott

Likely Won't Factor for the Win at Darlington
Joey Logano

Might Focus More on Playoff Races
Chris Buescher

Missing Playoffs Allows Chris Buescher to Potentially Go All Out at Darlington
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Qualifies Too Well for DFS Consideration
Austin Dillon

Earns Best Qualifying Result at Darlington
Kyle Busch

Downturn in Speed This Year Makes Him a Worse DFS Option
Carson Hocevar

Should Run Better at Darlington Than the Numbers Predict
Ryan Preece

a Low-key Strong DFS Option at Darlington After His Speed in the Spring
Michael McDowell

Don't Expect Much From Michael McDowell
Aroldis Chapman

Agrees to Contract Extension
Juan Soto

Homers Twice in Loss
Nick Kurtz

Avoids Serious Injury
MacKenzie Gore

Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Reaches 25-Homer, 25-Steal Milestone
Chris Sale

Activated on Saturday
Dansby Swanson

Homers Twice, Drives in Six in Win
Nick Kurtz

Leaves Game With Oblique Soreness
Joe Burrow

Bengals Feel Joe Burrow Just had "the Best Training Camp of his Career"
Randy Rodríguez

Tommy John Surgery Recommended for Randy Rodriguez
Corey Seager

Placed on Injured List
Jackson Chourio

to Return From Injured List on Saturday
Jordan Lawlar

Diamondbacks Set to Promote Jordan Lawlar
Dallas Mavericks

Olivier-Maxence Prosper Waived by the Mavs
Lauri Markkanen

Dominant in Win Over Great Britain
Xander Bogaerts

Suffers Foot Fracture, Set to Hit Injured List
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Leads Serbia to a Win
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Shines Versus Portugal
De'Von Achane

Should be Ready for Week 1
Jose Alvarado

"Good" After Recent Fall
Alec Burleson

Lands on Injured List With Wrist Inflammation
Emmanuel Clase

Luis L. Ortiz to Remain On Leave for Rest of Season
Kyle Schwarber

has Historic Performance in Rout of Braves
Boston Red Sox

Payton Tolle Expected to Make Debut on Friday
Green Bay Packers

Packers Acquire Micah Parsons, Sign him to Four-Year Extension
Jauan Jennings

Remains Sidelined at Practice
Corey Seager

Undergoing Appendectomy on Thursday
Chris Godwin

to Miss First Month of Season, Possibly More
Quinshon Judkins

Not Considering Return to College
A.J. Brown

Returns to Practice, Expected to Play in Week 1
Jaylen Wright

Undergoes Surgery, Could be Back "Septemberish"
Tyreek Hill

on Track to Play in Week 1
Kyren Williams

to See Reduced Workload?
Jayden Reed

Dealing with Jones Fracture in Left Foot
Lauri Markkanen

Torches Sweden
Neemias Queta

Dominates in EuroBasket Opener
Kawhi Leonard

Clippers Not Allowing Kawhi Leonard to Play Back-to-Backs
Dallas Mavericks

Mavericks Looking to Trade Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Tyrese Haliburton

Expects to Return in 15 Months
Malik Nabers

Expected to be Full-Go for Week 1
Freddie Freeman

Out Wednesday With Neck Stinger
Alejandro Kirk

Avoids Major Injury, Remains Out on Wednesday
Travis Hunter

Back at Practice, Will be Ready for Week 1
De'Von Achane

Not Practicing on Wednesday
Rashee Rice

Accepting Six-Game Suspension to Begin the Year
Kyle Hamilton

Ravens, Kyle Hamilton Finalizing Four-Year Extension
Rashee Rice

NFL Aiming to Place Six-Game Suspension on Rashee Rice
De'Von Achane

Dolphins GM Says De'Von Achane Will be Ready for Week 1
Joe Mixon

Texans GM: "We'll See" if Joe Mixon Plays in 2025
Adam Thielen

Traded to the Vikings
Terance Mann

Confident About Having a Big Year in Brooklyn
Zaccharie Risacher

Aims to Improve Ball-Handling Skills
NBA

Pistons And Timberwolves Join Race for Malik Beasley
John Tonje

Signs Two-Way Deal With Jazz
Max Strus

to Miss 3-4 Months After Surgery
Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys Still Expect Micah Parsons to Play in Week 1
Nikola Jović

Heat Have High Hopes for Nikola Jovic
Golden State Warriors

Cody Martin Drawing Interest From Warriors
Minnesota Timberwolves

Timberwolves Interested in Reunion With Bones Hyland
Kylor Kelley

Joins Lakers
Colin Castleton

Links Up With Magic
NHL

Jan Rutta Lands in Switzerland
Kirby Dach

Skates on Monday
COL

Tyson Barrie Retires From NHL

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP