Today, we continue our 2022 Prospect Profile series where we break down each prospect’s outlook for their potential rookie campaign in the NFL by assessing their individual strengths and weaknesses, reviewing potential landing spots, and giving our assessment of their potential fantasy relevance in the coming season.
The next player to continue our 2022 Prospect Profile series is James Cook, Running Back, University of Georgia
Projected Draft Spot
Late 2nd or 3rd Round
Potential Suitors
Browns, Bills, Falcons, Broncos, Patriots, Bills, Dolphins, Giants, 49ers, Bucs, Ravens
Strengths
The younger brother to star running back Dalvin Cook, James doesn’t have the size Dalvin does, but he possesses a lot of the same skills as a runner. He is a great one-cut runner who is decisive and makes good decisions. He slashes between the tackles, cuts, and hits the second level as if he has been shot out of a cannon. He has elite speed, evident by his 4.42 40-time, but his ability to hit another burst after making a cut or juke is where his speed shows the most on tape. Without a lot of fanfare, Cook played a huge role in UGA winning its first national title in 40 years. During his senior season, he turned 140 touches into 1012 yards of total offense. Averaging 6.4 yards per carry and scoring 11 touchdowns.
I might be in the minority but I believe Cook has the potential to be a great runner in the NFL as well. Cook excels at making defenders miss, is dangerous in open space, and never fumbled in college. Some might question what kind of workload he can handle because of his low total number of carries in college and the fact he never exceeded 15 carries in a game. I would argue the lack of touches in college has mostly to do with Georgia’s system. At least 3 running backs have had 50+ carries in every season with Smart as the head coach. Cook is known for breaking big runs as 9% of his runs went for 15 yards or more (for reference that is a higher average than Breece Hall), and he excels in the open field on chunk runs. Converting 10-yard gains into 20-yard gains at a 38.18 percent rate, a mark in the 81st percentile, his above average abilities in open space are further exemplified by his 10.5 yards after the catch per reception average(Per PFF).
Where Cook really excels and why I have him so high on my running back rankings, is his pass-catching abilities. Passing to running backs in the NFL is on a steady incline over the last decade. In 2021, 36 running backs saw 4 targets or more per game, and over the last 3 seasons, seven rookie running backs have averaged 3.9 target per game or more. This proves running backs can have an immediate impact Cook is a nightmare for opposing defenses as a receiver coming out of the backfield. His 4.42 speed, mixed with his wide-ranging route tree makes him a tough matchup for linebackers and safeties. He excels on Texas or west coast passing routes, consistently beating linebackers on inside and outside routes, and easily creates separation. He routinely blows by defenders on wheel routes with his burst off the line. Georgia has given NFL teams a blueprint to successfully use him as a pass-catching back in the NFL by lining him up on the boundary and slot in motion, where he lined up on 27.5% of his passing-down snaps.
Georgia is considered by many as Running Back U, due to a large number of players at that position who have excelled at the professional level, and James Cook is at/near the top of several school records. He is 1st in receptions and receiving yards by a running back, his 6.53 yards per carry is 2nd all-time behind Deandre Swift, and his 7.51 yards per touch is 1st amongst all Georgia RBs with at least 1,000 yards rushing for their career. Worst case, at the next level James Cook will be an above-average pass-catching back with the potential to be a dangerous weapon in the NFL if he can have a similar impact that he had in college running the ball.
JAMES COOK LOOKING LIKE HIS OLDER BROTHER DALVIN 💨pic.twitter.com/fnJ8xociYI
— PFF (@PFF) January 11, 2022
Weaknesses
As much as I love James Cook as a legit weapon to add to an NFL offense, more than likely he is too small to be an every-down back in the NFL. There is a fairly short list of running backs under 200 pounds who had success in the pros. Cook ran a good 40 at 4.42 but is not nearly as fast as other small backs his height who have been successful lead backs like Chris Johnson. At 5 foot 11 inches, Cook’s 190 pounds is a much thinner frame than other successful lead backs who weigh 195 pounds or less, like Devonta Freeman and Warrick Dunn. Cook’s role in the NFL is probably limited to a 3rd down/passing situation back or a change of pace counterpart, to a bigger and more physical running back.
I believe Cook can make a significant impact with a smaller workload, but for him to handle more than 10-15 touches a game is not likely. In the same vein, Cook’s lack of touches at Georgia is the other big knock against him. At Georgia, he only saw 297 touches over his 4 years at UGA and the most touches he saw in an individual game was 15. He would need to get stronger and add weight to be a featured back in the NFL. As electric as Cook is in open space, the passing game and making defenders miss when he has the ball. Due to his small frame, he is brought down by the first defender to get their hands on him too often. In the NFL gaining yards after contact is almost a prerequisite for earning a significant amount of carries. His blocking is limited due to his size, but too many experts list this as a weakness. Cook is a competent blocker for his size. In the video below Cook makes a great block, allowing Bennett to hit Mitchell for a 40-yard touchdown early in the 4th quarter of the national championship game. For his small frame, I would argue Cook is a good blocker. Finally, Cook was arrested in Dec 2019 and charged with two misdemeanors, “driving with an open container” and “driving with an invalid license.” Although nothing has happened since, when dealing with draft prospects and where they are selected in the draft, something like this can be a red flag for some NFL teams.
This James Cook block was such a massive part of this Georgia championship. Cook is going to be a menace on third downs in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/w6J8GvwTkJ
— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) April 15, 2022
Player Comparisons
Kenyon Drake (New School)
Cook comes into the NFL with many of the same strengths and concerns that Drake did in 2016. Both ran 40’s in the 4.4 range, both projected to be better in the passing game than the run game, both lined up in the slot in college often, both were standouts on special teams, both had under 300 total touches in 4 years in college, both averaged over 7 yards per touch, and for both the question has been asked “if they are so good, why were they never given a lions share of the carries for their programs?”
Eric Metcalf (Old School)
I would not be surprised to see Cook utilized in the NFL in similar ways to Metcalf in the 90’s. There is a good chance the team that drafts Cook will use him in the return game, like Metcalf I expect Cook to do most of his damage in the passing game, and in an era where teams spread the field to throw the ball more than ever, it would not shock me to see Cook used as a receiver in the slot with how often he lined up there in college. Guys like Metcalf and Darren Sproles redefined the ways a team uses smaller running backs. Because of the blueprint they helped create, Cook despite his size, can make an immediate impact in the NFL.
Best Case Drafted By: (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
If the Bucs want to help bolster their offense through the draft and increase their chances of winning the Super Bowl, drafting Cook in the 3rd round could be the most effective way to do that. It’s no secret how much Tom Brady loves throwing to running backs in the passing game. Backs who are good route runners, with sure hands (Cook had 0 drops in 2021) are consistently targeted in Tom Brady-led offenses. Cook would be a huge upgrade from veteran Gio Bernard. Bernard had 23 receptions on 29 targets, to go along with Leonard Fournette’s 84 targets in 14 games last season. Continuing a trend with Brady we’ve seen for well over a decade, in his career, Brady has completed in a single season 47 or more passes to Shane Vereen, James White, and Kevin Faulk. Brady has completed 80 or more passes to running backs for 7 consecutive seasons. Cook could be an exact replica of James White in New England for Brady and add another dangerous weapon to an offense in Tampa that has all of their stars coming back.
In a conference that is very vulnerable with Russell Wilson going to Denver and Green Bay trading away Aaron Rodger’s favorite weapon in Davante Adams, Cook is more explosive than any of the guys mentioned above who had success with Brady. Cook was a walking big play in college averaging over 7 yards per touch and almost 10 yards after the catch per reception. Pairing Cook on passing plays with Evans, Godwin, and Gronk would really stretch a defense thin. It would be a perfect fit for Cook and the Bucs if they select him in this year’s draft.
Worst Case Drafted By: (New Orleans Saints)
I believe Cook will find success with any team drafting him to help bolster their passing game. With his skill set, he is better suited to be paired with a lead back who is a physical runner. Similar to the way UGA paired him with Zamir White. The Saints are in search of a running back, I don’t think Cook would be the best fit with Kamara, a player who excels at the same areas Cook can help a football team the most.
Fantasy Relevant
If you are in a PPR league, Cook is a top 5 back in this class due to his ability to catch passes out of the backfield and in motion. If drafted by a team like Tampa, Buffalo or San Francisco(all teams that listed Cook on their Top 30 list) I could envision Cook with 50 plus receptions his rookie season. In the last 3 seasons, we’ve seen 6 rookie running backs average 3.9 targets or more during their rookie campaign. In standard leagues, I would be leery of selecting Cook, as much as I believe in his talent. It’s hard to envision him getting a large enough workload, particularly as a runner to warrant taking him in your fantasy drafts this year, especially if he is not receiving extra points for receptions. I don’t see him being used near the goal line either with his lack of size and inability to run through defenders. In Dynasty, I would be more willing to take him as a top 5 back. There are several examples in the last decade of running backs with immense talent, who had concerns about their size and lack of experience as a featured back who went on to be featured backs in NFL offenses including Devonta Freeman and Alvin Kamara.
Thanks for reading my 2022 Prospect Profile on James Cook. Make sure to check out our other prospect profiles on our website by clicking here!
