Bills vs. Jets: 3 questions for Buffalo in Week 14 divisional matchup
By Ryan Heckman
1. Will the Bills shift more to James Cook over Devin Singletary?
Last Thursday night, we saw what could have been a shifting point for the Bills offense this season. While Devin Singletary has been consistent and effective in spurts this year, it was rookie James Cook who finally looked to break out against the Patriots.
Both Cook and Singletary played nearly the exact same amount of snaps, with Cook accounting for 43 percent and Singletary playing on 44 percent. But, it was Cook who made the most of those snaps and was more involved.
The rookie took 20 touches for a total of 105 yards (14 carries for 64 yards and six catches for 41 yards). After the game, Cook’s teammates took notice of his ascension.
Stefon Diggs on James Cook: "He's a special player. ... He's young. He's growing and he's growing in the right direction fast." pic.twitter.com/LmhA5SBhBW
— Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis) December 2, 2022
Singletary, meanwhile, averaged under four yards per carry, going for 51 yards on 13 carries. He did not tally a reception.
Because rookies sometimes take a little while to break out and get more involved, the situation with Cook could be getting clearer as the season wears on. Again, Singletary hasn’t been bad by any means. But, Cook showed a whole lot of juice Thursday night. He looked like the versatile, do-it-all type of back the Bills thought they drafted highly back in the spring.
If Cook has earned the right to more touches (and I believe he has) then the Bill shave to ensure he gets the ball on a more regular basis going forward.