Finally! The 2022 NFL Season kicks off tonight at 8:20 ET as the Buffalo Bills go in to LA to take on the reigning Super Bowl Champion LA Rams and no-one is more nervous than the folding tables of Inglewood, California. Except perhaps the Bills rookie class making their NFL debut in one of the largest arenas in football.
While the Bills successful 2021 campaign gave them a draft position significantly lower than in years past, they managed to find what some are calling “sleepers” of the draft if you will. Two of these rookies that I have my eyes on tonight are Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam (Round 1, Pick 23) and Georgia running back James Cook (Round 2, Pick 63).
Elam is the nephew of NFL free-agent and former Baltimore Ravens safety Matt Elam so it’s clear that it runs in the family! Kaiir, however, is described as a dynamic press-corner with the size and length that you need at that position. He was impressive in the Bills preseason, making some key plays and break-ups in their victory over the Colts. He has yet to be named the starter over fellow rookie Christian Benford, but with Tre White out with injury, Elam is crucial to the Bills getting a 1-0 start. Watch to see how he handles the pressure when the Rams target him down the sideline.
The other rookie I have at the top of my watch list for tonight is Mr. James Cook. You guessed it, another rookie with NFL family. James is the brother of Vikings superstar Dalvin Cook and if he’s anything like his brother then Bills fans are in for a treat. He rushed for 728 yards as a senior at Georgia, coupled with an average 10.5 yards per reception. He’ll certainly be splitting time with other Bills backs but I expect to see him get some targets from Allen in the flat. While I wouldn’t start him in any fantasy leagues, he could leave some major fingerprints on his rookie debut.
If the Bills stand a chance against the champs at home, they need input from everyone, including their rookies. Either way, I hope you’re as fired up for kickoff as I am. If you’re a betting man I would take Bills -2.5 and you can take that to the bank!
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