• New York Jets are two-point underdogs to the Buffalo Bills.
• Bet the over on James Cooks‘ receiving yardage total: With new names in Buffalo's backfield, Cooks should have an extended role that could lead to more production.
• Bet $5 and get $200 in guaranteed bonus bets! Click here to sign up with FanDuel
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
The New York Jets era begins. Maybe. They are still two-point underdogs at home to the Buffalo Bills. The big talking point of the offseason was the Aaron Rodgers trade and for good reason because he is a significant upgrade over Zach Wilson.
Rodgers’ arrival also brought Allen Lazard from Green Bay to be New York's WR2, taking over from the retiring Corey Davis. The Jets also signed Mecole Hardman and another Green Bay receiver in veteran Randall Cobb to duke it out to be the starting slot receiver. Another huge positive for the Jets is the return of the whole right side of their offensive line with both Alijah Vera-Tucker and Mekhi Becton returning from injuries that put them out for the season. Breece Hall, yet another Jet who was lost for the season due to injury, will return in a limited capacity, so veteran running back Dalvin Cook will be the starter for now. The Jets otherworldly defense returns from last year. A secondary that allowed just 5.41 yards per coverage snap and forced an incompletion on more than 12% of coverage targets.
Josh Allen leads the Bills into the year and hopes to lead the team to a Super Bowl. The Bills drafted a tight end in the first round to bolster a slightly concerning receiver group and young, talented running back, James Cook, took over the starting job with Devin Singletary departing but aside from small changes, mostly everything stays the same for a roster that lost in the divisional round of the playoffs last season. They remain one of the best, most explosive teams in the league and that won’t change this year.
I do not have a real good read on how this game may go so just the one bet on a player that I think is slightly undervalued in a more expansive role.
James Cook over 15.5 receiving yards (-110 BetMGM)
Devin Singletary’s departure from a 70%-plus snap count leaves a hole in the offense that needs to be filled. Damien Harris and Latavius Murray were brought in to be the downhill runners but in a heavy passing offense the best receiver, James Cook, should see his role expand from 15-20% snap share early last season (40% at the end of the year) to somewhere in the mid-to-high 50% range. The Jets’ secondary is going to be one of the best in the league again this year, so underneath options will be utilized in this specific matchup. Last year, Singletary and Cook received a combined nine targets for 46 yards in the first meeting with Josh Allen struggling to just 147 yards passing in the second meeting.
This is a situation with some uncertainty and high upside potential due to the way the game may be played, so if there are options available to bet some alternative Cook receiving lines, then I would be looking to up to 25-plus yards at around +200 or better or up to 50-plus receiving yards at +800 or better.
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.