Bills RB James Cook logged a season-high 22 touches in Sunday's loss to the Eagles: 16 carries and a season-high 6 receptions. It marked the third time this season he has reached 20 touches and the second such game in a row. So does that mean his role is growing? No. Cook's carry and opportunity shares have not increased the past two weeks, following the team's OC switch. In fact, Cook's 51.6% share of RB carries against Philly was his second-smallest of the season. His 53.5% opportunity share (carries + targets) was his fourth-lowest. Cook benefited in each case from high team play volume. The Bills ran a season-high 92 plays at Philadelphia and 76 in the Week 11 win over the Jets, their third-most plays of the year. Buffalo RBs, though, have also seen a boost in target share over the past two games. A 21.9% share against the Jets was the highest since the season opener -- until Sunday's 23.5% share. If that continues, Cook's fantasy numbers would certainly benefit. He has caught four passes in two straight games after reaching that number just twice through the first 10 weeks. Buffalo now heads into a Week 13 bye. Then come matchups with the Chiefs and Cowboys that should support RB targets, because each ranks among the league's toughest WR defenses. Then comes Cook's best remaining matchup (Chargers) and a Week 17 rematch with New England. The Patriots afforded him 102 total yards and a TD at 6.4 yards per touch in their first meeting. Cook should be a solid PPR contributor the rest of the way. He won't be a lock for strong touch counts, though. Latavius Murray actually played 1 more snap vs. Philly, ran six more routes, and trailed Cook by just 1 target. Ty Johnson has also worked in for 6 touches each of the past two weeks. Leonard Fournette, meanwhile, has yet to be called up from the practice squad a month after signing.
Browns WR Amari Cooper has been ruled out of Sunday's game vs. the Broncos with a rib injury. He took a big shot to the midsection from S P.J. Locke in the fourth quarter. We'll look for an update on Cooper's injury and his status for Week 13 and beyond.
Commanders WR Curtis Samuel racked up 9 receptions for 100 yards in Thursday's loss to the Cowboys. He drew 27.3% of the team's targets, accounted for 32.1% of the receptions, and delivered 33.3% of the yards. No teammate exceeded 5 catches or 52 yards in the game. The big receiving line followed consecutive games that Samuel finished with just 6 and 5 receiving yards. He has reached 50 yards five times now in 11 games. But should we just chalk Thursday's numbers up to variance? Samuel's not likely to deliver another stat line that big over his final four fantasy outings. But he can be a low-level starting option the rest of the way. Samuel had caught 4+ passes in five straight games before missing Week 9 with an injury. Samuel came back for the mere three receptions across two games before the big one against Dallas. The Cowboys have been tough in coverage but also play outside WRs tougher than slot WRs. Week 13 will bring a Miami defense that has fared better against slot WRs than outside but also been a positive matchup for opponent WRs overall. Miami's offensive scoring ability also gives that game shootout potential -- or a chance Washington is chasing once again. Either case would drive up passing volume. Washington gets its bye in Week 14. But then come two more opponents (Rams and Jets) that allow more production to slot WRs than outside. A Week 17 matchup with San Francisco doesn't look good for anyone. Though Samuel's short average target depth (6.4 yards) could help his volume in another matchup that's likely to find the Commanders trailing. He carries some low-level upside in deeper leagues, as a WR3 or PPR flex. Just don't overrate Samuel's production in Dallas.
The league has suspended Broncos S Kareem Jackson four games after a spearing hit he made on Vikings QB Joshua Dobbs on Sunday night. That, of course, follows a suspension earlier this season for three illegal hits in separate games. Jackson got his previous suspension reduced to two games on appeal and has appealed this one as well. It would seem another punishment for the same crime should knock Jackson out for longer. We'll see what happens, though. Jackson didn't get flagged for the hit during the game, which may or may not affect this ruling. Any time Jackson misses should elevate P.J. Locke to the starting role. Locke missed Sunday night's game with an ankle injury that knocked him out of Week 10 early. Delarrin Turner-Yell would seem to be the next guy up if Locke remains out for Week 12.
Bills TE Dawson Knox (wrist) is eligible to come off IR this week, but HC Sean McDermott said Monday that Knox isn't ready yet. Buffalo has a Week 13 bye, so we'll see if Knox is cleared to play in Week 14. His continued absence is excellent news for TE Dalton Kincaid, who has been TE3 in PPR points over the past four weeks.
Bills TE Dalton Kincaid has racked up 26 catches, 243 yards, and two TDs over his last four games. Those are all top-4 marks among TEs. Kincaid's 62.3 PPR points over that span rank third at the position behind only T.J. Hockenson and George Kittle. The rookie is getting elite usage, running a route on 88% of Bills pass plays and drawing 22.8% of the team's targets. We can only hope that Buffalo doesn't scale back his role whenever TE Dawson Knox is ready to return from his wrist injury. Knox is eligible to come off IR this week, but there's been no indication that he'll be ready. In the meantime, Kincaid is a weekly top-5 fantasy TE. He has an excellent Week 12 matchup vs. the Eagles' 23rd-ranked TE defense.
After struggling as a passer in his last three meetings vs. the Jets, Bills QB Josh Allen diced up the division rival in a 32-6 Week 11 win. Allen completed 20 of 32 passes (63%) for 275 yards (8.6 YPA), three TDs, and one INT. It was the second most passing yards and the most passing TDs allowed this season by the Jets, who have also faced QBs Dak Prescott, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, and Justin Herbert. Allen's performance was particularly notable considering it was the first under new OC Joe Brady. It's tough to say exactly how big an impact Brady's play-calling had, but it was certainly an encouraging start. Allen gets a much juicier Week 12 matchup against an Eagles defense sitting 30th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. The Bills then have a Week 13 bye, so Allen owners should start thinking about lining up a one-week fill in.
Commanders WR Curtis Samuel was ejected for his role in a fight in the second quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Giants. He's unlikely to face any discipline beyond Week 11, but we'll keep an eye on the situation. Samuel was booted with one catch on two targets for five yards.
The Bills have fired OC Ken Dorsey, in the wake of Monday night's loss to the Broncos. Buffalo has proved a bit inconsistent on offense this year but still ranks third in offensive DVOA and third in yards per play. The No. 7 ranking in scoring marks a bit of a drop vs. finishes of second, fifth, and second the past three years. Buffalo now turns to Joe Brady, who has served as QBs coach since last season after a little less than two years as Panthers OC. Brady's Carolina offenses obviously didn't do anything special but were also working with much less at QB and the other skill positions. We'll see about the impact Brady has, but it's tough to either upgrade or downgrade any Bills offensive pieces in fantasy for this move.
Bills TE Dalton Kincaid shined as the lone bright spot for Buffalo’s passing game in Week 10, hauling in 5 of 6 targets for 51 receiving yards and a TD vs. the Broncos. The rookie is now averaging 7 catches, 68 receiving yards, and 16.3 PPR points per game over the past four games. At this point, fantasy managers can consider Kincaid a weekly TE1 option regardless of matchup. To make matters better, the Bills’ remaining schedule ranks as the sixth-easiest for TEs per our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
Monday night was an eventful evening for Bills RB James Cook. The second-year back tallied 12 carries for 109 rushing yards in Week 10 vs. the Broncos, the second-highest yardage total he’s recorded in 2023. He unfortunately also fumbled twice in the contest, including a lost ball on the Bills’ first play of the game. He was benched for several series thereafter before returning to the field in the second quarter. Teammate Latavius Murray saw an uptick in involvement as a result (9-68-1). It’s also worth mentioning that Leonard Fournette wasn’t brought up onto the active roster for the second week in a row. This backfield is a bit messy and will only have more complications given that the Bills’ remaining schedule ranks fourth-toughest for RBs per our adjusted fantasy points allowed. Next up on the calendar is an AFC East showdown with the Jets (19th in run defense DVOA).
Bills QB Josh Allen fell flat in Week 10, completing 15 of 26 passes for 172 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs vs. the Broncos. He managed to punch in a rushing TD in the contest, though he also fumbled on Monday. It's important to remember this performance followed three straight top-5 fantasy weeks for Allen. He’s still worth starting every week, but it’ll be interesting to see how he responds in Week 11 vs. the Jets. Last Allen played the Jets in Week 1, the New York defense picked him off thrice. The Jets rank as the second-toughest QB matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
Bills LB Terrel Bernard managed to clear the concussion protocol and is active for tonight's game against the Broncos. It's a surprisingly quick turnaround after Bernard suffered his injury in last Sunday night's loss at Cincinnati. But that should keep him as Buffalo's lead LB for the game and render Tyrel Dodson a part-timer.
Commanders WR Curtis Samuel (toe) is active for today’s game vs. the Seahawks. He was limited in practice all week and probably still isn’t at 100%. Consider Samuel just a PPR WR4 against a stout Seattle secondary.
Bills LB Terrel Bernard is officially questionable for Monday night's game against the Broncos. We'd be surprised if he plays, though, eight days after sustaining a concussion in the loss to the Bengals. Bernard didn't advance past limited practice this week and hadn't cleared the protocol as of Saturday. He'd need to do so ahead of the early Sunday games to be a viable IDP option. Assuming Bernard sits, Tyrel Dodson would be the top LB option among Bills. He has ranked highest among Buffalo LBs in our Week 10 rankings. Rookie Dorian Williams will likely run second but isn't a real IDP option.
Commanders WR Curtis Samuel (toe) is expected to play vs. the Seahawks, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Samuel missed Week 9 and was limited in practice all this week, so it's possible (likely?) that he's still not at 100%. He's a shaky WR4 play in PPR leagues.
Commanders WR Curtis Samuel (toe) was limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Seahawks. He seemingly has a chance to return for this one but probably still wouldn’t be at 100%. We’ll look for more details on Samuel’s status but won’t get Washington’s inactives until a little before 3 pm ET on Sunday.
Commanders WR Curtis Samuel (toe) got in a limited practice on Wednesday. That gives him a shot to return for this weekend's game vs. the Seahawks, but we'll monitor his status over the next few days.
Bills RB James Cook had a tough outing in Week 9 vs. the Bengals. The second-year back racked up just 39 total yards on a combined 10 touches in the contest. Fellow RB Latavius Murray was also minimally impactful, contributing a mere 10 total yards on 3 touches. It’s also notable that recent free agent signee Leonard Fournette was not promoted to the active roster on Sunday. The Bills’ run game has been largely ineffective of late, but there’s reason for fantasy managers to be optimistic moving forward. Buffalo’s remaining schedule ranks 12th-easiest for RB in adjusted fantasy points allowed.
Bills QB Josh Allen completed 26 of 38 passes for 258 yards with 1 TD and INT apiece in Week 9 vs. the Bengals. The veteran also added 44 yards and a rushing TD in the contest. Allen has now thrown an INT in five straight games. Still, his strong running floor and high volume passing make his 23.4 points per game the highest among QBs in 2023. Allen is a reliable fantasy starter regardless of matchup. Next week, he’ll face the Broncos.
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