Buffalo Bills DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer could have a big role on offense for a second game in a row in a Week 15 game against the Tampa Bay Bucs. Last week, with Ladd McConkey (knee/shoulder) forced to miss the game, Palmer saw nine targets thrown his way, making six catches for 78 yards, leading the team in all three categories. If McConkey plays, Palmer's floor and ceiling both drop significantly, but if the rookie misses another game, Palmer could be in the WR2 conversation based on volume alone. The Bucs defense has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing outside wide receivers, so Palmer would be in a good spot to thrive if he ends up playing with only Quentin Johnston and without McConkey.

Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox expects to share snaps and targets with fellow tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) in Week 15 as the latter returns from injury. Knox played over 80% of the snaps in two of three games with Kincaid sidelined (the other was the snow game against San Francisco). Knox totaled seven receptions for 101 yards and zero touchdowns in those games. Josh Allen should have his full roster of receiving weapons against the Lions. That removes Knox from the tight-end streaming conversation. He should be on waiver wires for the start of the fantasy playoffs.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir enters Week 15 as the WR22 this season and has been reliably safe for fantasy managers. He's scored under double-digit PPR points once (snow game) since Week 6 and twice this season. Shakir leads Buffalo in targets (81), receptions (65), and yards (735) this season. Touchdowns (three) have been his Achilles heel, although the slot receiver did score on a long catch-and-run a week ago. The Lions are weaker against the pass than the run and are beatable via the slot. In what projects as a shootout, there is little downside to Shakir's outlook this week.

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook faces the Detroit Lions in Week 15, one of the best rush defenses in the NFL. This season, the Lions allow the second-fewest fantasy points to the position. They've been even better over the last four weeks, despite injuries in their front seven and Josh Jacobs scoring three times a week ago. Cook's path to a successful fantasy performance will depend on his red zone opportunities. Like the Kansas City matchup a few weeks ago, a short touchdown or two will help what projects as a below-average day in the yardage department. Cook ranks as a mid-range RB2 this week.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, the favorite to win NFL MVP entering Week 15, is doing things only an MVP would do. From logging a passing and receiving touchdown on the same play to the highest fantasy score ever by a quarterback, Allen is on a heater. He has a good chance to extend his 20-point fantasy scoring streak to nine games against the Detroit Lions. While the Lions have been stingy against quarterbacks this season (fifth-fewest points per game), a defense has yet to handle Allen in this stretch. The matchup features the slate's highest over/under line, and points should come easy. Allen is an easy start for fantasy managers this week.