Buffalo Bills DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook, the current RB6 in fantasy football, draws his toughest test yet of the 2024 season. The Baltimore Ravens allow a league-low 50 rushing yards per game, 21 yards fewer than the next team on the list. The Raiders and Cowboys' subpar rushing attacks brought the average down, but the Ravens limited Isiah Pacheco to three yards per carry in Week 1. While the Ravens are stout against the run, they allow the eighth-most receptions to running backs, an area where Cook can thrive. As hot as the Buffalo offense is, it's impossible to shy away from Josh Allen, Cook, and the other big names on the Bills. Start Cook as a low-end RB1 in Week 4.

A competitive football game is preventing Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen from delivering all-time fantasy football performances. Even in the blowout win in Week 3 that took him off the field in the fourth quarter, Allen still scored four touchdowns and finished as the QB1. That's the second time in three weeks he's accomplished that feat. The Baltimore Ravens should present a tougher test than Miami and Jacksonville, at least on offense. The Ravens are allowing the most passing yards in the league this season. Lamar Jackson and the rest of the Ravens' offense should score enough to make Allen keep his foot on the gas. Allen has a great chance to finish as the QB1 for the third time this season and should be started across the board.

After being limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (calf, elbow) returned to a full practice on Thursday. Palmer did not practice all of last week before missing the Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now that the 25-year-old is back to practicing in full, he should be ready to return in Week 4 against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs as long as he doesn't have a setback on Friday. Most fantasy managers won't want to trust Palmer in a WR4/flex spot if he comes back this weekend, though, especially with quarterback Justin Herbert's (ankle) availability up in the air. In the first two weeks of the season in 2024, Palmer caught just four of six targets for 34 yards and no touchdowns. Palmer's return will take targets away from rookie Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir has emerged as the team's best player at the position "and it hasn't been close," according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. Amidst speculation that Keon Coleman or Curtis Samuel would climb to the top of the depth chart, it's actually Shakir who has made the best impression so far. He has become Josh Allen's go-to receiver, catching all 14 of his targets for 168 yards and two touchdowns through three weeks. He's already the overall WR17 in PPR leagues, cementing himself as a strong weekly option for fantasy managers. He should continue to be trusted heading into Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel did not factor heavily into the Bills Week 3 offensive output against Jacksonville. The Bills put up 47 points but Samuel had three catches for 22 yards and one rush for no gain. Josh Allen and the Bills spread the ball around in this one and Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Dalton Kincaid, and Ty Johnson each caught a touchdown pass and James Cook and Ray Davis scored rushing TDs. Samuel hasn't found a consistent piece of the Bills offensive pie yet this season after coming over from Washington in the offseason. With so many offensive weapons, it's hard to see Samuel making a big fantasy impact this season.