Fantasy Football Player Notes
Week 1 Rankings
28.
Stefon Diggs
WR - (at NYJ)
You can't bench one of the best receivers in the game, but this is not exactly a smash spot for Diggs. The Jets allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers last season. In two games against the Jets last season, Diggs put up stat lines of 5-93-0 and 3-37-0. The Jets have one of the best cover corners in the league in Sauce Gardner, and CBs D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II are no slouches. Diggs profiles as more of a lower-end WR1 than as a top WR option this week.
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40.
James Cook
RB - (at NYJ)
In a game rich with interesting storylines, one of them is the RB duel between the Cook brothers, Dalvin and James. A committee back last year, James Cook seems to have ascended to a leading role, at least based on preseason usage and reports from Bills beat writers. New Bills RBs Damien Harris and Latavius Murray will get some early-down work and could poach goal-line carries since they're heavier and more rugged than Cook. Still, a meatier role for Cook is reason for his stakeholders to celebrate. It's nice to have the No. 1 back in one of the league's better offenses. This week, however, it's best to regard Cook as a high-end RB3 in a difficult matchup against the Jets.
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105.
Damien Harris
RB - (at NYJ)
The ex-Patriot will get touches, but he might not be fantasy-relevant if the Bills are committed to using James Cook as their lead back. Harris had 15 touchdown runs in 2021, but even if he ends up as Buffalo's designated goal-line back, it's hard to imagine Harris scoring double-digit touchdowns when Bills QB Josh Allen is so fond of calling his own number when the Bills are close to the end zone. Fade Harris until we see how his role evolves.
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113.
Curtis Samuel
WR - (at NYJ)
Samuel is a super-talented slot WR that fits the new scheme very well. He can make plays after the catch, and I fully expect him to see a decent chunk of volume/targets in Week 1, especially if McLaurin is limited. If you are in a pinch for a FLEX or WR3, add Samuel off waivers and plug him into your lineup. He likely won't give you a massive ceiling outcome, but he can give you a handful of points if you don't have any alternatives. Keep in mind that last season, Samuel was second on the team in catches, third in overall touches and first in catch rate (70%). He's the perfect safety option for his quarterback making his second regular-season start.
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133.
Dalton Kincaid
TE - (at NYJ)
A first-round pick out of Utah, Kincaid is a talented pass catcher who could cause matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. There have been 25 tight ends drafted in the first round since 2000. Only four of them finished in TE1 range in fantasy scoring as rookies - Kyle Pitts, Evan Engram, Jeremy Shockey and Heath Miller. Kincaid could be the rare first-round TE who makes a fantasy splash in Year 1, but I wouldn;t be eager to use him in Week 1, especially not against a tough Jets defense.
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161.
Dawson Knox
TE - (at NYJ)
One of the less interesting offseason debates in the fantasy community was whether Dawson Knox would maintain fantasy relevance in 2023 after Buffalo's drafting of first-round TE Dalton Kincaid. Knox likely hit his fantasy peak in 2021, when he finished TE11 in PPR fantasy scoring, mostly on the strength of his nine touchdowns. Knox averaged 4.7 targets a game that season. Even though that's a modest number, it's hard to imagine Knox coming close to it with Kincaid around. Knox shouldn't be anywhere near your starting lineup this week.
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183.
Latavius Murray
RB - (at NYJ)
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186.
Mack Hollins
WR - (at NYJ)
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200.
Khalil Shakir
WR - (at NYJ)
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313.
Reggie Gilliam
RB,TE - (at NYJ)
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318.
Tre' McKitty
TE - (at NYJ)
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340.
Quintin Morris
TE - (at NYJ)
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362.
KJ Hamler
WR - (at NYJ)
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384.
Ty Johnson
RB - (at NYJ)
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476.
Tyrell Shavers
WR - (at NYJ)
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504.
Andy Isabella
WR - (at NYJ)
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509.
Darrynton Evans
RB - (at NYJ)
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