Fantasy Football Player Notes

Turns out, if you're attached to Josh Allen, you don't need to catch passes. Despite having only 24 receiving yards across four games, Cook's rushing ability has kept him in RB1 territory. Sitting third in the league in rushing yards, he has been one of the more consistent fantasy backs. Add in the fact he is on a three-game touchdown streak, and he has been worth his second-round ADP. This week, they face the Rams, who have stifled opposing running backs. Averaging the second-fewest fantasy points at the position, Cook may finally dip below six yards per carry for the first time since Week 1. Without the passing work and the tough matchup, Cook is an RB2 that has RB1 potential if he can find the end zone again.

It's only been four weeks, yet it feels like a tale of two seasons for Dalton Kincaid managers. Opening the year, Kincaid had 14 targets, 12 receptions, 225 yards, and one score across two games. In his last two outings, he has totalled five targets, three receptions, and 45 yards. Even though he has been averaging more snaps than previous sessions, he is a very volatile TE1. Thankfully, the Bills-Rams game is projected to have the most points scored this week. We will likely see some Josh Allen heroics in what could become a cinematic duel between two elite QBs. That's a game script you want every piece of. It may be a tough pill to swallow, but I think you have to roll out Kincaid for at least one more week before giving up on him.

Khalil Shakir is the WR64 in fantasy points per game. His best performance of the season came last week as the WR24 in weekly scoring. Overall, Shakir has a 19.3% target share with 1.98 YPRR (65.4% route share), five red zone targets (zero scores), two deep targets, and a 23.4% first-read share. Shakir is flex-worthy again this week. The Rams are tied for the most receiving touchdowns allowed to slot receivers while also surrendering the seventh-most fantasy points per opportunity to the position.

Keon Coleman has functioned as Buffalo's Rashod Bateman. He is essentially DJ Moore's handcuff. If Moore misses this week, Coleman could see a ton of work, but he'd also probably have to deal with a shadow from Trent McDuffie. That's not a battle that I'd expect Coleman to win. McDuffie has followed Malik Nabers and Dontayvion Wicks on 51.6-75% of their routes. Neither receiver surpassed one reception and seven yards in McDuffie's coverage. If Moore does play, Coleman could eat, though. If Moore plays and is the decoy shadow target for McDuffie, that should free up Coleman. In Weeks 1 & 3, with Moore playing a full-time role, Coleman has had only a 5.5% target share and 7.4% first-read share. He wasn't a big part of the offense at all. In Weeks 2 & 4, with Moore dinged up, Coleman had a 20.3% target share with 3.58 YPRR, two red zone targets, one deep target, and a 29.7% first-read share. Coleman has a WIDE range of outcomes this week depending on the status of Moore and the corner matchups with the Rams. The Rams have held perimeter wide receivers to the eighth-fewest receiving fantasy points per game and the fifth-fewest yards per target. I could see Coleman putting up a WR2 production line this week or being a dud.

DJ Moore reinjured or exacerbated his shoulder injury last week. Moore's status is still up in the air for Week 5. He didn't practice this week until he got in a limited session on Saturday with a non-contact jersey on. He could easily push to play or be ruled out late. It's a coin flip. If you don't have Coleman on your bench or another Monday night option to fall back upon if he's out, you might be forced to bench him this week without the luxury to take this all the way to Monday night. In Moore's two full games played, he has had a 30.9% target share, 3.63 YPRR, two red zone targets, four deep targets, and a 33.3% first-read share. In those two games, he was the WR9 and WR30 in weekly scoring. If Moore does play, Trent McDuffie could shadow him. McDuffie has followed Malik Nabers and Dontayvion Wicks on 51.6-75% of their routes. Neither receiver surpassed one reception and seven yards in McDuffie's coverage. It's possible Buffalo runs him out there as a decoy of sorts this week to occupy McDuffie. This isn't a good matchup for Moore, even outside of the McDuffie issue. The Rams have held perimeter wide receivers to the eighth-fewest receiving fantasy points per game and the fifth-fewest yards per target. Temper your expectations for Moore if he's active this week.