Fantasy Football Player Notes

The Bills set the record for the most rushing yards against the Steelers for any road team. Combining for 250 rushing yards, Cook led the way with 32 carries for 144 yards. He was also their leading receiver, catching three passes for 33 yards. There aren't many backs on great offenses that are trusted to have 32 carries, but Cook is one of them. If you thought it couldn't get better, think again. This week, they have a huge game at home against Joe Burrow and the Bengals. With the Patriots rolling, every game is big for the Bills, and a game against the worst defense in the league is exactly what fantasy players want to see. On the season, the Bengals are allowing three more fantasy points per game than any other team against opposing RBs. Cook is a top-end RB in a great matchup this week.

Khalil Shakir is the only fantasy viable wide receiver to discuss with the Bills, right now. Last week, only Shakir and Gabe Davis crossed the 50% route share mark. If you were to tell me that Shakir was the only Bills' wide receiver to surpass that line this week, I wouldn't be surprised at all. Shakir is the WR41 in fantasy points per game with a 20.5% target share with 47.4 receiving yards per game, 1.91 yards per route run, and a 23.9% first-read share. Shakir leads the team with ten red zone targets while also kicking in five deep targets. Shakir offers solid flex appeal against a Bengals team that will force Buffalo to pass more than they probably want to. Since Week 9, Cincy has allowed the eighth-most PPR points per target and receiving yards per game to slot receivers.

Dalton Kincaid has been dealing with a knee issue and a hamstring injury. He has practiced on a limited basis all week and has been listed as questionable. Kincaid is the TE8 in fantasy points per game with a 14.8% target share, five red zone targets, four deep targets, and a 17.4% first-read share. Kincaid has been mashing on a per-route basis with 3.37 yards per route run, but the issue is that he has only a 47% route share. I'd love to tell you that I LOVE HIM this week versus the Bengals, who have bled out production to tight ends all year and are easily the best matchup in the NFL for the position, but I have my worries. Kincaid has been a limited snap player all season, and in Weeks 8-9, he had only 32% and 46.7% route shares. In those two games, he had only three and six targets. It's tough to expect him to be ridiculously efficient and produce on limited volume when he is clearly not 100%. Could he pay off for fantasy this week? Sure. Are there a ton of concerns around his playing, efficiency, and the Bills' game plan this week? Oh, hell yes. If Buffalo wants to just lean on their run game, they can against Cincy. That would crush the Bills' passing volume and Kincaid's involvement. Playing him is a risk this week. Cincy has allowed the most receiving yards per game, the highest yards per reception, and the most fantasy points per game to tight ends.