Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 3rd, 2024, 1:00 ET
Location: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Network: CBS
Miami Dolphins
Quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa: Sit, QB2
The return of Tua Tagovailoa to the Dolphins’ lineup was a jump-start for many Dolphins skill players, but Tua himself didn’t have a mind-blowing fantasy day, finishing as the QB22 in his return to action. The Bills give up the sixth-fewest points to opposing QBs, so Tua should best be left on your benches if you can help it, though his teammates will continue to reap the benefits of the boost he brings to the offense.
Running Back
De’Von Achane: Start, RB1
Raheem Mostert: FLEX Option, RB3
Jaylen Wright: Sit
Perhaps the biggest beneficiary of Tua’s return was not one of his pass-catchers, but running back De’Von Achane. In games Tua has played, Achane has finished as the RB2 or RB3 overall in all three contests. When Tua was out, Achane did not finish higher than the weekly RB25. With Tua’s passing ability forcing defenses to play back, this opens up running lanes for Achane to show off his speed. Achane has also received at least 7 targets in every game Tua has started, giving him massive upside. Start him with confidence as an RB1 against one of the league’s most vulnerable run defenses.
Raheem Mostert punched in two touchdowns last week but only mustered 19 yards on 9 carries, so he’s best viewed as a touchdown-dependent FLEX option for Week 9. We’re all waiting for Jaylen Wright to get more opportunities in this offense, and he should remain on your bench until that time comes.
Wide Receiver
Tyreek Hill: Start, WR1
Jaylen Waddle: FLEX Option, WR3
So, it wasn’t quite the return to relevance we wanted from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in Week 8, but we’ve seen what these two can do with Tua at the helm. It’s a tough matchup on the road against the Bills secondary, as they allow the sixth-fewest points to receivers, just as they do to quarterbacks. We’re tempering expectations here slightly, so Hill slots in as a low-end WR1, while Waddle is a high-tier FLEX option. Both have big-play potential that can make starting them worth it with a single play.
Tight End
Jonnu Smith: Sit, TE2
Jonnu Smith sits towards the bottom of the streaming tier of TEs for this week. He turned 6 targets into just 20 yards last week, but hauled in all 7 looks for 96 yards and a touchdown the week before. It’s feast or famine with Smith at this point — start him at your own risk.
Buffalo Bills
Quarterback
Josh Allen: Start, QB1
It’s a tough matchup for Josh Allen and crew against the Dolphins this week, as Miami allows the second-fewest points to opposing QBs. Allen struggled in his first matchup against the Fins this season, posting just 9.8 fantasy points for a QB28 finish, though he also didn’t need to do much in that game thanks to a James Cook monster performance. Allen remains a top-5 option thanks to his rushing upside and a rocket arm, but be cautioned that a surprisingly low floor lurks in this matchup should things go awry.
Running Back
James Cook: Start, RB1
Ray Davis: Sit
YES, CHEF. It feels like ages ago that James Cook scored three touchdowns in the first half against the Dolphins in Week 2. The fantasy season sure can wear on you, can’t it? Cook is fresh off of his best game of the season in Week 8, in which he rushed for 111 yards and 2 TDs, finishing as the overall RB1 on the week. We’ve seen what Cook can do against this team — start him as an RB1. Ray Davis‘ role has been unsurprisingly diminished with a healthy Cook back in the kitchen, so hold him as a handcuff, but don’t start him.
Wide Receiver
Amari Cooper: Start, WR2
Khalil Shakir: FLEX Option, WR3
Keon Coleman: FLEX Option, WR3
We’ve gone from having no clear-cut receivers in the Bills offense that we can start with confidence to having three solid receiving options in this positional group. Amari Cooper practiced in a limited capacity with a wrist injury on Wednesday, but assuming he’s good to go, he’s the best play of the group in his third game with his new team. This Dolphins secondary has some tough customers with Kendall Fuller and Jaylen Ramsey, but exploiting matchups on the outside against Cam Smith will be key for producing fantasy points. Rookie Keon Coleman is riding a hot streak and lines up on the outside the most of these three receivers, so he may be the sneakiest play of the three this week, even if we have him ranked the lowest. All three of Coleman, Cooper, and slot receiver Khalil Shakir are solid plays this week, even against a tough Dolphins defense that allows the fifth-fewest receiver points.
Tight End
Dalton Kincaid: Start, TE1
We haven’t seen quite the prolific fantasy season we were hoping for from Dalton Kincaid, but he maintains weekly starting value thanks to the offense he plays in. He slots in as our TE12 overall this week, making him the last member of the TE1 ranks for Week 9. The Dolphins are fairly stingy against TEs (fourth-fewest points allowed), so the floor and ceiling for Kincaid are lower than most weeks in this matchup.