Buffalo Bills @ Minnesota Vikings
Final Score: Bills 23, Vikings 6
Writer: Steven Pintado (@coachstevenp)
Three Up
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James Cook — The star running back dominated with 31 touches, putting the team on his back in the second half to help the Bills secure a victory over the Vikings.
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Khalil Shakir — There weren’t many standout performances in this game, but Shakir was a reliable target for the offense. He made several key plays that helped set up scoring opportunities for the Bills.
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Dawson Knox — Knox served as a dependable short-area target for Josh Allen, making the most of his opportunities and providing a reliable option whenever Allen faced pressure.
Three Down
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Carson Wentz — Turnovers, constant pressure, and poor throws defined a rough night for Wentz, who heard boos from the crowd throughout the game. He struggled to get the offense moving and never found a rhythm.
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Justin Jefferson — Jefferson had a couple of drops, but the bigger issue continues to be the lack of reliable quarterback play. The Vikings’ struggles at quarterback have severely limited Jefferson’s fantasy value and upside.
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Aaron Jones — Jones struggled to find any success on the ground, leading to a reduced role as the game progressed. His poor rushing efficiency resulted in minimal usage, especially in the second half.
Buffalo Bills
Quarterback
Josh Allen: 21/31, 234 Yards, TD, INT | 6 Carries, 15 Yards
Allen had a tough time moving the ball downfield in the first half, as he was consistently under pressure with little time to escape the pocket. Overall, Allen was sacked four times throughout the game. His interception came early on a deep pass intended for DJ Moore, who was surrounded by three defenders. One of them managed to pick off the pass, taking away what could have been a touchdown. Allen also nearly lost a fumble deep in his own territory near the 2-yard line, but he was ruled down before the ball came loose.
Late in the second quarter, Allen started to come alive, making some impressive throws to help the Bills score a touchdown before halftime. His best play came on a deep throw where he was able to escape pressure, buy time, and find his pass catcher in the end zone. In the 2nd half, Allen made a few more solid throws, but the Bills were more committed to establishing the run and controlling the clock to close out the game.
Kyle Allen: 3 Carries, -2 Yards
Running Back
James Cook III: 31 Carries, 107 Yards, TD | 1 Target
The Bills’ lead back took some time to get going against a stout Vikings defense. It wasn’t until the middle to late third quarter that Cook started to wear down a tired defense. After struggling to find running lanes in the first half, Cook began breaking off bigger gains as the game progressed. He became the driving force behind the Bills’ offense on their later possessions, consistently picking up yards and helping move the chains. His strong second-half performance eventually led to a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown.
Ty Johnson: 1 Carry, 1 Yard | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 36 Yards
Johnson had the longest reception of the game for the Bills’ passing offense. Lining up out wide, Johnson connected with Josh Allen on a deep shot for a 36-yard gain. Johnson was heavily involved on passing downs throughout the game but saw minimal opportunities on the ground.
Ray Davis: 2 Carries, 2 Yards | 1 Target
Wide Receiver/Tight End
DJ Moore: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 25 Yards | 1 Carry, 11 Yards
Moore had a quiet game in a tough matchup for the Bills’ offense. However, none of the Bills’ pass catchers should be criticized too heavily for their performances. Allen had very little time to throw in the first half, and the game plan eventually shifted toward a run-heavy approach, limiting opportunities for the receivers. Moore made a few catches early in the game, but his best play came on a wide receiver screen that was officially recorded as an 11-yard run.
Khalil Shakir: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 58 Yards
Shakir had the best performance among all the Bills’ pass catchers. The Bills found ways to get the ball into his hands through quick wide receiver screens, allowing him to make plays after the catch. His best play came late in the third quarter when he hauled in a 22-yard reception over the middle of the field.
Keon Coleman: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 17 Yards
Coleman didn’t see his first target until the third quarter. He received an end zone target, but the pass was just out of reach for him to bring in. His best catch came in the fourth quarter on a tough throw from Allen over the middle of the field. Coleman managed to secure the pass despite taking an immediate hit from a defender.
Dalton Kincaid: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 28 Yards
It was a quieter night for Kincaid, who finished with just 3 catches in this game. The Bills tried to get him involved early with a quick tight end screen as Allen struggled against the Vikings’ relentless pressure. Kincaid managed to get open on several plays throughout the game, but Allen rarely had enough time in the pocket to work through his progressions and find him downfield.
Dawson Knox: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 37 Yards
Knox served as a reliable safety valve for Allen throughout the game, providing an option on short passes and checkdowns whenever the Vikings brought pressure. Knox gave the Bills a dependable target underneath when he didn’t have enough time to push the ball downfield.
Jackson Hawes: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 8 Yards
Keleki Latu: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 25 Yards, TD
Minnesota Vikings
Quarterback
Carson Wentz: 8/25, 81 Yards, 2 INTs, Fumble (Lost) | 1 carry, 0 Yards
Wentz will hope this is a game to forget. His passing was all over the place, with plenty of inaccurate throws to his pass catchers throughout the game. Wentz threw two interceptions, with the first coming on a badly underthrown pass intended for T.J. Hockenson up the seam. His second interception was a bit more unfortunate, as one of his offensive linemen landed on his foot while he was in the process of throwing the ball, which likely impacted the pass. Wentz also got banged up during the game, adding to an already frustrating performance. To make matters worse, he was credited with a fumble after throwing a slightly backward pass to Justin Jefferson, who failed to secure the ball before the defense recovered it. Wentz eventually sat out the Vikings’ final offensive drive, although it’s unclear whether that decision was due to his poor performance or an injury. At this point, the Vikings desperately need better quarterback play because this offense is struggling to produce consistently.
Max Brosmer : 6/7, 58 Yards
Brosmer entered the game for the Vikings’ final offensive drive and looked better than Wentz in his limited opportunity. However, much of that success came against a Bills defense that was playing softer coverage and allowing shorter completions underneath. While Brosmer showed some encouraging signs, it’s difficult to take much away from just one drive against a prevent defense.
Running Back
Aaron Jones Sr.: 5 Carries, 16 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards
Jones got the start and handled the early touches for the Vikings. However, he struggled with efficiency on the ground, which led to Jordan Mason seeing more opportunities in the second half. His biggest contribution came on a pass interference call that resulted in a 19-yard gain for the Vikings’ offense. Overall, Minnesota’s rushing attack struggled throughout the game, with neither Jones nor Mason finding much success on the ground.
Jordan Mason: 6 Carries, 35 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 7 Yards
Mason didn’t see much work early in the game, which was likely due to the negative game script. However, he became more involved in the 2nd half, putting together a few solid runs in the third quarter that helped bring some life to the Vikings’ offense. Unfortunately, his rushing production didn’t make much of an impact with Minnesota playing from behind. Mason also saw a few targets on the Vikings’ final offensive drive, giving him some additional opportunities in the passing game.
DeeJay Dallas: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 2 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Justin Jefferson: 11 Targets, 3 Receptions, 58 Yards
It was a really tough game for fantasy managers who needed a big performance from Jefferson. Much of Jefferson’s poor production was due to Wentz’s struggles, although Jefferson wasn’t completely without fault. He got lucky when he failed to secure a backward pass that was ruled a fumble by Wentz rather than Jefferson. He also had a difficult diving catch opportunity that he failed to bring in, but those are the types of plays we expect Jefferson to make. Throughout the game, Jefferson was dealing with inaccurate targets from a pressured Wentz, making it difficult for him to get anything going. About one-third of his receiving yards came on the Vikings’ final offensive series with Brosmer at quarterback, as the Bills were playing prevent defense. At this point, the Vikings desperately need to trade for a quarterback because the current situation is severely limiting Jefferson’s fantasy upside.
Jordan Addison: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 28 Yards
Addison didn’t record his first catch until late in the second quarter, picking up 12 yards. His only other reception came on the Vikings’ final drive against a soft Bills defense. Addison managed to get open at times throughout the game, but his lack of production had more to do with the quarterback play than his own performance. Unfortunately, there is very little fantasy upside in Addison’s current situation.
TJ Hockenson: 7 Targets, 3 Receptions, 44 Yards
T.J. Hockenson continued to work the middle of the field in the passing game, with all three of his receptions coming in that area. He made a few catches early in the game but saw limited opportunities as the game progressed. Hockenson wouldn’t record another reception until the fourth quarter.
Myles Price: 4 Targets, 1 Reception, 6 Yards