What We Saw: Week 8

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Packers @ Bills

Final Score: Bills 27, Packers 17

Writer: Brett Ford (@fadethatman on Twitter)

Not sure if Aaron Rodgers will consider this Sunday Night Football game “Exactly what this team needs right now,” after the beating that he and the Green Bay Packers took at the hands of the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night in Orchard Park… but time will tell.

Was it Matt LaFleur coaching the Packers tonight or Arthur Smith? Trailing by multiple scores for the majority of the game, the Packers’ offense cared very little about the game script and committed to the running game, handing the ball off nearly twice as many times as they threw the ball through three quarters. Rodgers finally got the green light to throw in the final frame, boosting his fantasy performance (and helping the Pack to a backdoor cover).

Meanwhile, Josh Allen did Josh Allen things as he led the Bills to a win. Though he was limited to a season-low 25 pass attempts as the Buffalo offense was far more balanced than most weeks, he still managed a decent fantasy score (though it paled in comparison to some performances in this high-scoring week).

Let’s dig in.

Green Bay Packers

Quarterback

Aaron Rodgers: 19/30, 203 Yards, 2 TD, INT | 1 Carry, 11 Yards

Aaron Rodgers looked exhausted for much of the game but was still able to sling the ball around in the fourth quarter. Clearly disappointed by some of the plays his wideouts weren’t making early on, Rodgers and his young receiving corps made things happen down the stretch that could lend some optimism to Packers fans and Rodgers’ fantasy managers.

Rodgers had attempted just 15 passes through three quarters as the Packers leaned on the much more effective running game through the first three periods. Out of necessity, LaFleur eventually turned over the keys to the jalopy that is the Packers’ offense and allowed Rodgers to sling it.

Until Aaron Rodgers gets a legit receiver – whether Romeo Doubs or Christian Watson develops into one down the stretch or the Packers acquire a big name in the trade market (literally any NFL receiver with the last name of Moore) – he remains a fringe quarterback play for 12-team leagues.

Running Back

Aaron Jones: 20 Carries, 143 Yards | 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 14 Yards

AJ Dillon: 10 Carries, 54 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 9 Yards

Remember the days when people swore that AJ Dillon would overtake Aaron Jones as the lead back in the Packers’ offense? Those are long gone. Jones recorded 24 touches, including 20 carries, while Dillon earned just 11 opportunities with 10 carries. Both were effective runners, with each breaking a long run of 25 yards or more, but it was very clear that Jones is the top dog in this backfield.

Though he didn’t find the end zone, Jones was extremely effective rushing the ball averaging over 7.0 yards per carry, and looked explosive in his opportunities. If a buy-low opportunity presents itself, acquiring Jones could be beneficial as the Packers’ upcoming schedule includes the Lions, Titans, and Bears.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Romeo Doubs: 7 Targets, 4 Receptions, 62 Yards, TD

Samori Toure: 4 Targets, 1 Reception, 37 Yards, TD

Robert Tonyan: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 35 Yards

Amari Rodgers: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 22 Yards

Christian Watson: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 12 Yards

Josiah Deguara: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 9 Yards

Sammy Watkins: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 3 Yards

Romeo Doubs continues to be the closest thing that the Packers have to a breakout star at wide receiver. He finished with four catches for 62 yards and a score on a team-high seven targets. His touchdown grab was spectacular and it appeared that whatever quote Rodgers spewed about getting other guys’ reps was not directed at this rookie wideout.

WHAT. A. CATCH.

TOUCHDOWN @RomeoDoubs! 🙌#GBvsBUF | #GoPackGo

📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/i3xxgcTUEL

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 31, 2022

Unfortunately for the Packers, Christian Watson exited the game after his first catch, taking a heavy hit on the play he was removed immediately and did not return with what was labeled as a concussion. Robert Tonyan caught five passes for 35 yards, primarily operating as Rodgers’ safety valve. Rookie wideout Samori Toure caught one of four targets, but it was an important one as he pulled in a 37-yard touchdown on a well-improvised route up the middle of the field. The only reason he received any snaps was due to the Packers’ injury woes, so I don’t think he’s worth an add except maybe in the deepest of dynasty leagues.

TD for @samori_toure!#GBvsBUF | #GoPackGo

📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/chBf1xEQlq

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 31, 2022

Buffalo Bills

Quarterback

Josh Allen: 13/25, 218 Yards, 2 TD, 2 INT | 6 Carries, 49 Yards

A down game by Josh Allen‘s standards resulted in “just” 23.72 fantasy points (standard scoring leagues), a season-low. One of the encouraging notes from this one was that Allen was 6-for-8 with both of his touchdowns passes coming on plays in which the defense brought five or more rushers. One of the many appeals to rostering Allen is the sheer volume of passing plays that Buffalo runs. Hopefully, for his fantasy managers, this is just a blip in the schedule that may have been gameplan-specific, and Allen and the Bills will be slinging the rock at their typical rate again soon.

One note – Allen had a sniff at a rushing touchdown but was stopped at the one-yard line on the Bills’ first offensive drive. Instead, he pitched it to Dawson Knox on the next play for a one-yard touchdown pass. He is still the Bills’ top goal-line back.

Running Back

Devin Singletary: 14 Carries, 67 Yards | 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 16 Yards

James Cook: 5 Carries, 35 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 41 Yards

Devin Singletary was just okay, toting the ball for 67 yards on 14 attempts and catching one of his two targets for 16 yards. He popped off one run for 30 yards and averaged just under 3.0 yards per carry on his other 13 runs, not exactly eye-popping stuff.

Coming out of the bye week, the Bills have made it clear that rookie running back James Cook has supplanted incumbent Zack Moss as the RB2 in this backfield. Cook ran for 35 yards on five attempts and caught a 41-yard pass on a play that Allen extended with his feet. Too fast for most linebackers to keep up with in coverage, Cook could prove to be a pass-catching weapon out of the backfield for a team that already has a bazillion different ways to score.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Stefon Diggs: 8 Targets, 6 Receptions, 108 Yards, TD, 1 Fumble (Recovered)

Gabe Davis: 7 Targets, 2 Receptions, 35 Yards

Isaiah McKenzie: 2 Carries, 2 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 8 Yards

Dawson Knox: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 10 Yards, TD

Khalil Shakir: 2 Targets

Jake Kumerow: 1 Target

Stefon Diggs has his own brand of bleu cheese dressing. He brought the sauce on Sunday night, finishing with six catches, 108 yards, and a touchdown – his third-straight 100+ yard receiving game and his fifth of the season.

Sunday Night Stef. 😎

📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/BMhko1dSE6

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 31, 2022

Gabriel Davis was man-marked primarily by the Packers’ top cornerback Jaire Alexander for most of the game, effectively limiting his touches. Davis finished with a paltry two catches for 35 yards despite being targeted seven times. Dawson Knox caught a touchdown pass for the second-straight game, though he was only involved with three targets. Isaiah McKenzie was targeted just once but salvaged his day with a two-yard rushing score.