Buffalo Bills vs. Wahington Redskins
Buffalo escaped a potential trap game against a terrible Redskins team this week. There are goods and bads to be taken away. On the bad side, this is a bend but don’t break defense that is showing the most cracks it has had since the McDermott era began. Buffalo is highly liable vs the run and this will be a factor in the second half of the season as well as in the playoffs assuming Buffalo can spring from their 6-2 start to a playoff belief in what is a considerably easy AFC this season. On the bright side, Buffalos transformation into the Carolina Panthers. Washington is by far one of the least fantasy-friendly franchises through the season to this point. Having just generated 9 total points against a Bills defense that has now give up over 100 rushing yards the last two weeks. Washington being a run-first offense should have been able to find at least a touchdown. Instead, they settle for 3 FGs and allow Buffalo to cover a spread they had no business covering.
Washington Redskins
Quarterback
- Dwayne Haskins 15/22, 144 Yards, 4 sacks | 3 carries, 14 yards
Haskins didn’t play well but he also didn’t play poorly. No TDs and No INTs actually bring hope to fans of Washington that mentally Haskins is able to avoid mistakes. Yet that’s a hollow victory as he also showed only a few flashes of any playmaking ability. He was able to scramble for a 1st down on a key 3rd and long in the 4th and that is the highlight of his day. With the Washington Franchise being what it is I don’t think Haskins is ownable at all outside of a deep dynasty.
Running Backs
- Adrian Peterson: 18 carries, 108 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 22 yards
AP is the lone wolf worth owning this Washington team. He had carries 18 for 108 yards. The Bills defense has become liable to run up the middle. That is part of the reason Peterson was able to find success. Expect Peterson to be given the rock a lot here going forward. In fantasy, volume can often be key even if the touches aren’t as productive as they could be. Being a Bill Cahalan it’s very easy to see how they might look to take the air out of the ball
Wide Receivers
- Paul Richardson: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 39 yards
- Terry Mclaurin: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 42 yards
There is not an awful lot for the skins. Terry ‘Scorin’ Mclaurin has freefallen from the fantasy elite to the role truth that he occupies. He and Paul Richardson have very similar upside. It is also all TD dependent. With Haskins the helm there is an opportunity for deep league consistency within them but that comes at the cost of attempting to place faith in one of the least productive offenses in the league. Neither made any critical plays against a strong Bills pass defense.
Buffalo Bills
Quarterback
- Josh Allen 14/20, 160 yards, 1 TD, 2 sacks | 8 carries, 12 Yards 1 TD
Josh Allen is a low-end QB1 in fantasy because of the way this offense works. Very similar to Cam in that he is able to add a red zone factor with his legs. Creating mental issues and physical mismatches for the defense. The Josh Allen QB sweep is one of the most exciting plays in football now. He got the job done for you again fantasy-wise. As well, in the actual game, Buffalo is completely building around Josh Allen. He is the focal point of the offense in the most opposite way of a player like Jerad Goff. As Goff is provided an elite group of route runners and concepts to scheme, open players, Buffalo trusts Josh Allen to put the ball in the hands of his open WRs right at the sticks and to keep the game manageable and on schedule. Including allowing him to play hero ball of sorts now and then as he rolls out of the pocket to chuck a 50 yards pass. Josh Allen has the most upside of any NFL QB today. The next step in his development will be to not just win against bad teams like Washington, but to dominate them.
Running Backs
- Devin Singletary: 20 carries, 95 yards, 1 TD | 4 targets, 3 receptions, 45 Yards
- Frank Gore: 11 carries, 15 Yards
Fantasy owners be on notice for Singletary after this week. He is Christan McCaffrey lite. Part of the comparison is the connection to Carolina in the Buffalo front office. They have very similar team philosophies and team-building styles. However, this is mostly just because he is the best player nobody is talking about in the NFL. Singletary provided the athleticism and playmaking ability that Buffalo hasn’t had since CJ Spiller. He is the reason they were able to beat Washinton so easily. While Allen played well and the vast part of the roster did what their job was, Singletary had a welcome party to fantasy stardom. Looking for Singletary from this point forward to completely phase out Gore save short-yardage situations and occasional breath. This wouldn’t be the first time we have seen a rookie running back transform an offense to reach a fuller potential. And thanks to Carolina being the model for Buffalo we actually have an idea of what the potential upside for this offense might be when running through Allen and Singletary. The biggest questions remaining for me after this game are: Is buffalo going to continue to use Singelary as a workhorse and have their best players on the field, is he going to command 4 catches a game, and has he already surpassed the majority of RB2s.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
- John Brown: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 75 yards, 1TD
- Dawson Knox: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards
- Cole Beasley: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 13 yards, 1 TD
The Buffalo offense ran through Devin Singletary this week and going forward I would not expect that to change. The Bills pass catchers play a more in-game flow role and schemed situation as opposed to general quality players that have been inconsistent. Dawson Knox has TD upside every single drive. He is a massive player with physical tools that wow fans. However, because of the offense in Buffalo, there is no stable floor. Likewise for Cole Beasley who is quietly very talented yet with little to no fantasy value. John Brown, on the other hand, has bounced back to his career peak ability in buffalo. He is the legit number 1 in this offense and you can tell how the team and Allen trust him making down the field plays. The next most important receiver now is Devin Singletary. His role out of the backfield adds an offensive aspect that has been lacking from this bill’s side for years. His electricity with the ball in hands and as a runner provides an extreme amount of upside.
-John Romanelli