The Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders head into their Week 8 showdown coming off of huge, emotional victories in Week 7. The Raiders trailed their divisional rival, the Kansas City Chiefs, until the waning seconds of the game, then won on a fifth “last play” of the game, 31-30. The Bills were poised to blow a 17-6 lead before rattling off 10 points in the final 3 minutes, coming away with a 30-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both teams have had some quality fantasy football output this year. If you’re looking to add some Buffalo Bills to your roster, here are a few who could have a big day.
RB LeSean McCoy
While the Raiders have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher on the season, and they’ve only allowed 2 rushing touchdowns, where their struggles against running backs have come is in the passing game. Four running backs have over 30 receiving yards against the Raiders, and two have over 60. Quicker, shiftier backs with pass catching skills like Chris Thompson and Melvin Gordon have had huge games against the Raiders’ usually stout defense. Coming off a huge week against Tampa Bay, Shady could be in line for a big afternoon. He is currently the Bills’ leader in both targets and receptions, and he’s second only to the injured Charles Clay in receiving yards. The Raiders will key on him, but that’s been the case in every matchup against the Bills during McCoy’s two-plus years in Buffalo.
TE Nick O’Leary
I’m all-aboard the 84 train, people. O’Leary has great hands, deceptive speed, and incredible toughness. Oakland has allowed three touchdown receptions to tight ends, and there has been a tight end in double-figures in fantasy scoring in four of the Raiders’ seven games this season. With a position so prone to boom or bust players, it’s hard to find someone who is so readily available (98% availability in Yahoo! leagues) who will see the kind of volume he’ll see (Buffalo’s tight ends have accounted for 42 of the team’s 178 targets, just under one-fourth). Oakland’s struggles against the position could play well for the Bills and O’Leary.
K Stephen Hauschka
The Bills’ kicker has been money all season, and Oakland is currently allowing the 3rd-most fantasy points to kickers. Only one kicker has failed to score at least 9 fantasy points in a game against the Raiders this season, so Hauschka feels like a safe bet to have a big week.
Miscellaneous
I’m hesitant to recommend starting Tyrod Taylor, but if your quarterback is on a bye, you could certainly do worse. The Raiders are right in the middle of the league in terms of QB points allowed, and Taylor’s skill set compares to that of Marcus Mariota, who scored 18.84 points in the opener... Jordan Matthews is a possibility, but I really like Deonte Thompson and what he does to stretch the field vertically for the Bills. I wouldn’t go anywhere near another Buffalo receiver... As good as Oakland’s offense is, if you have Buffalo’s defense, you should play them. If you have two defenses (and your league doesn’t force you to have two defenses), well, what are you doing?