Allen Is a Lock, Wilson Clears His Concussion and Hall Splits Carries: Abby's Lineup Calls for Buffalo at New York

The Bills and Jets kick off at 1 p.m. Eastern, and this is one of the cleaner fantasy matchups on the early slate, at least on one side of the field. Buffalo's stars are easy calls. The Jets are healthier than they have been in weeks, but healthy does not always mean productive. Here is how to set your lineup.

Buffalo: Start the Stars

James Cook (start). Cook is coming off his heaviest workload of the season, a season-high 31 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown in last week's win ^[2][3], and the projections love him again. ESPN's fantasy playbook projects him as the No. 4 running back of the week, and Fantasy Life ranks him sixth ^[2][3]. When a coaching staff trusts a back with 31 carries in a road win, it is telling you who the offense runs through.

Josh Allen (start). ESPN lists Allen among its lineup locks for the week ^[2]. The matchup helps: Fantasy Life's breakdown says the Jets' defense ranks last over the past month in several key passing categories, including expected points allowed per dropback and passer rating allowed ^[3]. Allen is a must-start in every format, as he is most weeks.

Keon Coleman (sit). Fantasy Life ranks Coleman around 50th among receivers this week and lists him as a sit ^[3]. Even in a good matchup, Buffalo spreads the ball around enough that Coleman is hard to trust in a standard lineup. Leave him on the bench unless you are in a very deep league.

New York: The Receivers Are Back

Garrett Wilson (start). Wilson entered the concussion protocol after the Jets' loss to the Raiders and missed last week's game in Kansas City, according to the team ^[6]. The good news came on Friday. Wilson, Omar Cooper and Adonai Mitchell were all full participants in practice and are all expected to play, Draft Sharks reported, and it called Wilson the best fantasy bet among the Jets' receivers ^[1].

The matchup is not easy. ESPN projects Wilson for 12.7 points and calls his expected matchup with Bills cornerback Christian Benford a shaky one ^[2]. Wilson is still a solid WR2 because of the targets he commands, but temper your expectations for a huge day in his first game back.

Adonai Mitchell (flex only). CBS Sports' Dave Richard listed Mitchell as a start, but as a low-end No. 2 receiver in case Wilson could not play ^[4]. With Wilson back, Mitchell's target share takes a hit. He is a flex option in deeper leagues, not a lock.

Mason Taylor (sit). Richard also lists the Jets' tight end among his sits for the week ^[4].

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The Jets' Backfield Puzzle

Breece Hall (flex with caution). Hall came back from a five-game absence last week and led the Jets' backfield with 18 touches and 11.7 fantasy points, ESPN reported ^[2]. His workload was 15 carries and four targets on 27 snaps, while Braelon Allen played 36 snaps with eight carries and two targets ^[2]. That is a committee, and ESPN expects it to stay that way, calling both backs tough to trust against Buffalo's run defense ^[2].

Not everyone is that cautious. CBS Sports' Richard suggests starting Hall as a second-tier running back ^[4]. Yahoo Sports noted that Hall is talented enough to be dangerous, but also that Buffalo has played much better against the run this season ^[5].

What to do: If you have a stronger option, use it. If Hall is your best choice at RB2 or flex, start him and hope a big play or a red-zone touch comes his way. Braelon Allen is a bench stash this week.

The Quarterback on the Other Side

Yahoo Sports noted that Jets quarterback Geno Smith gives Buffalo's defense a tougher test than some recent opponents ^[5]. In fantasy terms, Smith is a two-quarterback and superflex option only. The Bills' defense is a reasonable start in standard leagues, with turnover upside.

Your Final Checklist

Inactive lists come out about 90 minutes before kickoff, so confirm that Wilson, Cooper and Mitchell are active before you lock in a Jets receiver. If Wilson is somehow held out, Mitchell moves up to a solid flex. On the Buffalo side, there is nothing to overthink: start Cook and Allen, and enjoy it.

Abby's Bottom Line

Fantasy rewards patience and trust in the players who earn it. Cook earned it with 31 carries on a short week, and Allen earns it every Sunday. On the Jets' side, welcome Wilson back, but give the backfield a week or two to sort itself out before you count on it.

And if you want another way to have fun with the early games, our free Liberty Bell Fantasy games are waiting at /fantasy. Good luck this week.