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Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em, and lineup advice for the Bills vs. Dolphines on Thursday Night Football in Week 2 (2024). Detailed player breakdowns and TNF matchup analysis.
In Week 2 of the fantasy football season, we are still being treated to the premier matchups on "Thursday Night Football." After a plethora of fantasy options were available in the Ravens-Chiefs matchup last week, we might see just as many here between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins. This AFC East matchup is already an interesting divisional look at who might come out on top by the time we reach Week 18 after both teams notched close and impressive wins last week.
There are a couple of injuries to monitor on the Miami side of the ball, but nothing serious for Buffalo after Josh Allen was declared to be good after a minor hand issue on Sunday. Both teams will be at full strength and ready for a fast-paced contest that is tied for the second-highest implied game total in all of Week 2.
I will be bringing you "Thursday Night Football" analysis all year long, focusing on who to start, who is on the fence, and who should find the bench. Let's dive into this next awesome Thursday night matchup for Week 2 of the 2024 season. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins - 8:20 pm ET
Notable Injuries:
- De'Von Achane (RB, MIA) - Ankle - Active
- Raheem Mostert (RB, MIA) - Chest - Out
Bills at Dolphins Matchup Breakdown
After rushing for 46% of their plays in 2023, the Buffalo Bills unveiled a new, run-heavy approach in Week 1, even as the Arizona Cardinals kept pushing them on offense. The Bills rushed on 57% of their plays on Sunday, which was the fourth-highest total in the league.
This is the way offensive coordinator Joe Brady likes to set up his offense, and Josh Allen is the perfect dual-threat weapon to make it happen. On defense, even though the score ended up 34-28 on Sunday, the defense for the Bills looked much better than the final line.
JA17 has been cleared to play in Thursday night's game.
More updates from Coach McDermott: https://t.co/woBhokreiz pic.twitter.com/KxUS9yZMaZ
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 9, 2024
One of their scores allowed was on a dynamic kickoff return. On two Cardinals drives, the Bills defense stopped them in the red zone, forcing Arizona to kick two field goals. They allowed just one short rushing touchdown and one short passing touchdown while holding Kyler Murray to 162 yards passing.
For the Dolphins, they are riding high after a last-second win by the foot of Jason Sanders on Sunday against Jacksonville. Their offense was able to move the ball seemingly at will in that game but were only able to score touchdowns on half of their trips to the red zone.
Buffalo will look to take away the big plays (good luck!) after Tyreek Hill broke free for an 80-yard touchdown in Week 1.
Must-Starts for Fantasy Football Lineups
Josh Allen (QB, BUF)
Sunday against the Cardinals was just the fourth time in Allen's career that he rushed for two scores and threw for at least two scores in the same game. He had nine rushing attempts and is completely immune from an offensive shift to a more run-heavy approach.
Josh Allen, absurd football player
3rd and 11!!!! pic.twitter.com/Tyv5DyxknS
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) September 10, 2024
James Cook (RB, BUF)
James Cook is officially a bell-cow back after touching the ball 22 times on Sunday against Arizona. His 19 rush attempts Sunday were the third most in his career, and he was able to touch the ball three times in the red zone, the most of any player on the Bills.
Dalton Kincaid (TE, BUF)
Only Keon Coleman ran more routes on Sunday than Dalton Kincaid. The fact that he only received one target in the game is quite fluky, as the Cardinals tried to take him out of the game by double-teaming him on almost every play.
Tyreek Hill (WR, MIA)
It was another elite performance on Sunday for Tyreek Hill, even after his incident with police outside the stadium before the game in Miami. After his 130-yard, one-touchdown performance on Sunday, he sits fifth among wide receivers in air yards share (63.7%) and ninth in target share (29.7%).
They're baaaack: Tyreek Hill just caught an 80-yard TD from Tua Tagovailoa.
Hill celebrated by putting his hands behind his back, referencing the police incident from this morning.pic.twitter.com/TarGdxX5kP
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 8, 2024
Jaylen Waddle (WR, MIA)
Jaylen Waddle had 109 yards against Jacksonville on Sunday, yet is being completely overlooked after big days for Hill and De'Von Achane. He averaged over four yards per route run and accumulated 41 yards after the catch. He is still elite, even with all the other weapons Miami can put on the field.
De'Von Achane (RB, MIA)
Achane slightly led a crowded backfield in snaps on Sunday. His 52% edged out Raheem Mostert (44%) and Jeff Wilson Jr. (15%), but the usage all flowed Achane's way. He saw 10 rush attempts and seven targets and was in on all goal-line attempts and 4-of-6 two-minute-drill snaps. He has officially been declared active for Thursday Night Football after being questionable all week.
Solid Starts for Fantasy Football Lineups
Khalil Shakir (WR, BUF)
Khalil Shakir dominated the slot snaps and touches over Curtis Samuel on Sunday and got the red-zone looks that his managers were so desperate to see. In a rush-heavy game plan, he might be a boom-or-bust play each week, but it's clear by his 53% snaps to Samuel's 27% that the Bills prefer Shakir.
He is the one holdover from last season after all the offseason turnover in the wide receiver room.
Was disappointed to see Khalil Shakir only get 3 targets week one. He is a YAC monster and I believe as the season progresses he will have a huge role for Buffalo pic.twitter.com/bOcLfo7MTf
— CamIsMoney (@CamIsMoney18) September 10, 2024
Keon Coleman (WR, BUF)
Keon Coleman's five targets in his first NFL game were an encouraging sign, but the most important thing about them is that two came in the red zone. He wasn't able to haul in a touchdown, but a 21.7% target share and a 28% air yards share means Allen is already comfortable going his way.
Tua Tagovailoa (QB, MIA)
Tagovailoa's 338 passing yards on Sunday were the fifth most in his career, and it was accompanied by the 12th-highest yards per attempt (9.14). Strangely, it only led to one touchdown pass but signaled that the Dolphins were going to immediately be going back to the game plan of going fast and throwing the ball deep.
With the Bills likely to score a lot of points in this one, the QB is going to have to throw for them to stay in the game.
Jeff Wilson Jr. and Jaylen Wright (RB, MIA)
Wilson and Jaylen Wright are not exactly on the fantasy radar right now, but with Raheem Mostert ruled out on Thursday, one of these guys could make an immediate impact. Based on usage in Week 1, it would be Wilson since Wright was a healthy scratch. But monitor the coach speak here as we approach game time to see who they plan to deploy behind De'Von Achane.
Wright is a dynamic rookie, and if he plays the short side of a platoon with Achane, I would certainly be interested in deep leagues.
Consider Sitting for Fantasy Football Lineups
Dawson Knox (TE, BUF)
Dawson Knox and Kincaid both had just two targets on Sunday, but Kincaid almost doubled up Knox in snaps. With the Bills leaning more on the run, Knox will be asked to block more, and the Bills TE2 shouldn't see our starting lineups.
Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins (WR, BUF)
Based on snaps, targets, air yards, and opportunities, Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins are the fourth and fifth options on this Bills offense right now. Hollins saved his Week 1 with a nice touchdown but otherwise was not heavily involved.
Jonnu Smith (TE, MIA)
After all the offseason coach speak about Jonnu Smith's speed and athleticism, he was in on just 28% of routes and saw just two targets in Week 1. He is a bench player for now.
Kirksey’s Thursday Night Football Picks
Current Spread: MIA -1, Total: 49.5
Betting on the Bills is usually a safe place to go, but betting the under in a Bills-Dolphins matchup with all these weapons is a dangerous proposition. Still, the Buffalo defense looked better than the final score demonstrated in Week 1, and Tagovailoa was just 20th in the NFL with a 62.2% completion percentage. Against the much tougher Buffalo secondary, points will be hard to come by for Miami. I'm looking for this one to come out of Miami with a final score of Bills 28, Dolphins 20.
The Pick:
Buffalo +1, Under 49.5
2024 Record:
Spread (1-0), Over/Under (0-1) - Lost the over/under by a half point in Week 1!
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