Team news: Buffalo Bills

Bills HC Sean McDermott said DT DaQuan Jones is "week-to-week" with a calf injury. WR Joshua Palmer is also "week-to-week" with an ankle injury. LB Matt Milano, WR Curtis Samuel and TE Dalton Kincaid is "day-to-day."

Related players: Dawson Knox

Kinkaid was a game-time call before being ruled out for Monday Night Football. One can assume Kincaid was close to going this past week, but with the team on a bye in Week 7 it likely played a factor in him sitting out. Week 8 looks looks like a solid bet for his return.

Bills TE Dalton Kinkaid is OUT for Monday Night Football.

Related players: Dawson Knox, Cole Kmet

Kinkaid was able to practice this week but will not suit up for this week's game on Monday night. A lot of owners could be in a bit of a bind, but Knox could be a serviceable option on your wire. Kmet, of the Bears who also plays on Monday night, could also be an option.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen will be sporting a new look on Thursday night.

On Tuesday, Allen said he’s “a little bruised up” but otherwise fine heading into this week’s game. He was sporting a visor on his helmet at practice and said he thinks he will wear it as further protection on Thursday.

“We’ll see. We’ll probably wear it in the game,” Allen said in his press conference. “Just trying to get used to it.”

Allen had to leave Sunday’s win over the Jets for a brief period after he got hit in the face at the end of a running play, the story said. Allen’s nose was bleeding, but he returned with gauze in one nostril and had no further issues in the game. The story went on to say Allen has not worn a visor in an NFL game, but wore one in college.

Bills RB James Cook (hamstring) is off the injury report and good to go Sunday vs. the Jets.

Related Players: Ray Davis, Ty Johnson

All systems go for James Cook as a high-end RB2 here. Keep Davis in the desperation RB4 range.

Bills WR Khalil Shakir, who suffered a high ankle sprain in practice a month ago, was listed as full participant today on the season's initial injury report. WR Keon Coleman (groin) was limited.

Related Players: Joshua Palmer, Curtis Samuel, Dalton Kincaid

The whole Bills wide receiver room feels like a stay-away to begin the season, but Shakir should sneak himself back into WR3/4 consideration now that he's fully cleared. He'll need some more splash plays to be truly fantasy relevant, but he's in a good situation as a floor play against a Ravens team that could force a shootout. We'll keep an eye on Coleman's status, but he's more of a boom-bust option if he suits up.

Perhaps Ray Davis could be a bit more of a factor, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see a similar split to last season among the Bills' three backs. The team put James Cook on the field for 47.6% of offensive snaps, with Davis getting opportunities (24.3%) and Ty Johnson seeing the field often on third downs (29%). Despite Cook "holding in" for much of camp before reaching a contract extension on Wednesday, the Bills did not show anything in practice to indicate a different approach this season.

Looks like Davis will continue to be mostly an arbitrage play in fantasy, though we have to assume some regression from Cook's 16 rushing touchdowns, so maybe the sophomore can snag some of those. He's still an interesting pick for RB-needy teams in the double-digit rounds.

Bills now have officially signed RB James Cook to a four-year contract extension through 2029.

Related Players: Ray Davis, Ty Johnson

It's a four-year, $48M extension after Cook scored 18 combined touchdowns last season. We can still expect Davis and Johnson to rotate in (and Josh Allen could always take some of those rushing touchdowns for himself), but Cook remains a very solid RB2 option in 2025.

Bills HC Sean McDermott tells reporters he’s confident that RB James Cook will practice today noting "things have changed.”

There were no specifics as to what has changed exactly, but one can speculate his hold-out or hold-in is - hopefully - over. Cook wants a new deal and missed several practices and also declined to play in the team's last preseason game.

Bills HC Sean McDermott said he’s being told as of now that WR Khalil Shakir should be on pace to return for the start of the season.

Shakir is dealing with a high ankle sprain.

Related Players: Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman, Elijah Moore, Curtis Samuel

It would be fantastic news if Shakir were able to suit up to kick off the season, as we're still expecting him to pace the team in targets. If he has a fully healthy season, there are signs pointing to a potential true breakout, making him an intriguing WR3 at a WR4 price. That all depends on volume though, so any missed time makes him a less valuable pick due to a lack of "blow-up" games.

Bills running back James Cook has been open about his desire for a new contract, but he reported to training camp and was taking part in practice until Sunday.

On Sunday, Cook watched the session in street clothes and said after it was over that “business” was the reason why he was not on the field with the rest of the team. During an appearance on WGR Monday, Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said that Cook’s plan was “not something they were fully aware of until shortly before practice” and that he hopes to have Cook back on the field soon.

The story went on to say Beane said there has been “constant communication” with Cook about an extension. Beane also noted that both sides have to agree in order for the deal to come together and that the team has to make sure it “all fits under an umbrella, not in a silo.” The Bills don't seem to be in a hurry as Beane also said a deal can still get done before Cook becomes a free agent.