Team news: Buffalo Bills | Page 3

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.

Lions TE Sam LaPorta, who missed time in training camp because of injury, isn't listed on the initial injury report, putting him on track to face the Packers.

Related Players: Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra

It was a disappointing season —in terms of ADP payoff— for LaPorta last season, but it looks like he'll be a full-go in this divisional matchup to start the year. Consider him an easy top-10 option for Week 1.

Sources: The Lions are releasing QB Hendon Hooker.

Related players: Jared Goff, Kyle Allen

Allen will now be the backup to Goff. The Lions were hoping Hooker would take over the QB2 duties, but it wasn't a good sign when Hooker played behind Allen in the final preseason game. Hooker is a former third round pick.

And another trade! The Denver Broncos are sending WR Devaughn Vele to the New Orleans Saints for a 2026 4th-round pick and a 2027 7th-round pick, per sources.

Related Players: Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Mason Tipton, Brandin Cooks, Cedrick Wilson

That's a lot of related players, but the biggest impact is probably on rookie Pat Bryant, who has played well enough to make Vele expendable in Denver.

The Saints will presumably employ the 6'4" Vele as a rotational threat, which makes him a little more interesting in super deep leagues for a team that is projected to be playing from behind a ton.

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.

D.J. Moore has been lining up in the backfield from time to time as the Bears try to find as many ways as possible to get the ball into the hands of one of their most dynamic players. On Monday, Moore said it has been “daunting” to learn a new position but added that it’s why he gets “paid the big bucks” so he’s going full speed in his embrace of the new twist to the offense.

Related players: Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, Cole Kmet, Colston Loveland, D'Andre Swift

Moore was quoted as saying he wants to, ‘‘Just do it all and just attack it.’’ It should be a great sign for his fantasy owners as any time an offense wants to find more ways to get a player touches is never a bad thing. In this case, it's a pretty crowded offense in terms of overall talent, but it looks like the Bears want to keep Moore involved.

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.