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It's Tuesday football time! And no, this article isn't about a MAC football game between Akron and Bowling Green -- it's about an actual NFL game on a Tuesday night.
After having their Week 4 game postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak, the Tennessee Titans have had their Week 5 game pushed as far it could have been without pushing it out of Week 5. Now, we get some mid-week football between the Titans and the Buffalo Bills. At this point, it's far too late to make any season-long lineup decisions around this game, so we'll mainly be talking about DFS.
Let's talk about the matchup and what to expect from certain players.
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Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans
- Game time: Tuesday 10/13 @ 7:00 EST
- Game line: BUF -3.5
- Over/Under: 53
The COVID-19 List
Let's just get this out of the way. It appears that the following offensive players for Tennessee are still on the league's COVID list: wide receiver Cameron Batson, full back Khari Blasingame, wide receiver Corey Davis, wide receiver Adam Humphries, and tight end MyCole Pruitt. Unless we hear otherwise, I think we should assume that the Titans won't have those players. Considering how many are wide receivers, Tuesday could see some unexpected sources of production for Tennessee.
Must-Starts
Josh Allen (QB, BUF)
Josh Allen is one of the only players in this game that I'm actually starting in any of my season-long leagues. Why? Because he's been great this year. He's third in average completed air yards and in addition to throwing the deep ball more accurately in 2020, he's also rushed for three touchdowns already. Plus, Tennessee won't be at 100 percent on defense because of COVID. It all adds up to another strong performance for Allen.
Derrick Henry (RB, TEN)
The other player in this game that I'm definitely starting in season-long leagues still even after things were pushed back is Derrick Henry. I'm worried because the Bills allow the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs, but Henry already has two 100-yard games in three attempts this year, including a two-touchdown day against the Vikings. He's a must-start RB1 option every week.
Devin Singletary (RB, BUF)
The Titans rank pretty firmly in the middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to running backs, but with two defensive lineman out for COVID, this run defense should take a hit. Singletary will benefit the most from that hit. He's already has two games with at least five yards per carry and has been an increase in his pass-game usage the last two weeks, and in Week 4 he found the end zone for the first time. He's a solid play, though his ceiling is limited by how many red zone runs go to Allen instead.
Stefon Diggs (WR, BUF)
The rumored return of Adoree Jackson does definitely worry me, but Diggs is on fire this year. Through four games, Diggs has 26 catches for 403 yards. There were valid concerns about Diggs moving to Buffalo, but so far, he's on pace to be a fantasy WR1 this year thanks to Josh Allen's improvements. If Jackson is out, start Diggs with confidence in all formats, including DFS. If Jackson plays, maybe go a little lighter on Diggs in your Showdown slate and avoid making him your captain.
A.J. Brown (WR, TEN)
Yes, Brown is dealing with a knee injury that's kept him off the field for the past two games. And yes, he's matched up with Tre'Davious White, one of the NFL's best cover corners. But guess what? You probably should have at least a solid amount of Brown in DFS this week because the Titans are so bare at receiver with Davis and Humphries on the COVID list. Brown should see a good number of targets, which can hopefully translate into production even with White on him.
Jonnu Smith (TE, TEN)
A.J. Brown has a knee issue and the rest of Tennessee's past catchers are out. It's JONNU SZN, y'all. Buffalo allows the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. Smith has three touchdowns in three games. I know playing a tight end as your captain is always a risky strategy, but this might be the week to do it.
Consider Sitting
Ryan Tannehill (QB, TEN)
Likely to be down his two and three receivers, it's hard to trust Tannehill this week. Sure, he has the advantage of playing a Bills secondary that has surprisingly struggled lately, but he'll also be coming off two weeks with barely any practice on a team that's suddenly got a lot of holes. The 3-0 Titans appear overmatched in this one, but I don't think the garbage time potential is high enough to outweigh the negatives for Tannehill. Don't think I'm going to really play him in Showdown tonight, even if his completed air yard number this year ranks seventh in the league.
John Brown (WR, BUF)
Dealing with a calf injury, we don't know if Brown will play, which is why he's listed here. If he suits up, he's got upside, but have to figure he sees a lower than usual snap rate, adding in some risk.
UPDATE: John Brown is officially out for Week 5.
Dawson Knox and Tyler Kroft (TE, BUF)
Too much uncertainty about which one will get the most work. Fine with Knox as a contrarian play in DFS, but think Kroft -- coming off a two-touchdown game last week -- might be too trendy of a play and will be overused in DFS.
Potential Sleepers
Zack Moss (RB, BUF)
Moss has seven red zone attempts in two games. In those two games, that's 53.85 percent of the team's red zone runs. Against a weakened front line defense, Moss has some real "fall into the end zone once or twice" potential, even if his seven red zone carries this year have netted just one yard so far.
UPDATE: Zack Moss is officially out for Week 5.
Cole Beasley (WR, BUF)
Beasley really deserves some more respect for his performances as a Bill. He's a solid floor play in full PPR every week, especially against a Titans secondary that will be without Kristian Fulton this week. Beasley's worthy of a spot in your DFS lineup.
Gabriel Davis (WR, BUF)
If John Brown sits, I love Davis as a DFS play. Suddenly would have some touchdown upside and is likely to be a little lower-rostered than fellow Bills sleeper receiver Cole Beasley, but would have more big play chances.
Kalif Raymond (WR, TEN)
Raymond will be the No. 2 receiver for Tennessee this week. With Brown facing a likely shadow from Tre'Davious White, Raymond should wind up seeing a lot of footballs thrown his way. Last time out, he was targeted three times, catching all of them for 118 yards. That yardage total might not be here this time, but more targets will, making Raymond a solid DFS sleeper.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (WR, TEN)
The rookie has never been targeted in an NFL game, but he might be the third receiver this week for the Titans. If you're looking for an extremely cheap play in DFS to help you with your lineup construction, you can take a chance on Westbrook-Ikhine, though there's a good chance it doesn't pay off.
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