The Tennessee Titans started off their divisional play with a hard-fought loss to the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday. They get a shot at redemption this week when they travel to upstate New York to face the surging Buffalo Bills. It’s not a realistic shot at redemption, but there’s still a chance. Anything can happen, and anything is possible.
Realistically, the Titans have their work cut out for them. The Bills are high on Monday’s last-minute comeback win over the New York Jets, and they’ll be on their home turf, where they’re the most comfortable. The Titans took one step forward with their Monday night win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 4 and then two steps back with that awful loss to the Colts at home.
Still, whether these teams win or lose, they both house players who should start on every fantasy team that rosters them this week.
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This one is kind of a no-brainer. He doesn’t have the most passing yards this season, but he is the only starting quarterback to have zero interceptions in 2024, and he is responsible for 70% of the Bills’ offensive production this season. He’s averaging 7.4 yards per completed pass and 5.1 yards per carry, managing just under 20 fantasy points per game this season. In this game, against a Titans secondary that struggled with a banged-up Colts’ offense last week, Allen is poised to have a big game.
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The Titans’ offense runs through Tony Pollard. It has done so all season and will continue to be that way until (or if) Brian Callahan decides to give Mason Rudolph a shot. Will Levis isn’t cutting it at quarterback, which has forced Callahan to be more conservative in his play-calling, which means more hand-offs to their reliable running back. If you take away the Green Bay game where he recorded just 5.9 fantasy points, Pollard averages 17.5 fantasy points per game. The Titans will rely heavily on him against the Bills this week, so if you have him, he is definitely a must-start.
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Bills running back James Cook is the team’s top running back with 309 yards and four touchdowns. His 15.6 fantasy point average is dragged down by a 5.8-point showing against a tough Baltimore Ravens defense. The Titans’ run defense is in the top 10 in the NFL, but their passing game is where they are the strongest. Cook is likely to make an impact on the ground this week.
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Khalil Shakir is also worth consideration as a starter, but Amari Cooper just joined the Bills and what better team to get him some reps against than the struggling Titans? Cooper was unhappy in Cleveland and requested a trade, which the Browns made happen this week. Over six games in Cleveland this season, Cooper recorded 24 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns. Over his 11-year career, he’s fumbled the ball just nine times. He’s reliable, and he’s one of those receivers who can go get the ball if it’s thrown in his direction. Josh Allen will benefit from having Cooper as a weapon, and Cooper will benefit from having a quarterback who can actually get him the ball.
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This one was tough as DeAndre Hopkins could also be considered and should be if you have him on your fantasy team. But Calvin Ridley has expressed his frustration and Brian Callahan admitted they needed to do better at getting him involved early. The Bills have the 21st ranked pass defense in the NFL this season, and while Will Levis might do his best to make that defense look better than it is, Ridley is going to be the first option he looks for. And when Levis does throw him the ball, Ridley has to do better by Levis and actually catch the thing. That connection could turn around this week, so start Ridley if you have him.
