The Buffalo Bills are dealing with multiple key injuries ahead of Monday night’s road game against the New York Jets. Some players’ injury statuses were cleared up over the last few days, but others, including star running back James Cook, remain uncertain for the pivotal AFC East matchup.
Let’s review everything we know about the final Bills injury report and potential fantasy football implications.
James Cook Injury Update
Updated at 6:50 PM ET on Monday, October 14
Bills RB James Cook has officially been listed as inactive because of his toe injury. He will miss Buffalo’s Monday Night Football game against the New York Jets.
Cook is one of this week’s top fantasy football X-factors.
The speedy running back missed Buffalo’s first two Week 6 practices due to a toe injury. And by Friday afternoon, it appeared as if fantasy managers would need to find a replacement.
However, Cook returned to practice on Saturday, albeit as a limited participant and multiple reports indicate he plans to suit up at MetLife Stadium.
Cook’s agents told reporters he plans to play, so we can only take them at their word. But such promises don’t preclude Cook from suffering a setback or not feeling well enough to play during pregame workouts.
We’re live with Coach McDermott as he meets with the media.#BUFvsNYJ | #BillsMafia https://t.co/uQANRUkSA6
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 12, 2024
Cook’s status will be finalized when the Bills release their inactives list roughly 90 minutes before Monday’s 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.
Cook is a high-end RB2 in fantasy with RB1 upside. When Buffalo’s offense is clicking, he posts impressive numbers as both a runner and receiver.
In the first five games, Cook ran for 309 yards and four touchdowns to go along with 11 catches for 123 yards and a score. If the Bills reverse course and rule him out for Monday’s game, rookie running back Ray Davis would see an uptick in usage.
Davis saw 26 rushing attempts in the first five games, compared to 70 for Cook.
Curtis Samuel Injury Update
Then there’s receiver Curtis Samuel, who is also dealing with a toe injury.
Samuel, who was disappointing in the first five games, was a limited participant during practices on Wednesday and Thursday. However, the veteran receiver was a full participant on Saturday and doesn’t have an injury designation on the final Bills injury report.
He’s good to go for Monday night, barring a setback.
Khalil Shakir Injury Update
Receiver Khalil Shakir is dealing with an ankle injury that forced him to miss Buffalo’s first two Week 6 practices. Shakir returned as a limited participant on Saturday and is listed as questionable for Monday’s game.
The speedy wideout suffered the injury while being tackled during the Bills’ Week 4 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. As a result, Shakir was inactive for last week’s road loss to the Houston Texans. A true game-time decision, his status will be monitored as Monday’s kickoff nears.
Shakir has emerged as a solid Flex option this season. The third-year pro currently leads the Bills in catches (18) and receiving yards (230) and is tied with rookie Keon Coleman for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with two.
If Shakir is ruled out, Samuel and Coleman would become more intriguing fantasy options. Coleman would be the better play, as he saw more targets than Samuel in the first five games and is the better touchdown threat.
With all that said, you shouldn’t feel good about starting any Bills pass catcher other than tight end Dalton Kincaid.
Josh Allen Injury Update
The Bills’ handling of Josh Allen last week drew criticism from around the football world.
Allen briefly left Buffalo’s Week 5 loss to the Houston Texans after banging his helmet on the turf. He returned soon afterward, causing many to wonder whether the Bills circumvented the NFL’s concussion protocol.
wow Josh Allen hit his head hard pic.twitter.com/jZINDo15vD
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 6, 2024
Allen did appear on Buffalo’s injury report this week, but not due to a concussion. Instead, he was listed with ankle and left-hand injuries.
That said, there’s no reason to worry about Allen’s status for Monday night. The star quarterback was a full participant in each of the Bills’ three practices this week and was removed from the injury report on Saturday.
If you have Allen in fantasy, start him with confidence.
Other Bills Injuries
- (Out) DT Ed Oliver, Hamstring (did not participate)
- (Questionable) CB Taron Johnson, Forearm (limited participant)
- (Questionable) NT Austin Johnson, Oblique (limited participant)