All of a sudden, it's Week 18, and the 2023 regular season concludes with a battle for the AFC East crown. Below you can read our Sunday Night Football matchups analysis article for the Bills vs. Dolphins game to help make any fantasy lineup decisions for both season-long and DFS formats.
After the New England Patriots dominated the AFC East for what feels like two decades, the Dolphins and Bills could be fighting for the top spot for years to come. And it all starts with this massive showdown in Miami in Week 18.
Read our fantasy football breakdowns for this game -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the final game of Week 18. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
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Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
Spread: Bills -2.5
Implied Total: Bills (25.25) vs. Dolphins (22.75)
Pace: Bills (29th) vs. Dolphins (30th)
Bills Off. DVOA: 39.1% Pass (3rd), 5.1% Rush (5th)
Dolphins Off. DVOA: 41.2% Pass (2nd), 13.1% Rush (3rd)
Bills Def. DVOA: -0.5% Pass (9th), -8.1% Rush (18th)
Dolphins Def. DVOA: 8.6% Pass (18th), -7.4% Rush (21st)
Matchups We Love
Josh Allen (QB, BUF)
Buffalo has looked the part of a playoff-caliber team since their bye week. Maybe even a Super Bowl contender. They'll need one more big Allen performance to win the division and avoid a risky scenario where they miss the postseason entirely.
James Cook (RB, BUF)
After destroying Dallas three weeks ago, Cook has been merely average since then. It's made it hard on fantasy managers and analysts alike who believed in his talent and opportunity. That being said, the over/under is high, it's going to be a playoff-type mentality, and multiple tailbacks are missing from the pool of options, so he's worth starting.
UPDATE: Leonard Fournette has been elevated from the practice squad for this game.
Bills WRs
Allen just simply hasn't thrown the ball as often in the past few weeks. He's been scoring on the ground and their defense has made plays to set them up with short fields. We know someone will stand out if not two or three receivers. Stefon Diggs should be an auto-start every week, yet he's been producing lower output than his teammates Khalil Shakir and Gabe Davis. He's still someone you have to trust, along with those two, who are options you can pursue as well with plenty of upside.
Tyreek Hill (WR, MIA)
Hill is not healthy, but this game is too important for him to sit. He's going to be out there, but Jaylen Waddle won't be. It was an embarrassing loss last week in Baltimore against arguably the best team in the NFL. While Buffalo is not nearly as dominant, they'll be hungry to stay alive and win the division.
UPDATE: Waddle has been ruled out as anticipated.
Dolphins RBs
UPDATE: Raheem Mostert has officially been ruled out for Week 18 the Bills, making Jeff Wilson Jr. a decent option.
The Miami rushing attack is so potent in this offense that you want whoever is out there. Last week, it was De'Von Achane and Jeff Wilson Jr. because Raheem Mostert couldn't go. Mostert has yet to practice this week, making it probable that he will miss Week 18 as well. Achane is a must-start with either Mostert and Wilson Jr. a good option as well.
Matchups We Hate
None
Other Matchups:
Tua Tagovailoa (QB, MIA)
Tagovailoa did all he could but the Ravens were too much to handle. He suffered a should injury late, but has practiced in full all week, so he'll be leading what's left of the offense on Sunday. He's not an elite signal-caller, but still in the group that you want to start.
Dalton Kincaid (TE, BUF)
After vanishing since Dawson Knox came back, Kincaid surprised everyone with a big performance in Week 17, catching four passes for 87 yards. It could be a one-hit wonder, but he fits into the streaming category.
Notable Injuries
Salvon Ahmed (foot)
Jaylen Waddle (ankle)
Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle)
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