The Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills both feature ample offensive talent and serious question marks on defense ahead of Week 1. The result should be a fantasy football gold mine Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.
Although most fantasy decisions are pretty straightforward in the opening week, there are typically still some tricky flex decisions for managers. Opting for players from what should be a high-scoring affair could yield strong results at the bottom of your lineup.
Below you’ll find a list of every relevant player and defensive unit from Sunday’s clash between the Cardinals and Bills. If someone isn’t listed, they’re probably best left on the bench to open the 2024 NFL season.
Cardinals-Bills Fantasy Football Breakdown, Analysis
Five-Star Plays
Bills QB Josh Allen
Allen may be the NFL’s most motivated superstar. He spent the entire offseason hearing about how his numbers will drop off without wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Then he was voted the league’s most overrated quarterback by his fellow players. If there was ever a time for a statement game, it’s now. The Cardinals’ defense presents a great opportunity to make it happen.
Projection: 30 points
Cardinals TE Trey McBride
McBride is a matchup nightmare for the Bills. An athletic, versatile tight end against a Buffalo linebacker group missing Matt Milano (biceps injury) should garner at least a dozen targets. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him find the end zone twice on Sunday.
Projection: 22 points
Four-Star Plays
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray
Murray started trending in the right direction late last season after returning from a torn ACL. Now, with a couple of high-end targets at his disposal and his rushing upside improving after a healthy offseason, it’s possible he finishes the campaign inside the top five fantasy quarterbacks.
Projection: 21 points
Bills TE Dalton Kincaid
Kincaid has a chance to emerge as the No. 1 target in the Bills passing game, at least until a clear pecking order emerges at wide receiver. His strong rookie numbers were a bit overlooked last year because he only scored two touchdowns. That number will increase in 2024, perhaps starting with a trip to the end zone in the opener.
Projection: 16 points
Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
Harrison should achieve five-star status most weeks in his debut campaign, but he’s down one rung against the Bills because of a tough matchup against cornerback Rasul Douglas. The Ohio State product should still garner enough looks to hit double-digit fantasy points, though.
Projection: 13 points
Three-Star Plays
Bills WR Khalil Shakir
Shakir started to emerge as Allen’s favorite target in the latter stages of last season. He benefited from the presence of Diggs and Davis attracting defensive attention, though. Can he still produce while operating as a makeshift No. 1 receiver? The uncertain answer to that question keeps him in the fantasy mid-range for now.
Projection: 12 points
Cardinals RB James Conner
Conner is a boom-or-bust option for Week 1. If he operates as a bell cow, he could put together a monster performance against a Bills defense that allowed 110.6 yards per game on the ground last season. Trey Benson could eat into his playing time, though. How that timeshare breaks down is one of the most fantasy-relevant issues of Week 1.
Projection: 12 points
Bills RB James Cook
Cook is trending in the wrong direction. Last year’s breakout star didn’t look as explosive throughout training camp and he had some head-scratching drops in the passing game. It could lead to Ray Davis (early downs and goal line) and Ty Johnson (passing downs) stealing some of his snaps, thus hurting his fantasy value. He’s still a must-start for now because of the draft capital invested in him, but it may not stay that way all season.
Projection: 10 points
Bills K Tyler Bass
Like Cook, Bass isn’t in the most promising long-term position. He ended last season on a low note, missing a potential game-tying field goal late in a playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and it appears that carried over to 2024 with a poor camp. He’s still fantasy-relevant thanks to the offense around him, but a slow start could lead to a kicker change in Buffalo.
Projection: 8 points
Two-Star Plays
Bills WR Curtis Samuel
Samuel battled a toe injury in recent weeks, but he’s recovered in time for Week 1. Don’t be surprised if he eventually emerges as the Bills’ No. 1 wideout. His snap count may be a bit limited after the absence, however, so keep expectations in check at the outset.
Projection: 7 points
Cardinals K Matt Prater
Prater ranked 21st among kickers in fantasy scoring last season. An improved Cardinals offense should push him back toward the top 12. His ability to connect on kicks over 50 yards (nine in 2023) gives him added upside in leagues that reward long makes.
Projection: 7 points
Bills Defense/Special Teams
Although it could be a high-scoring game, the Bills’ defense features enough edge-rushing talent to rack up some fantasy points anyway. The quartet of Greg Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa, Von Miller, and Dawuane Smoot should help Buffalo rank among the NFL’s top teams in sacks.
Projection: 6 points
One-Star Plays
Bills WR Keon Coleman
The Bills have been notoriously slow to push rookies into the lineup at full throttle under head coach Sean McDermott. Coleman will probably split time with Mack Hollins at the outset, but his role as a red-zone threat keeps him in the fantasy conversation until his snap count increases.
Projection: 5 points
Cardinals WR Michael Wilson
Wilson put together a modest rookie season with 38 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns in 2023. Any hope for a massive uptick quickly faded once the team drafted Harrison. He’ll be a rock-solid No. 2 receiver in the real world, but that isn’t likely to translate into big fantasy numbers.
Projection: 4 points
Bills RB Ray Davis
Davis started to climb fantasy draft boards late in the process because of Cook’s camp struggles. If nothing else, he could end up becoming a touchdown vulture. For now, he’s worth stashing just to see if his role continues to grow in the coming weeks. He should only start in the deepest of leagues.
Projection: 4 points
Main Image: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
