If you want drama, the New York Jets do a great job of delivering. This isn’t the forum to dissect everything that went on this week with the Robert Saleh, but man is it a mess. The Jets do have a new coach, and perhaps that will shake them into shape. Maybe, Aaron Rodgers will find his groove and the Jets will pull us back in. Either way, the Buffalo Bills have their own issues as they are coming off a tough loss in Houston. We have an exciting divisional matchup to close out the week, so let’s dig in. Here are some Monday Night Football NFL DFS picks with preferences ranked within each category so you can find success.
Monday Night Football DFS Picks – Buffalo Bills and New York Jets
Captain
Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
We know that the Jets have a new coach, but in Todd Downing, they also have a new play-caller. Among the litany of problems New York has had this season is the inability to establish the run game. To say that Breece Hall has been a disappointment through the first five weeks of the season is an understatement, but there is a lot of football left to be played. And there is no questioning his talent level.
In previous coaching stints, Downing has clearly looked to establish the run early and often while having success in doing so. Hall is simply too good of a weapon not to take advantage of. The Jets haven’t been able to do so to this point, and the expectation is that they’ll make it a priority.
From a matchup standpoint, it actually doesn’t get much better. The Bills have allowed the most DFS points to opposing running backs this season, so that puts Hall in a great position to get his season started. Last week he had just nine carries for 23 yards which brought Hall’s total to 197 rushing yards through five games. With 21 receptions for 141 yards, Hall does have a floor even when he’s not moving the ball on the ground. The good news is that with four touchdowns, he has been able to get into the end zone.
Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
The good news for Josh Allen is that he was cleared from the concussion he suffered last week. The bad news is that he only completed nine of his 30 pass attempts in a losing effort in Houston. One of those passes went for 49 yards and he did throw a touchdown pass, but that was about it. We were reminded of his impressive floor though as Allen added another 54 yards on the ground to make it a decent fantasy day.
Overall, Allen has 945 passing yards and eight touchdowns in five games. He has yet to throw an interception while adding another two touchdowns on the ground. Four of his passing touchdowns did come in one game, but Allen is still the Buffalo player to target. This is despite the uneven season as he is still the catalyst of the Bills’ offense.
Flex
Allen Lazard, WR, New York Jets
While Garrett Wilson is the better receiver, Allen Lazard might make more sense. What Lazard doesn’t get in quantity, he makes up for in quality. The fact that it comes at a significant cost savings doesn’t hurt either.
It’s also not like Aaron Rodgers ignores Lazard. He has targeted his former Green Bay teammate 18 times in the last two weeks. Speaking more to the Jets’ offense, Lazard has turned that into nine receptions for 92 yards. With 240 receiving yards and four touchdowns on the season, it has been a solid bounce-back performance for the veteran.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets
Regardless of any other conjuncture, and sticking strictly on the field, if a few throws went differently, Robert Saleh would still have a job. Instead, we had a week of drama surrounding the Jets. What else is new?! Aaron Rodgers should be motivated to turn things around this week.
We have seen flashes of success from the veteran, but he has also struggled at times this season. Rodgers has missed some critical throws, but in general, the offense hasn’t exactly been running on all cylinders. The veteran is healthy with 1,093 passing yards and seven touchdowns on the season. Things should be interesting on offense with a new approach.
Khalil Shakir, WR, Buffalo Bills
As the Bills are still looking to establish a true go-to receiver, Khalil Shakir is staking a claim to that. In four games this season, Shakir has a catch of at least 19 yards while finding the end zone twice. Shakir has caught between three and six passes each week giving him 18 catches for 230 yards on the season.
Buffalo does have a healthy receiving corps, but Shakir is the option that stands out. The problem is that you do have to pay for it.
Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
Last week might have bordered on the insane. Garrett Wilson was targeted 22 times in what was another uneven Jets’ loss. He did catch 13 of those passes, but it was for just 101 yards which was a lowly 7.6 average per catch. Wilson did find the end zone for the second time this season. There is no questioning that he is the most talented Jets’ receiver, and eventually the targets should level out slightly, but this is an offense in flux. The big plays are what’s missing, and Wilson is certainly capable. Even as he is inefficient, it’s difficult to trust anyone else.
Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets
A big objective for the Jets this week is to establish the run. While Hall will be heavily involved, Braelon Allen can be expected to play a part as well. The rookie has already made his presence felt. Allen is averaging 4.5 yards per carry on 32 carries while also catching 11 passes for 72 yards. As he still works to find a role in the offense, Allen also has two touchdowns while showing flashes of success.
Value
Ray Davis, RB, Buffalo Bills
All signs point to James Cook taking the field on Sunday, but he isn’t fully healthy. At the least, Buffalo will want to tread carefully. There is also the potential for Cook to aggravate his injury as well.
With 25 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown, we have yet to truly see what Davis can do. This week, there is the possibility for a larger role out of the rookie.
Tyler Conklin, TE, New York Jets
After seeing Tyler Conklin on the practice field this week, the implication is that he’ll be ready to go for tonight’s game. Last week, Conklin was busy as he served as a reliable second/third option for Rodgers. He was targeted nine times and caught six passes for 55 yards. Over the last three weeks, Conklin was targeted 23 times as his role has increased. That turned into 15 receptions for 165 yards. While he is still looking for his first touchdown of the season, the chemistry is there.
Fade
James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
Despite being limited in practice this week, James Cook appears to be taking the field tonight. There is some concern though, and especially based on his price tag, with how good we can expect Cook to truly be. The Jets do have a tough defense against the run and three of Cook’s five touchdowns came in the same game.