Week 8's Sunday Night Football matchup is a clash between the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills.
I have four players to target — two from each team — in this game. These players aren’t the flashiest of names and are more bargain-bin guys who could surprise.
WR Sammy Watkins, Packers
Watkins has no injury designation heading into this contest and could be leaned on by Aaron Rodgers with Allen Lazard (shoulder) and Randall Cobb (ankle) out.
Watkins has only appeared in three games and run 66 routes thus far, but he leads all Packers receivers with 2.23 yards per route run. He’s also second on the team with a 13.7 aDOT.
WR Samori Toure, Packers
Amari Rodgers has been struggling as both a punt returner and a slot receiver, so it’s possible Toure replaces him in one or both roles.
Sammy Watkins and Christian Watson (hamstring) have proven to be in-game injury risks, so Toure could see more snaps than anticipated after running a route on 34% of Aaron Rodgers’ dropbacks in his debut last week.
RB James Cook, Bills
Cook was the No. 2 running back in Buffalo's last game, while Zack Moss was a healthy scratch. Even if Moss is active, we tend to see rookies get an increased role after the bye.
Cook could take advantage of even a limited role against a Packers defense that ranks 31st in DVOA against the run.
WR Khalil Shakir, Bills
Shakir is another candidate for a post-bye bump in playing time. Isaiah McKenzie struggled in Buffalo’s last game, catching only 2-of-5 targets for nine yards, so it’s possible Shakir begins to cut into his role just as Jamison Crowder was doing before getting hurt.
Shakir has been targeted on 19.6% of his routes, catching six passes for 112 yards and a TD.
