The New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills both started off hot in 2020 but have hardly looked like themselves in recent weeks. The Patriots have dropped three straight games while the defeated a New York Jets team that’s widely considered the worst squad in the NFL by one score. Sunday’s Week 7 matchup between these AFC East sides could make help Buffalo take a step away from the rest of the field or intensify the race for first.
Cam Newton hasn’t played well since Week 2. He appeared to be on track to have a bounce back season but hasn’t performed well since testing positive for Covid-19 and missed a Week 4 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The entire offense is out of sync and the defense hasn’t performed at a high level either.
Josh Allen kicked off 2020 looking like an MVP frontrunner but is 1-2 in his last three starts with four touchdown passes. Buffalo’s defense has struggled all year but its explosive group of wideouts and athletic quarterback were too much for the competition early on. The Bills have come crashing back down to earth but still sit atop the AFC East with a 5-2 record. A decisive win would do a lot for the team with the best chance at dethroning the Patriots and ending a streak of 11 straight divisional titles.
TV Info
Date: Sunday, Nov. 1
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Broadcast map
Notable Statistical rankings (Football Outsiders)
Patriots: #26 Overall — #25 offense, #25 defense, #9 special teams
Bills: #14 Overall — #12 offense, #21 defense, #10 special teams
DraftKings Sportsbook odds
Patriots: +3.5, +163
Bills: -2.5, -186
Total: 43
Fantasy football start/sit advice
Patriots
Cam Newton, QB, $5,700
Newton’s price has dropped significantly since he tallied 98 passing yards with three interceptions in Week 7. He hasn’t looked good but makes everything happen for New England. His ability to make plays with his legs can make his questionable throwing less worrisome. If the Patriots have a bounce back performance, it’ll likely be because Newton is at his best. He probably won’t be this cheap again unless he’s benched.
Damiere Byrd, WR, $3,700
N’Keal Harry went down with a head injury in Week 4 so another Patriots wideout could have to step up in Week 8. Jakobi Meyers ($3,500) should receive some consideration because of his solid performance against the San Francisco 49ers, but Newton has favored the speedy Byrd more this season.
Bills
Josh Allen, QB, $7,000
Allen is like Newton with more upside because he has a better receiving corps. The Patriots have plenty of talented defensive backs but stopping Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley, and John Brown could be challenging. Allen extends plays like few others can and has shown that he can be the highest-scoring fantasy quarterback in the NFL any given week.
Stefon Diggs, WR, $6,800
Diggs has only been held under six receptions on one game this year and has yet to dip under 10 DKFP. While he’ll likely draw a ton of attention from reigning Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore, he should remain Josh Allen’s most utilized weapon. The Bills make sure to get the ball in Diggs’ hands no matter what.