1. ESPN calls this Buffalo's biggest surprise at the midseason mark
ESPN released its list of midseason surprises for all 32 teams. For the Bills, the biggest surprise in the first half of the season was the offense outperforming the defense. So far this season the Bills offense is ranked 12th in total yards and the defense is ranked 18th. The Bills finished last season with the offense ranked 24th in total yards and the defense was ranked third.
Buffalo Bills: Offense outperforming defense
The Bills' offense ranked just 22nd in the NFL in expected points added (EPA) per play last season, while their defense ranked fourth in EPA allowed per play. That has flipped on its head this season, with Buffalo's offense climbing into the top 10 in the metric, carrying a defense that ranks as one of the worst in the league through nine games. The driver in their surge offensively has been the improved play from third-year quarterback Josh Allen. Through nine weeks, Allen ranks fifth among quarterbacks in PFF grade at 86.8, and he has done a tremendous job of getting the ball out efficiently to a talented receiving corps that includes his new primary target, Stefon Diggs. Brian Daboll's offense has proved to be one of the more dangerous units in the NFL this season.
2. PFF offers fantasy advice for Bills players heading into Week 10
PFF Fantasy writer Andrew Erickson offered some insight on what Bills players you should have in and out of your fantasy lineup for week ten. This week against the Cardinals, he is high on Josh Allen, John Brown and Zack Moss.
Josh Allen is my No. 1 quarterback ranked this week. My rationale? He owns PFF's fifth-highest passing grade, the second-highest yards per attempt (9.7) and the most big-time throws against man coverage. The Arizona Cardinals rank second in the NFL in man coverage snaps. That makes Allen a super attractive player to target in DFS, as he is $500 cheaper than Kyler Murray and offers a similar ceiling. The only caveat with Allen is the status of John Brown. Every peak fantasy week for Allen this season has coincided with a healthy Brown, and his down weeks have all come when Brown has been limited or inactive. Brown was featured as one of my "starts" in the Week 10 start em' or sit em' column because he should feast in a #revengegame.
In that same piece, I referred to Devin Singletary as a "sit" which makes Zack Moss the only legitimate Bills running back option for fantasy in Week 10. Moss led the backfield in touches in Week 9 and will see a decent matchup versus the Cardinals' 25th-graded PFF run defense. He is a top-24 running back this week in my rankings.
3. AJ Klein: "We have our identity"
The Bills defense has been trying to find an identity throughout the start of this season. The defense has been improving each week and developing a culture of being attack-oriented and getting takeaways. AJ Klein had two sacks and a takeaway in last week's game, and he is sure that they have found their identity on defense.
"I think we have our identity," Klein stated. "I think a part of our culture is being an attack-oriented defense and we've seen that success over these past few weeks starting to build. Moving forward, it's just continuing to build on that fundamental foundation that we've laid from the beginning of the season till now. When we play complementary football, and we play with great eye discipline, and great fundamentals, we give ourselves a great chance to win. So, building forward with that momentum obviously will carry us hopefully to a win against Arizona this week."
Scroll through to see the best photos from Buffalo's practice as they prepare for Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Harrison Phillips (99). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17) and Gabriel Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Norman (29). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Siran Neal (33) and Dean Marlowe (31). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Norman (29). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Daryl Williams (75) and Bryan Cox Jr (51). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17) celebrates with Isaiah McKenzie and Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17) sneaks in from the sidelines to steal the ball from Dean Marlowe (31). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Levi Wallace (39). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jordan Poyer (21). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Christian Wade (45). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Stefon Diggs (14). And Matt Barkley (5). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Dane Jackson (30). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Ty Nsekhe (77) and Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jon Feliciano (76). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Heath Farwell and special teams. Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17) sneaks in from the sidelines to steal the ball from Dean Marlowe (31). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Offensive line. Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Reid Ferguson (69). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Norman (29). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Deon Lacey (40). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Quinton Jefferson (90) and Justin Zimmer (61). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jordan Devey (68). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Zack Moss (20). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Tyler Bass (2). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Tyler Kroft (81). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Dawson Knox (88) and Tyler Kroft (81). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Reid Ferguson (69) snaps to Corey Bojorquez (9) and Tyler Bass (2). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Zack Moss (20). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Mitch Morse (60). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jordan Poyer (21) and Levi Wallace (39). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Stefon Diggs (14), Kelly Skipper and Devin Singletary (26). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17) and Davis Webb (7). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Ryan Bates (71), Devin Singletary (26), Mitch Morse (60). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Gabriel Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Cole Beasley (11). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Norman (29). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17) and Matt Barkley (5). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Andre Roberts (18). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Isaiah McKenzie (19). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jordan Poyer (21). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Dane Jackson (30). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Norman (29). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17), Isaiah McKenzie (19) and Matt Barkley (5). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17) and Ken Dorsey. Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jordan Poyer (21). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Micah Hyde (23). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Dion Dawkins (73) and Jon Feliciano (76). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Mario Addison (97). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Ty Nsekhe (77). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
A.J. Klein (54). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 11, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
