1 - Josh Allen can deliver you a fantasy championship
Your hard work has paid off. For the past 15 weeks, you've backed your elite trash talk up on the virtual gridiron. You're about to play in your fantasy league's championship game, but one more strenuous decision is staring you in the face - which quarterback will lead your team to glory?
One poor decision will result in months of embarrassment and ridicule from your friends. You simply can't afford to lose this game... which is why you need to start Josh Allen under center.
If you initially met this idea with pause, you'd be forgiven. After all, the rookie averaged just 10.5 points per game through his first six appearances. Since returning from an elbow injury in Week 12, however, Allen has an elite fantasy quarterback, a sure-bet that's been single-handedly winning playoff games for fantasy players.
The Buffalo signal-caller has accounted for 1,151 total yards and seven touchdowns over the past four games, good for 93.1 fantasy points. He's been the NFL's top-scoring fantasy quarterback over the past month.
According to Sports Illustrated's Jennifer Eakins, Allen's fantasy success could stretch into Week 16, as he finds himself in yet another favorable matchup.
"The Bills' rookie posted his fourth straight productive fantasy game in Week 15, throwing for 204 yards and a touchdown, while adding another 16 yards a score with his legs,"Eakins wrote. "This week, Buffalo heads to New England to face a Patriots' defense that been soft this season against opposing quarterbacks, ranking 24th in aFPA to the position."
Though Allen won't be lifting the Lombardi Trophy in his rookie season, he's more than capable of leading your fantasy team to championship glory this weekend.
2- D.A. thinks Allen 'has been growing,' is open to a return
When the Bills signed veteran quarterback Derek Anderson to a one-year deal in early October, his role was never kept secret.
The 35-year-old was brought in to mentor Josh Allen, to pass his 14 years worth of professional experience and knowledge onto the rookie signal-caller.
The plan has been executed flawlessly, as Allen has taken massive strides in his development under Anderson's tutelage. The 22-year-old has seemingly become a more well-rounded quarterback thanks in part to Anderson's guidance, improving upon his pocket presence and decision making since the former Pro Bowler arrived.
Anderson has noticed growth out of Allen, crediting his progress to his eagerness to learn.
"It's definitely been good," Anderson said during an appearance on One Bills Live. "Josh has been growing, learning, asking lots of questions, and obviously it's shown in his play in the last month or so."
Anderson believes that Allen's comfort level within the offense has grown tremendously in the short time he's been in Buffalo.
"I think it's just being comfortable within the offense, seeing different defenses and going out, knowing what we're trying to do, having a better understanding of what we're trying to do," Anderson said. "I think his command of the huddle and at the line of scrimmage, it improves every single day."
After signing a one-year deal with the Bills, Anderson is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Staying in Buffalo and helping Allen continue to grow is an idea that the veteran is open to.
"We've got a bunch of good guys here, good coaches, guys that like to work," Anderson said. "I can see that this is going in the right direction, and I think that's the biggest thing. If I can be a part of that and help that, then I'm into that."
3 - McDermott: Pats have been where we're trying to go
The Patriots are a team that most NFL front offices strive to like.
New England has been the epitome of success over the past two decades. The team has been dominant, appearing in the AFC Championship game an astonishing 12 times since the turn of the century. Their stranglehold on the AFC East has been historic, finishing atop the division 15 times over the past 18 years.
Buffalo coach Sean McDermott is eager to replicate the type of success that his divisional rival has found this century, and he feels as though his team is set up in a solid position to do so. McDermott and company have brought in a number of foundational pieces since arriving in the 2017 offseason, players that will attempt to help the Bills upset the Patriots in Foxborough on Sunday.
"They've been where we're trying to go," McDermott said. "For a number of years. I've just arrived here on the scene last year with my staff, but I've gotten a feel for the history in the division and the way they've had the stranglehold on the division. A lot of respect for that, in terms of the greatness that they've achieved.
"At the same time, we're trying to go where they've been, and build this team the right way. Part of that, first is the mindset, usually the belief precedes the result. It's important that our young guys get a good feel for what it's like to play out there, against a good football team, and that we continue to improve on our end."
