With Amari Cooper inactivated just prior to the game, Josh Allen leaned on Khalil Shakir to be his top receiver. Shakir had six receptions on 7 targets for 50 yards. He rarely drops a pass, and he runs incredible routes. Tom Brady compared him to Julian Edelman and that feels like a very good comparison. The only knock against Shakir is his lack of touchdowns, but if he’s going to get 6 to 8 receptions a game, those will come as the season progresses.
James Cook and Ray Davis
One of the most under-the-radar rookies this year has been Bills running back Ray Davis. Davis, from the University of Kentucky, has proven to be an excellent complement for James Cook. Not only did Davis have four carries for 20 yards, he also had two receptions for 70 yards and a 63-yard touchdown. He runs with a low center of gravity and is very hard to tackle. He is absolutely deserving of more carries and might get them when the weather becomes colder in Buffalo.
De’Von Achane
If there was a do-over in fantasy football leagues, I think that De’Von Achane would most likely be a top-five overall pick, especially in PPR formats. Achane had 12 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown, as well as 8 receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown. In the four games that Tua has been the quarterback, he has had 28 receptions. Don’t be shocked to see Raheem Mostert be traded at the deadline. I would think moving forward, the Dolphins are going to need to get Jaylen Wright to get more carries as his skill set is similar to Achane’s in that they both have explosive gear.
Tua and The Playcalling
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel’s playcalling can be maddening at times. Sometimes, he calls an absolutely great play, and then he’ll follow up later with a play that’s just a head-scratcher, and you’ll wonder what he was thinking. In the first half, the Dolphins were barely able to move the ball, only scoring 10 points. Then, finally, in the fourth quarter, Tua and company put up 14 points, and the offense seemed to be rolling. It’s this lack of consistency that is troubling to Dolphins fans because it feels like they’re underutilizing their skill players.
