Sunday night’s Ravens-Bills showdown is a fantasy dream, with MVPs Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen both projected as top-2 quarterbacks for Week 1.
Derrick Henry should dominate against Buffalo’s shaky run defense, while Zay Flowers is poised for a breakout against a depleted secondary. James Cook may struggle after missing camp time, and both defenses are risky starts in what’s expected to be a high-scoring affair. Fire up your stars, this one’s built for fantasy fireworks for Sunday Night Football in Buffalo for Week 1, 2025.
Lock of the Game
Derrick Henry
Baltimore Ravens
AT
Buffalo Bills
$7.2K DraftKings, $8.9K FanDuel
We all saw what the King did in the regular season last time they played, but in the AFC divisional round, for whatever reason, he was not that big of a factor. 16 carries for just 84 yards and a touchdown seems like a good number for most, but for Henry, that was pedestrian compared to last year under the lights.
When these two teams matched up for Sunday Night last year, the veteran beast had 24 carries for 199 yards, with an 87-yard touchdown run to set the tone for that game. I just don’t see how the Ravens don’t establish the run early in this game, and even if it is stopped, they will make up for the mistake from the playoffs.
Start ‘Em
Zay Flowers
Baltimore Ravens
AT
Buffalo Bills
$5.7K DraftKings, $6.6K FanDuel
It is good to see that the Ravens will have Zay Flowers for this game, who missed the divisional due to an ankle injury. While Rashod Bateman and veteran DeAndre Hopkins are interesting dart throws, I wouldn’t be surprised if they focus on screens and some potential deep targets for Flowers early at the very least. Without Isaiah Likely, players like tight end Mark Andrews will have to step up as well in his wake, along with the receivers. Both Andrews and Flowers are good plays in this game with their salary.
The Bills’ cornerback room has dealt with injuries this offseason, including first-round pick Maxwell Hairston, who was placed on injured reserve. While targets will be spread out for Baltimore, I think they will go all gas, no breaks, and score at will, hoping the Bills and Josh Allen can’t keep up in Buffalo.
It shouldn’t be a blowout like last year’s regular-season game, but I envision it to be a Ravens win in a similar fashion, as long as the defense can force turnovers, something they struggle with in the playoffs but not the regular season.
Khalil Shakir
Buffalo Bills
VS.
Baltimore Ravens
$5.6K DraftKings, $5.9K FanDuel
The Bills’ slot receiver is set to start as their slot receiver coming off an ankle sprain in August. Khalil Shakir will eat underneath, as I don’t trust their other receivers, who are unproven with Keon Coleman or Josh Palmer. That also includes Curtis Samuel and Elijah Moore, as their hodgepodge of pass-catchers could contribute, but would spread out the targets.
Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander is also set to make his debut, along with rookie safety Malaki Starks. This is a tough matchup in Buffalo, regardless, so unless it’s due to salary, I wouldn’t bank on anything more than maybe a touchdown at most between the multiple receivers. Shakir is at least a target earner in this Bills offense and is trusted by Josh Allen.
Sit ‘Em
Justice Hill
Baltimore Ravens
AT
Buffalo Bills
$4.2K DraftKings, $4.7K FanDuel
With a healthy Henry, along with Keaton Mitchell based on his preseason, I don’t see Justice Hill to be fantasy viable, unless he catches a touchdown. I think we get a heavy dose of the King in Buffalo, as Hill is mostly used to pass block and isn’t valuable for fantasy. Mitchell could also be used in the mix with speed to complement and spell Henry at times, and he offers pass-catching upside while being more of a threat to score than Hill.
Dalton Kincaid
Buffalo Bills
VS.
Baltimore Ravens
$3.7K DraftKings, $5K FanDuel
With a healthy Dawson Knox, I just don’t buy the Dalton Kincaid hype again. He basically has to be peppered with targets or he scores a touchdown to be fantasy viable, like any tight end. I would rather play Andrews on the opposite side, even with his salary. In the regular season matchup, he did have 5 catches for 47 yards, but similar to Cook, I don’t think he will be the player that wins you a slate for this game in DFS showdown. In the divisional, he had just a single catch for 11 yards.
Fade of the Game
James Cook
Buffalo Bills
VS.
Baltimore Ravens
$6.2K DraftKings, $6.8K FanDuel
Although he got paid, the regression for James Cook in touchdowns is likely coming against a tough Ravens run defense. It is unclear how much usage Ray Davis will also get, as he got a few goalline and short-yardage touches last year. In the divisional, Cook had 17 carries for 67 yards, and in the regular season, he only had 39 yards on 9 carries in 2024 against Baltimore.
In the playoffs, the Ravens’ stout run defense did get gashed, but mostly from Allen running in the endzone and had good timing on third downs when he did run. Davis also had 4 carries for 29 yards and a touchdown in the divisional, making Cook viable if he can be a factor in the passing game. He does offer a floor fantasy-wise, catching 3 passes for 15 yards in their last matchup.
