DJ Moore could be Allen’s ‘default option’

Moore has practiced with a non-contact jersey on, in a limited fashion, both of the first two days of the practice week after coming off bye. He got in a third limited session on Friday. This isn’t exactly an exciting run-out after the bye, but Moore probably is on the optimistic side of questionable and any fantasy player that is breathing should be elevated in a game projected to have Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson at quarterback.

The consecutive limited showings seems to indicate Moore is on track to return from a two-game absence, something we should get further fidelity on after Friday’s practice. There remains a possibility that Moore carries a questionable designation into the weekend if he is unable to upgrade to a full participant Friday, leaving fantasy managers hopeful yet uncertain as we near the weekend. Moore would return to a WR2 profile when the Bills take on the Ravens, if active.

Moore missed the Bills’ past two games because of the recurring shoulder injury. He got in one limited practice in Week 6. The team listed him as questionable but ultimately held him out. A Week 7 bye could not have come at a better time, and he now appears likely to return for Buffalo’s upcoming date with the Ravens. In a likely shootout with Baltimore, Moore will be back in the WR2 mix once he gets the green light to play.

The Raiders did their part to keep Allen in the pocket in this one. He managed just one rushing yard on five carries, but did plenty of damage through the air to put the Bills in position to pull out their fifth win of the season. Allen threw his first touchdown of the day to Khalil Shakir in the second quarter on a nine-yard screen pass, and flipped an impressive shovel pass to Keon Coleman in the third quarter for his second touchdown pass of the day. Allen and the Bills have scored 30-plus points in four of their first six games this season, with Allen totaling four touchdowns in his last two games. The Bills punted just twice in this one, and Allen led his team on three straight scoring drives to start the game. While there’s plenty to figure out on defense, Allen and the offense are clicking on all cylinders even with DJ Moore (shoulder) sidelined. The Bills now head into their Week 7 bye week and will return in Week 8 to play host to the Ravens.

Moore was considered legitimately questionable entering the weekend after logging only one practice. He will now miss a second straight game with the shoulder injury he suffered in Week 4, paving the way for Keon Coleman to again see significant snaps. While Moore is out, Josh Palmer, who was questionable with his own shoulder injury, is active. The Bills declared DT Ed Oliver, LB Mike Danna, and OG Ar’ma Reed-Adams inactive for Sunday’s game.

The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia notes that Moore resumed practicing today after sitting out on Wednesday and Thursday. He did the same thing last week before being labeled questionable and ultimately ruled out on game day. It looks like he’s a game-time decision again this week. If active, he can be started as a WR2, but re-injury remains a risk.

It looks like the Bills could again be without their No. 1 wide receiver on game day. Josh Allen and Co. take on the Raiders this weekend, in what should be a fantasy-friendly game environment. Hopefully, Moore resumes practicing soon.

Moore aggravated a shoulder injury in Week 4 and only practiced with a non-contact jersey on Saturday of last week. After missing Week 5, Moore starts out as a non-practice participant in the Bills’ Wednesday walk-through. He will need at least a limited practice before fantasy managers can start considering him for Week 6 lineups.

The two teams mustered only 20 combined points in the first half as they felt each other out. There were only two punts after the break between the two sides, who combined for seven touchdowns on nine combined possessions including five straight touchdowns in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime. Allen and the Bills took the ball first in the extra frame and quickly found themselves deep in enemy territory following a 57-yard, catch-and-run pass to Khalil Shakir. A James Cook fumble on the next play appeared to shatter Allen’s chances of earning his first career win in overtime, but a blocked 48-yard field goal attempt from Harrison Mevis gave the ball back to the Bills with a chance to win. Two Josh Allen scrambles set up a game-winning, 45-yard field goal for Tyler Bass. Allen ended with the second most yards on the ground of his career as the Bills moved to 4-1 with the wild win. Allen remains the top overall quarterback in fantasy circles ahead of a Week 6 meeting with the Raiders on the road.

Moore’s absence leaves only Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Greg Dortch, and Skyler Bell as healthy wide receivers on the active roster with Joshua Palmer also sidelined. Expect heavy snap rates for Coleman and Shakir alongside tight end Dalton Kincaid, with the possibility the team elevates their 12-personnel rates through the inclusion of Dawson Knox. Also inactive for the Bills are WR Joshua Palmer, OL Jude Bowry, OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams, DL Ed Oliver DL, Landon Jackson, and NCB Dee Alford.