Predictions Summary Projections by Position Projection Team Boxes

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Prediction: SD 24, BUF 16 (Line: BUF by 2.5)

UPDATE: Keenan Allen is now on the injury report with a groin issue and is questionable to play after being limited in practice. I will leave his projections alone since this is an early game on Sunday but make sure he is active before starting him Ryan Mathews remains out with Donald Brown taking his place.

Here is a coin flip game. The 1-1 Chargers just beat the Seahawks and the Bills just throttled the Dolphins. The Bills are scoring more than expected but the Chargers defense is exceeding expectations. Still give the slight nod to the Chargers with a better offense.

The win over the Seahawks was bigger for just the experience than what it really means. An out-of-conference victory means less than this week’s matchup but the Chargers showed that they were not intimidated by any team or even any player. This week is a tougher matchup but then the next four are very likely all wins. The Chargers were clipped in the season opener but should look very good here in a month.

QUARTERBACK : Philip Rivers passed for three touchdowns over the Seahawks and did not even respect Richard Sherman. His 284 yards was better than the 238 yards and one score he had in Arizona to open the year. How well the Chargers do this week will be directly linked to the success Rivers has when he passes.

RUNNING BACK : Ryan Mathews was injured extra earlier this year and his knee is expected to keep him out for many weeks. Danny Woodhead is locked into the third down role and he won’t change much with the loss of Mathews. Donald Brown now becomes an interesting free agent pick because he led the Colts in 2013 and now takes over for the Chargers who were wise in backing up their brittle starter. Brown brings in a skill set that can be put to good use as a runner and a receiver.

WIDE RECEIVER : So far not much happening here. Keenan Allen was a stud last season but so far has not topped 55 yards in any game and has not scored. Malcom Floyd caught the lone wideout touchdown but then was blanked just last week. Eddie Royal has wavered between one and seven catches in a game. This unit is as unproductive as last year except that it includes Allen now. Granted the first two opponents both had very good secondaries.

TIGHT END : Perhaps he is not quite done yet. Antonio Gates comes off a 96-yard, three touchdown performance against the Seahawks and posted 81 yards on six catches in the opener. While his speed has tapered off, his hands and body positioning during a catch have been superb.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Bills have allowed at least 240 passing yards in each game and Jay Cutler rolled up 349 yards and two scores in the season opener. No running back has scored on the Bills though Matt Forte ended with 169 total yards in his game with the Bills. These Bills are hard to peg even after two games. They have yet to face a decent tight end. Rivers, Allen, Gates and Brown are reasonable considerations this week though none look likely for a big game.

The Bills are all alone atop the AFC East with a 2-0 record that not even their mother thought they would reach. After squeaking out the win in Chicago, they easily handled the Dolphins. The offense has been nothing special though and they’ve mostly just not made any mistakes. For a team that had major questions at quarterback, the offense at least has not been a problem. But no stars have yet emerged other than one good game by Sammy Watkins.

QUARTERBACK : E.J. Manuel passed for just one score in each game and has a season high of just 202 yards. But he ran in a score in Chicago and he’s only been sacked once. He’s yet to be a difference maker but then again, he has not been a liability either.

RUNNING BACK : Two wins but the backfield has not scored a rushing touchdown and C.J. Spiller has remained around 70 total yards in both matchups. He did catch the lone touchdown pass in the season opener. Fred Jackson ran for 61 yards in that game but then was held to only 24 by Miami. This is a committee backfield and so far not as productive as it needs to be.

WIDE RECEIVER : The marginal passing stats have left this group mostly marginal in fantasy value. Sammy Watkins came up with 117 yards and one score on eight catches against the Dolphins but otherwise all other wide receiver performances have been less than fantasy relevant. Mike Williams only has four catches on the year and has added nothing. Robert Woods mans the slot but only managed five catches including just one last week. The Bills have managed a 2-0 start but these wide receivers need to shot up more in future weeks if the Bills want to keep winning. And that is all up to Manuel who still has not quieted all critics.

TIGHT END : No fantasy value.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: Spiller needs to start this week and even Jackson can be considered albeit at a risk. The Chargers have allowed only four touchdowns and three of them went on receptions by running backs – that has to favor Spiller strongly. It is still early to rely on Sammy Watkins even with his big game last week. The Chargers have been solid against the position and played against far better quarterbacks so far – Carson Palmer and Russell Wilson. Use Watkins if you have no better alternatives but he runs the risk of lower production.

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