Bills’ Devin Singletary, Zack Moss & James Cook look like 3-headed monster at RB vs. Broncos (Stock up, stock down) - syracuse.com

2022-08-21 02:06:24 By : Ms. Flora Zhu

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 20: Devin Singletary #26 of the Buffalo Bills runs the ball during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Highmark Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)Getty Images

Opposing defensive coordinators already had their hands full with the Buffalo Bills’ offense.

Finding ways to slow down Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis and Dawson Knox gave opposing teams plenty of headaches in the past, but it looks like the Bills are going to cause even more problems for the opposition thanks to their run game.

Devin Singletary, Zack Moss and James Cook were a three-headed monster of sorts on Saturday against the Denver Broncos. Singletary was decisive with his early runs while averaging close to 10 yards per carry. Moss shined as the team’s short-yardage back finding the end zone twice in the first half and Cook showed what he could do as a runner and receiver against Denver. The trio combined to average eight yards per carry while rushing for 96 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone.

If Buffalo can utilize their top three backs while continuing to be one of the NFL’s most lethal passing offenses, few, if any, teams will be able to stop Buffalo this season.

Following Buffalo’s 42-15 win over the Broncos, here are players who helped or hurt their stock.

It was a great day for Buffalo’s top three backs.

Devin Singletary is ready for Buffalo’s workload as the team’s top running back. Singletary was decisive and ripped off good chunks of yardage during his time on the field. He finished the game averaging 9.8 yards per carry (4-for-39).

Zack Moss showed that he could be an asset to the team near the goal line against the Broncos. Moss found the end zone twice in the first half. He scored from one yard out for the team’s second touchdown. Moss then found the end zone again on a three yard run. This score was called back for holding on Quintin Morris, but Moss looked fast getting to the edge nonetheless. Moss would find the end zone two plays later on another one yard run.

James Cook was the third back on the field for Buffalo and the rookie looked a lot different from his preseason debut one week ago. Cook was excellent as a runner. He forced missed tackles, ran with explosiveness and showed off excellent vision. Cook also recorded a reception after Quintin Morris’ hold to set up a 1st-and-goal from the one yard line. He finished the game with 38 yards on four carries (9.5 YPC) and one reception for 12 yards.

Don’t be afraid to draft Gabe Davis in fantasy football. Davis is in line for a monster season.

Davis capped off Buffalo’s first series with a 28 yard touchdown reception. He would record a second reception for 17 yards early in Case Keenum’s first series at quarterback. Davis is going to receive plenty of targets this season and should be in line for a career year.

There was a lot of worry in the Bills fan base about Keenum’s play in the team’s preseason opener. Keenum did himself no favors with his performance, but he played with backups at the skill positions and on the offensive line against the Colts’ first team defense.

This week, Keenum saw some time with Buffalo’s starting receivers and linemen. He came out confident with good throws to Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs and moved the team’s offense down the field against the Broncos as the first quarter expired.

Much of the Bills’ second team offense came onto the field to start the second quarter, but that didn’t stop Keenum and the offense from finding the end zone. Keenum set the team up with a first and goal from the one following a third down completion to Jamison Crowder and Zack Moss finished the drive with a touchdown run.

After leading the team on an eight play, 80 yard drive, Keenum followed it up with a nine play, 78 yard drive and a 10 play, 80 yard drive.

Keenum finished 16-of-18 for 192 yards and one touchdown.

His plays won’t show up in the stat sheet, but A.J. Epenesa popped a few times against the Broncos.

Epenesa had great pressure on one incomplete pass, but it was nullified by an illegal contact penalty on Christian Benford. Later in the game, Epenesa deflected a third down pass that should have helped Buffalo’s defense get off the field. That play was also nullified by penalty, a Kaiir Elam face mask penalty.

Aaron Kromer is going to have a lot to be happy about when he puts on the tape from today’s game. Whether it was the team’s first team offensive line or their backups, the Bills were winning at the point of attack against the Denver Broncos.

Josh Allen and Case Keenum had clean jerseys following the first half and the run blocking was outstanding.

Buffalo’s offensive line play has been a weakness the past few seasons. That may not be the case under Kromer.

Shaq Lawson stood out a few times for Buffalo’s defense on Saturday. The veteran defensive end had a pass defensed on a third down play to get the defense off the field. The ball could have been intercepted, but Lawson couldn’t find it in the air.

He later added with good pressure on Josh Johnson.

It might be difficult to get Brandin Bryant to the practice squad. Bryant is good enough to be on a 53-man roster, but with Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Tim Settle and Jordan Phillips already on the roster, there just doesn’t seem to be any room for the defensive tackle.

Bryant played well against the Broncos chasing down a screen pass to keep the receiver short of the line of gain. Later, Bryant had a good pressure on a third down play to force a Josh Johnson incompletion.

The Bills have asked Isaiah Hodgins to play big and the receiver continues to show up when his number is called. Hodgins hauled in three passes on one drive for 28 yards.

Hodgins is still fighting for a roster spot, but he’s done everything asked of him this preseason.

Raheem Blackshear & Duke Johnson

It’s a numbers game and hard to envision either Raheem Blackshear or Duke Johnson on the 53-man roster, but both performed well against the Broncos.

After a two touchdown game in the Bills’ first preseason game, Blackshear ran the ball well against the Broncos. The UDFA running back averaged over 10 yards per carry (5-for-58). He also showed what he could do as a receiver hauling in two passes for 21 yards.

Duke Johnson found the end zone twice in the Bills’ win over Denver. He had 55 yards rushing on nine carries.

Every back looked great against the Broncos on Saturday afternoon.

For the second straight game, Mike Love performed well for Buffalo. The defensive end forced a fumble on special teams, added a batted a pass on a third down play for the defense and recorded a run stop on Denver’s final drive near the end zone.

Much like Brandin Bryant, it’s hard to find a path to the 53-man roster for Love, but he should be a priority for the practice squad.

There weren’t many negatives against the Broncos, but Sean McDermott will not be happy with three cornerbacks vying for a starting role getting penalties called against them. Dane Jackson was penalized for pass interference, Christian Benford had an illegal contact penalty and Kaiir Elam was flagged for a face mask penalty.

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