Bills Mafia is banking on a bounce back in Week 8.
The Buffalo Bills have won each of their previous 10 games following a bye week – the longest active such streak in the NFL.
The Bills have won those 10 games by an average of 9.9 points per game.
Their MVP quarterback Josh Allen has never lost three games in a row.
Plus, the Carolina Panthers will start Andy Dalton, with their franchise QB Bryce Young sidelined by an injury.
Dalton is 1-5 in six career starts for the Panthers.
So, it’s no surprise that Buffalo is a popular pick to win and cover as a 7.5-point favourite at FanDuel this week.
But what happens if they don’t?
The Bills are 4-2 entering Sunday’s game in Carolina, but they still don’t have a win over an opponent with a winning record.
In fact, Buffalo’s .111 per cent strength of victory is the worst in the NFL among teams with two or more wins.
The Bills beat the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints.
Those teams have a combined 3-24 record this season.
In two games against opponents with winning records, Buffalo went 0-2 with five turnovers and were held to 20 points or fewer in both losses.
While they’ve had two weeks to prepare for this contest coming off a bye, there are a couple of notable reasons to fade the Bills against the Panthers.
The first issue is the mounting injuries on both sides of the football.
The Buffalo defence will be without defensive tackle DaQuan Jones and safety Taylor Rapp, while linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard are both questionable.
In Week 6, Buffalo gave up 210 rushing yards in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Bills have allowed 156.3 rushing yards per game this season – the second-worst mark in the NFL behind only the Miami Dolphins.
Now they face a Panthers rushing attack that registered 239 rushing yards against Miami in Week 5.
Rico Dowdle has 185 more rushing yards than any other player in the NFL since Week 5.
Chubba Hubbard is set for his second game back from injury this week.
Sunday’s game in Carolina will be a big test for a banged-up Bills defence.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo offence will be without wide receiver Joshua Palmer, while tight end Dalton Kincaid is questionable after being limited in practice all week.
Kincaid has been Allen’s most reliable option in the passing game.
Keon Coleman’s struggles have been well documented.
Khalil Shakir hasn’t looked 100 per cent all season.
The good news is that James Cook is fully healthy.
Plus, Curtis Samuel is back after a full practice on Friday.
The Bills have won the team’s last 10 games following a bye, marking the NFL’s longest active streak and second-longest since the bye week started in 1990.
More stats heading into Sunday ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/fsjQRjToq2
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) October 24, 2025
I’m tempted to take the Panthers to keep this game close, but I’ll go in a different direction for a FanDuel Best Bet.
I’ll take Dowdle over 50.5 rushing yards.
Dowdle has rushed for 206, 183, and 79 yards over the previous three weeks.
While he shared touches with Hubbard in last week’s win over the New York Jets, I still think there will be enough touches for both running backs to deliver strong numbers against a Buffalo defence that is dealing with injuries.
I’ll take the league’s hottest running back against one of the NFL’s worst run defences.
Lock in Dowdle over 50.5 rushing yards as a best bet.
Speaking of hot running backs, Jonathan Taylor and Bijan Robinson both have ideal matchups this weekend.
In case you missed it, I locked in a Same Game Parlay with Taylor 80+ rushing yards and the Indianapolis Colts to score more than 27.5 points against the Tennessee Titans.
Taylor rushed for 102 yards and three scores in a 41-20 win in Tennessee in the first meeting back in Week 3.
There’s no reason for me to think the favourite to win the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year award at FanDuel will slow down in the rematch at home.
I also locked in Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike over 26.5 receiving yards in that early game.
Meanwhile, Robinson gets a fantastic opportunity to showcase his skill set against the worst run defence in the entire NFL in a matchup against Miami.
Added NFL Sunday Week 8 best bets 🏈➕
Bijan Robinson over 86.5 rushing yards -110
• Robinson has averaged 87.3 rushing yards per game
• Dolphins have allowed NFL-worst 128.3 rushing yards per game to opposing running backs
• Bounce back spot after 2.9 YPC versus 49ers pic.twitter.com/euDydhjFTA
— Domenic Padula (@Domenic_Padula) October 25, 2025
Kirk Cousins will start for the injured Michael Penix.
Plus, backup running back Tyler Allgeier is questionable with hip and knee injuries.
I’m on Robinson over 86.5 rushing yards and an SGP with Robinson 30+ receiving yards and the Falcons to win.
I also played an SGP with Ja’Marr Chase to record 70+ receiving yards and the Cincinnati Bengals to beat the New York Jets outright.
Added NFL Week 8 best bet 🏈➕
SGP -110: Chase 70+ receiving | Bengals ML
• Chase has averaged 13/127.5/1 in two games with Joe Flacco at QB
• Flacco targeted Chase 23 TIMES in Week 7
• Chase has 100+ receiving in 4 straight home games
• Sauce Gardner is OUT pic.twitter.com/Fbd9xNJvA9
— Domenic Padula (@Domenic_Padula) October 25, 2025
As for National Tight End Day, I nearly played Mason Taylor over 39.5 receiving yards on Friday night.
Taylor has an excellent matchup this week against the Bengals with Garrett Wilson and Josh Reynolds both out.
However, he’s dealing with a quad injury and that kept me from locking it in.
Jets RB Breece Hall, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a knee injury, is expected to play vs. the Bengals, per sources.
Jets TE Mason Taylor, listed as questionable due to a quad injury, also is likely to play.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 26, 2025
I did play Cade Otton over 3.5 receptions.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are down Mike Evans and Chris Godwin against the New Orleans Saints.
Otton had seven catches for 65 yards on nine targets in last week’s loss to the Detroit Lions.
Otton has cleared four or more receptions in three straight games, and I expect that to continue this week.
I also like Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram to go over 29.5 receiving yards.
Engram has received six or more targets in every game since his return from injury.
He’s cleared 33 or more receiving yards in three straight games, including five catches for 42 yards on five targets in last week’s win over the New York Giants.
Engram should stay hot against a suspect Dallas Cowboys pass defence on National Tight End Day.
Sticking with the tight ends, Tucker Kraft of the Green Bay Packers should see a bump against a Pittsburgh Steelers defence that has allowed the fifth-most receiving yards to the position.
Some are saying Tucker Kraft is the biggest and strongest – that no one can contain him and any effort to do so will be rewarded by humiliation pic.twitter.com/wmFIMUFEX0
— JetPack Galileo (@JetPackGalileo) October 24, 2025
Give me Kraft over 49.5 receiving yards on Sunday Night Football.
And of course, Travis Kelce won’t play until the Kansas City Chiefs host the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football, but I don’t think he will lay low in what could be his final NFL game on National Tight End Day weekend.
Having a bye week on national tight ends day shouldn’t be allowed …
— Trey McBride (@mcbtrey) October 25, 2025
I’ll play Kelce over 40.5 receiving yards along with Rashee Rice over 5.5 receptions and Brashard Smith over 1.5 receptions for Monday Night Football.
Here is a full recap of my FanDuel Best Bets for NFL Sunday Week 8.
DP’s FanDuel Best Bets for NFL Sunday Week 8
1 PM ET
Bijan Robinson over 86.5 rushing yards
SGP +100: Bijan Robinson 30+ receiving | Falcons ML
SGP -110: Ja’Marr Chase 70+ receiving yards| Bengals ML
Rico Dowdle over 50.5 rushing yards
Stefon Diggs over 49.5 receiving yards
D’Andre Swift over 51.5 rushing yards
-110 ML Parlay: Bengals, Falcons, Chiefs
4 PM ET
SGP -110: Jonathan Taylor 80+ rushing yards | Colts al team total over 27.5
Chimere Dike over 26.5 receiving yards
Cade Otton over 3.5 receptions
Evan Engram over 29.5 receiving yards
Sunday Night Football
Tucker Kraft over 49.5 receiving
Monday Night Football
Travis Kelce over 40.5 receiving
Rashee Rice over 5.5 receptions
Brashard Smith over 1.5 receptions
