All eight players are starters and major contributors for the Bills, including three players on their starting defensive line; however, the Bills are locked into the second seed in the AFC, so there is no reason for any of them to suit up for this game. This would appear to be good news for Drake Maye and Rhamondre Stevenson, but the Patriots will secure the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft with a loss today, so it’s hard to gauge just how motivated anybody will be in this game. It would be best to avoid any players if you’re still playing in fantasy leagues.

Bills coach Sean McDermott said he’s hopeful that Oliver can return in Week 7. This will be the second game Oliver has missed this year after starting at least 16 games in three of the last four seasons.

Oliver popped up on the team’s injury report Thursday and has now been ruled out for the week. The veteran lineman hopefully won’t miss more than a game, but he’s one of several Bills defenders who have already been ruled out for Week 5. In addition to Oliver, head coach Sean McDermott also said DT Austin Johnson (oblique) and S Taylor Rapp (concussion) won’t play vs. the Texans.

Oliver missed Week 7 but is good to go for the prime-time tilt after getting in three limited practices this week. It’s a rare reinforcement for this injury-ruined defense. Inactive for the Bills are TE Quintin Morris, LB Baylon Spector, S Damar Hamlin, CB Kaiir Elam, OL Alec Anderson and OL Germain Ifedi.