The Bills have emerged as perennial contenders in the AFC in large part due to the connection between Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs. The Bills acquired Diggs via trade from the Minnesota Vikings in the 2020 offseason. This move arguably changed the trajectory of Allen's career and the franchise as a whole.
But things are going to look quite different in 2024. When Week 1 kicks off in a few short weeks, Josh Allen will take the field without Diggs or Gabe Davis, their former WR2. The receiver room is full of new faces, highlighted by rookie Keon Coleman and veteran Curtis Samuel. Khalil Shakir is really the only familiar face in Buffalo among the wide receivers. Allen also has Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox returning at tight end, and even with an expected bump in usage for Kincaid, that still leaves plenty of potential targets for the wide receivers.
With changes to the WR depth chart across the board, targets are up for grabs in this offense. Determining the pecking order of targets in Buffalo will be crucial for fantasy football. Even with the departure of Diggs, this offense is expected to be one of the league's best, so their WR1 should be a quality fantasy asset.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: 2024 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet
Buffalo Bills Wide Receiver Fantasy Outlooks 2024: Who is Josh Allen's WR1?
Keon Coleman fantasy outlook 2024
Considering the multiple offseason departures, it was obvious that the Bills would need to address wide receiver at some point in the draft. They did so rather early, adding Keon Coleman with the first pick of Round 2.
The offseason has been full of highs and lows for Coleman. He was reportedly struggling early in the summer but has since turned things around and has solidified himself as a starter in Buffalo. Not only is he a starter, but he is clearly the best option at wide receiver for fantasy purposes.
Coleman has been running with the starters in both preseason games and has remained on the field in 2-WR sets, something that can't be said of Samuel or Shakir. The Bills will likely utilize a frustrating rotation at receiver, but it appears that Coleman will be a mainstay on the field regardless of the formation.
In terms of the skill set of each receiver, Coleman provides the highest ceiling by a wide margin. His 6'3", 215-pound frame allows him to physically overpower defensive backs. NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler even said that Coleman, "wears DBs like a backpack." Coleman certainly has his red flags, but considering the available opportunity in the offense, it's easy to get excited about his outlook.
2024 PPR Rankings
Top 250 Overall | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K
Khalil Shakir fantasy outlook 2024
Shakir is a hard player to get a read on as we approach the regular season. He looked good last year when he was asked to step up, connecting with Allen for several big plays down the stretch. He played a big role in Buffalo's playoff push after a rocky start to the year. Reports have also been quite glowing coming out of training camp, discussing how he has been a reliable target for Allen.
But on the other hand, it's realistic that Shakir is a part-time player who struggles to make an impact on fantasy rosters due to a lack of opportunity. Shakir was left out of 2-WR sets in the Bills' most recent preseason game in favor of Coleman and Mack Hollins.
If Shakir is on the field for exclusively 3-WR sets this season, that would put a significant dent into his fantasy value. He is an interesting late-round addition considering the ambiguity surrounding the WR depth chart, but he is not the type of player who will be a massive difference maker or league winner.
2024 FANTASY SLEEPERS
QB | RB | WR | TE | Each Team
Curtis Samuel fantasy outlook 2024
Curtis Samuel had been a rather intriguing player to add in the later rounds of drafts throughout the offseason. Like Shakir, reports had indicated that Samuel had looked strong in training camp and had a number of highlight reel plays.
There was also some excitement around Samuel because he was a candidate to have a versatile role in Joe Brady's offense. Samuel and Brady last crossed paths in Carolina in 2020. Samuel saw 97 targets and 41 carries in that 2020 season on his way to a WR24 performance. Training camp reports of Samuel lining up in the backfield made it easy to get excited about a diverse role once again now that he has reunited with Brady.
But it's time to pump the breaks with Samuel to some degree. He is currently dealing with turf toe, an injury that will keep him sidelined for a number of weeks. Preseason usage also indicates that Samuel may return to some sort of rotation when he's healthy. Much like Shakir, it will be difficult for Samuel to make a significant impact if he isn't regularly on the field.
2024 POSITION TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY
QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
The Verdict: Who is Josh Allen's WR1?
The reality of the situation is that it could be any of these three. The Bills may deploy their receivers in a variety of ways, and any one of these three options could emerge as the top dog.
But of these three receivers, Keon Coleman is the best bet to lead the pack. His physical presence and athletic profile give him a ceiling that is not achievable for either Samuel or Shakir. It would not be shocking to see Coleman lead the receiving room in targets and yards as a rookie.
But this comes with a bit of an asterisk next to it. Coleman may be the top wide receiver, but he is not the best option to be the Bills' top pass catcher. This will likely be one of the few passing attacks where the top target is the tight end. As mentioned earlier, Kincaid is poised to take a big leap in his sophomore year and will likely be Allen's No. 1 target. If you're looking for Josh Allen's top guy overall, Kincaid is your answer.