Josh Allen remains a fantasy football juggernaut, consistently
finishing as a top-four QB since 2020 (QB4 in 2024, QB1 in 2023,
QB2 in 2022, QB1 in 2021, QB1 in 2020, QB9 in 2019).
Despite losing Stefon Diggs, Allen’s 2024 season (3,731
passing yards, 28 passing TDs, 531 rushing yards, 12 rushing TDs)
solidified his elite status, earning him the NFL MVP award. His
dual-threat ability has allowed him to consistently deliver 500
to 700 rushing yards while also pushing double-digit rushing touchdowns,
ensuring his high floor and ceiling combination, even with a thin
receiving corps.
The Bills added only a fifth-round TE in the draft and didn’t
make much of a splash in free agency, meaning Allen will have
to continue to carry the offense under OC Joe Brady’s high-pass-volume
scheme. He’s a locked-in top-three QB pick in all formats, with
early first-round value in Superflex leagues.
James Cook’s 2024 breakout saw him go for 1,122 rushing
yards and 16 rushing TDs - tying for league lead with Derrick
Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs in that category. This career-best season,
allowed him to finish as RB8. While he’s been a solid producer
each season, his unexpected goal-line dominance and 445 receiving
yards showcased his versatility in one of the league’s best
offenses.
In 2025, Cook remains the centerpiece of Buffalo’s backfield
in a contract year. He’s been an excellent runner, a highly
efficient receiver, and now he’s seemingly established himself
as the team’s goal line back. However, Josh Allen’s
red-zone rushing could easily again cap touchdown upside as it
did in 2022 and 2023, so don’t bank on the touchdowns to
be there like they were in 2024. Still, Cook’s a steal at
his current ADP for a player with top-10 potential, making him
a strong second- or third-round pick in PPR leagues.
Ray Davis disappointed as a rookie, failing to secure a significant
role despite preseason hype as a potential goal-line back. With
James Cook dominating with 16 rushing TDs, Davis scored just three
times on the ground, compiling just 7.3 FPts/G. His lone standout
game saw him go for 20 carries, 97 yards, three receptions, 55
yards against the Jets in Week 6. That performance showed promise,
but he saw just seven total touches across three playoff games,
cementing his backup status in the Bills offense.
Davis is the primary handcuff if Cook misses time, but his limited
role in a crowded backfield (Ty Johnson also factors in) makes
him a late-round flier in deeper leagues with minimal standalone
value.
Khalil Shakir led the Bills in 2024 with 76 receptions, 821 yards,
and four TDs on 100 targets, finishing as the WR37 in PPR. His
elite catch rate and elite YAC-per reception made him a reliable
slot option for Josh Allen as he caught at least two passes in
every game.
However, with only two 100-yard games and no 10-catch performances
even in what could be considered a breakout season, Shakir’s ceiling
is limited. A four-year, $53.1M extension signals that Buffalo
values him from a schematic standpoint, but competition from Keon
Coleman, Josh
Palmer, and Dalton Kincaid may cap his target share from a
fantasy standpoint. Shakir’s WR3/flex value makes him a safe late-round
pick, with low-end WR2 upside if he gets into the end zone more
in 2025.
Keon Coleman’s rookie season was underwhelming, with 29
catches for 556 yards and four TDs on 57 targets. Some of that
could be argued away when we consider that he was hampered by
a wrist injury that sidelined him for four games, but there has
to be concern that he just isn’t the high-end producer that
fantasy managers hoped he could develop into. Coleman’s
19.2 yards per catch and 12 receptions of 20+ yards showed deep-threat
potential, but a 50.9% catch rate and nine games with one or fewer
catches highlights the inconsistency that made him difficult to
put in fantasy lineups in 2024. Coleman particularly struggled
against press coverage, which makes sense given his less-than-stellar
physical metrics and we may see teams key in on that this season,
so he’ll need to take a step forward in that department
if he’s going to be useful for fantasy purposes.
Coleman’s impressive size and red-zone ability have been
apparent on the field already so all hope is not lost. He’s
still a breakout candidate, but he’s a WR5 with WR3 upside,
best targeted in the late rounds of best-ball drafts as a player
who can potentially deliver some spike weeks, but will likely
also drop at least a handful of duds throughout the season.
Dalton Kincaid’s 2024 sophomore slump cannot be overstated.
His 44 catches, 448 yards, and two TDs was a stark contrast to
his promising rookie year where he finished as the TE11, catching
73 passes for, 673 yards and two scores despite playing behind
Dawson Knox for much of that season. Injuries, including a Week
10 knee issue, led to a diminished role as he had just a 57% snap
share, and the result was just three TE1 finishes and two games
with over four receptions.
Despite the numerous regressions in his second season, Kincaid’s
still getting open down the field and Josh Allen is at least making
the attempt to get him the ball. He saw six-plus targets in his
final eight games, meaning that there’s still untapped potential
here.
With minimal target competition beyond Khalil Shakir, a healthy
Kincaid could rebound in Buffalo’s pass-friendly offense.
He’s being drafted outside of TE1 range in most leagues,
making him a high-upside late-round pick with TE1 potential.
