Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (lower body) returned to practice Wednesday after missing time due to a lower body injury. Shakir initially suffered the injury during minicamp. His recovery is crucial as he aims to secure a more prominent role in Buffalo's passing game, especially following the offseason departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Shakir stands out as the only returning wide receiver who has caught a pass from quarterback Josh Allen in a game, showcasing his potential to become a key target. Last season, he impressed with 39 receptions for 611 yards and two touchdowns over 17 games. He is competing with rookie Keon Coleman, tight end Dalton Kincaid, and veteran Curtis Samuel for targets in Buffalo's passing game. With minimal competition for targets and established chemistry with Allen, Shakir presents significant value as a late-round pick in fantasy drafts, offering upside for those looking to round out their roster.

Wide receiver KJ Hamler (heart), the former second-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2020, signed a Reserve/Futures deal with the Buffalo Bills earlier this year and is looking to make a comeback in 2024 after already facing plenty of adversity in the NFL. Hamler struggled with a hamstring injury in his rookie year and tore his ACL in 2021 before dealing with another hamstring issue in 2022 and a partially torn pectoral muscle last year. In addition to all those injuries, he felt severe heart pain last summer and was diagnosed with pericarditis, an inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the heart. The 25-year-old signed with the Colts' practice squad in late September but was never elevated to the active roster. The speedy downfield threat is facing an uphill battle to make Buffalo's roster out of training camp this summer, even with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis no longer around.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is widely regarded as one of the best players in the NFL, and he is the current face of the Bills organization. Heading into 2024, he'll be counted on more as a leader following the departures of Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, and Tre'Davious White, among others. Left tackle Dion Dawkins said he is taking that next step. "Josh is one of those guys that will do what it takes at that moment," Dawkins said. "He's definitely a barker when that time comes. I've actually seen the bark a lot more this OTAs where he's been very, very verbal, because our team is different. It's different. We've got some young dudes that, when they come in, they see a little bit of success, and they can change, so Josh is doing exactly what he should." Allen, who has finished as the overall fantasy QB1 in three of the last four seasons, could struggle early in the season while he builds chemistry with his new supporting cast, but his rushing upside insulates his value as a high-end QB1 again in 2024.

Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman plans to just "be himself" amid a massive shakeup in the Buffalo pass catching room. This offseason saw the departure of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, which has left the Buffalo wide receiver depth chart wide open. The Bills selected Coleman in the first pick in the second round and already have high expectations for him to fill the void that was left in the offseason. The Florida State product said, "All I gotta do is come in, be myself, be who I'm supposed to be ... Because I'm not Gabe, I'm not Stef, I'm just Keon." Over the past few seasons, rookie wide receivers have taken full control over passing offenses like Justin Jefferson, Garrett Wilson, and Amon-Ra St. Brown and Coleman could be next in line. Coleman has high expectations but could be a steal at his current ADP of 122 if he becomes Josh Allen's lead wideout.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel is set to play with the best quarterback of his career in 2024, and his best season of production came under current Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady with the Carolina Panthers in 2020. Samuel racked up 1,051 yards and seven touchdowns on 118 touches during his one season with Brady. According to Jacob Robinson of the Athletic, Samuel could be more involved in the offense than many expect. "Still just 27 years old, the explosive Samuel is now in one of the league's best offenses (with over 260 targets available)," Robinson wrote. "It's the best opportunity of his career, yet he's being drafted as the 40th wide receiver or later." Robinson noted that Khalil Shakir is the only wide receiver on the roster to catch a pass from Josh Allen in a game, so Samuel will have the opportunity to become at least Allen's No. 2 target in the passing game. Samuel, who has 121 career rushing attempts, could also see extra fantasy production on the ground.