Buffalo Bills Roster 2018 Bills Roster

Buffalo Roster Taking Shape

Despite dismantling a roster and benching players with key roles, the 2017-18 Buffalo Bills were able to secure a playoff spot. Their 9-7 season does little to detail the roster moves and uproar surrounding the organization, but the team is finally taking shape. The team gave up next to nothing to acquire Kelvin Benjamin from the Carolina Panthers. Benjamin was Cam Newton's favorite target and it is no wonder given his large frame and big upside. This move paved the way for the team to draft Josh Allen in the first round. His big arm and highlight reel plays are the perfect combination to favor Kelvin's game style.

Aside from these mentioned additions, the team did very little to bolster their roster or build through the draft on offense. They picked up a few wide receivers off waivers in the off-season, piecing a depth that has both size and speed. This dual-combination of forces allows for the team to host a slot presence and keep the outside open for big plays and downfield strikes. It is a mesh that the team is excited about and it is a talent pool that gives Josh Allen the variety he needs to spread the ball around. The backfield also favors a younger quarterback given that LeSean McCoy does it all. There are few backs in the league that are good for all three downs, but McCoy can claim this role. His pass-catching capabilities favor heavy usage of the ten-year talent out of the University of Pittsburgh.

The team did experiment on the defensive side of the ball. They bolstered their defensive line, combining players that have experience within the league with guys like Shaq Lawson and Marquavius Lewis who are still searching for solidified roles. This talent-to-learner combination is something the team can develop over time. Given a full off-season, the team will be able to create sets and looks that favor the different type of skill sets rostered. The secondary is headlined by Vontae Davis and Micah Hyde. These two defensive leaders will banner a roster combination that pieces together past talents within the league. The experience in the secondary reduces the need to teach fundamentals and helps focus on different pace of play, set types, and other such in-game factors.

From a fantasy perspective, there are a few players to add to your short list of late-round grabs. The first is Zay Jones. Jones had a lackluster first season with the Bills but was able to perform when given the correct offensive sets. His game is structured around the deep ball and playmaking influences. With Allen under center, the team is able to increase downfield targets for all of their wide receivers, a space where Jones will excel. He is often placed on the bottom tier of draft boards, making for an interesting waiver wire pickup. Also look for LeSean McCoy's usage to increase. While his usage rate already ranks within the top talents in the league, this number will continue to climb given the younger quarterback. The team will create new looks for the back and his touches should climb on this basis.