Looking at the Bills, it's no secret they need to get better at receiver. Josh Allen made some mistakes in the playoff loss, and their defense disappointed. But they've also got a No. 1 wideout who looks like more a No. 2.
Khalil Shakir has caught 76 percent of the passes thrown his way the last two years. Among wideouts with at least 150 targets those seasons, only two -- Puka Nacua and former Bill Stefon Diggs -- have caught a higher percentage of the passes thrown their way.
But the impact plays aren't there; not for Buffalo, and not in fantasy leagues. He averages just over 10 yards per catch those seasons, and has caught only 4 TDs in each.
Last year, Shakir averaged 10.5 points per week in PPR leagues. Twenty-seven NFL teams had at least one wide receiver (who started at least half the year) average more points than that, and 11 teams had two such players. So you could have found two wide receivers on a third of the league's teams who would be more productive on a weekly basis than Shakir.
Table shows wide receiver stats from last year, sorted by points per game (PPR). All who average at least 10 points are shown.
| WIDE RECEIVERS, 2025 (8-PLUS GAMES) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | G | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | PPR/G |
| Puka Nacua, LAR | 16 | 166 | 129 | 1715 | 11 | 23.6 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea. | 17 | 163 | 119 | 1793 | 10 | 21.3 |
| Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. | 16 | 185 | 125 | 1412 | 8 | 19.7 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 17 | 172 | 117 | 1401 | 11 | 19.1 |
| Rashee Rice, K.C. | 8 | 78 | 53 | 571 | 6 | 18.8 |
| George Pickens, Dall. | 17 | 137 | 93 | 1429 | 9 | 17.2 |
| Drake London, Atl. | 12 | 112 | 68 | 919 | 7 | 17.0 |
| Chris Olave, N.O. | 16 | 156 | 100 | 1163 | 9 | 16.9 |
| Davante Adams, LAR | 14 | 114 | 60 | 789 | 14 | 15.9 |
| Nico Collins, Hou. | 15 | 120 | 71 | 1117 | 7 | 15.2 |
| A.J. Brown, Phil. | 15 | 121 | 78 | 1003 | 7 | 14.7 |
| Zay Flowers, Balt. | 17 | 118 | 86 | 1211 | 6 | 14.7 |
| CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 14 | 117 | 75 | 1077 | 3 | 14.4 |
| Tee Higgins, Cin. | 15 | 98 | 59 | 846 | 11 | 14.1 |
| Wan'Dale Robinson, NYG | 16 | 140 | 92 | 1014 | 4 | 13.6 |
| Christian Watson, G.B. | 10 | 55 | 35 | 611 | 6 | 13.2 |
| Michael Wilson, Ari. | 17 | 126 | 78 | 1006 | 7 | 13.0 |
| Jameson Williams, Det. | 17 | 102 | 65 | 1117 | 7 | 12.9 |
| Courtland Sutton, Den. | 17 | 124 | 74 | 1017 | 7 | 12.9 |
| Tetairoa McMillan, Car. | 17 | 122 | 70 | 1014 | 7 | 12.6 |
| DK Metcalf, Pitt. | 15 | 99 | 59 | 850 | 7 | 12.5 |
| Quentin Johnston, LAC | 14 | 84 | 51 | 735 | 8 | 12.4 |
| Stefon Diggs, N.E. | 17 | 102 | 85 | 1013 | 4 | 12.4 |
| Alec Pierce, Ind. | 15 | 84 | 47 | 1003 | 6 | 12.2 |
| Rome Odunze, Chi. | 12 | 90 | 44 | 661 | 6 | 12.2 |
| Jaylen Waddle, Mia. | 16 | 100 | 64 | 910 | 6 | 12.1 |
| Michael Pittman, Ind. | 17 | 111 | 80 | 784 | 7 | 11.9 |
| DeVonta Smith, Phil. | 17 | 113 | 77 | 1008 | 4 | 11.9 |
| Justin Jefferson, Min. | 17 | 141 | 84 | 1048 | 2 | 11.9 |
| Deebo Samuel, Was. | 16 | 99 | 72 | 727 | 6 | 11.8 |
| Jauan Jennings, S.F. | 15 | 90 | 55 | 643 | 9 | 11.7 |
| Parker Washington, Jac. | 16 | 95 | 58 | 847 | 7 | 11.5 |
| Emeka Egbuka, T.B. | 17 | 127 | 63 | 938 | 6 | 11.5 |
| Terry McLaurin, Was. | 10 | 60 | 38 | 582 | 3 | 11.4 |
| Ladd McConkey, LAC | 16 | 106 | 66 | 789 | 6 | 11.3 |
| Jakobi Meyers, L.V. | 16 | 110 | 75 | 835 | 3 | 11.1 |
| Keenan Allen, LAC | 17 | 122 | 81 | 777 | 4 | 10.7 |
| Marvin Harrison, Ari. | 12 | 73 | 41 | 608 | 4 | 10.7 |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 8 | 62 | 30 | 368 | 3 | 10.6 |
| Troy Franklin, Den. | 17 | 104 | 65 | 709 | 6 | 10.5 |
| Khalil Shakir, Buff. | 16 | 95 | 72 | 719 | 4 | 10.5 |
| Romeo Doubs, G.B. | 16 | 85 | 55 | 724 | 6 | 10.3 |
| DJ Moore, Chi. | 17 | 85 | 50 | 682 | 7 | 10.1 |
So while there's something to be said for being a reliable target and moving the chains, I think the Bills need to find a better No. 1 wideout, and fantasy coaches definitely do.
(This is not to suggest, by the way, that Shakir is a disappointment relative to Buffalo's other wide receivers. Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer; Shakir has been far more productive and reliable than those guys. But finding a better No. 1, enabling Shakir to be more of a supporting player, should be the goal. Difficult though that may be.)
--Andy Richardson
