It was a story of two seasons for the Buffalo Payments in 2023. They have been 6-6 and lengthy photographs to make the playoffs heading into their Week 13 bye. One thing clicked as a result of Buffalo received 5 straight video games to complete the season 11-6 atop the AFC East. The Payments beat the Pittsburgh Steelers within the first spherical of the playoffs however misplaced to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the second spherical.
Buffalo was anticipated to make a transfer to beat the Kansas Metropolis hurdle, however its largest low season transfer was buying and selling away prime large receiver Stefon Diggs. With this loss, let’s preview how the Payments search for fantasy soccer functions in 2024.
Josh Allen
Allen continues to be an incredible fantasy soccer quarterback. In actual life, his profession excessive 18 interceptions helped gasoline the discourse on daytime sports activities discuss exhibits for months. For fantasy soccer, although, Allen threw for 4,306 yards with 29 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, whereas speeding for 524 yards and a career-high 15 extra scores.
With the massive increase from his speeding numbers, Allen completed as the general QB1 in fantasy soccer final season. He’s being drafted as the highest QB as soon as once more for 2024, but it surely positively doesn’t really feel just like the ADP is matching the truth that his prime large receiver may very well be Khalil Shakir. Payments head coach Sean McDermott is excessive on Shakir, however that doesn’t imply that he’s going to have 1,000 yards receiving and double-digit touchdowns. Coleman is an intriguing addition to the offense, however large receivers sometimes take that step ahead of their second season, not their first. I feel Allen must be the third or fourth quarterback chosen in drafts this yr and really feel like QB1 is somewhat little bit of a stretch after shedding Diggs.
James Cook dinner
Buffalo rolled the cube with Cook dinner and it paid off final season as he completed with 1,122 speeding yards. It could have been as a result of Allen hogged all of the aim line touches, however Cook dinner completed with solely two touchdowns on the bottom. He did add 445 yards and 4 touchdowns by way of the air, exhibiting off his dual-threat capacity out of the backfield.
Cook dinner completed as the general RB11 in half-PPR scoring final season. Fantasy soccer managers have maintained expectations for him and are drafting him because the RB14 this season. He’s going proper behind Rachaad White and forward of Joe Mixon. I’m anticipating Cook dinner to keep up the goal share that he noticed final season and I’m not too apprehensive about Ray Davis or Ty Johnson consuming into his touches. The most important downside he would face would simply be if the shortage of Diggs alternative hurts the passing recreation and so Buffalo has to desert the run recreation early, however Cook dinner must be a borderline RB1 this season.
Khalil Shakir
Buffalo is placing quite a lot of religion in Shakir in 2024. The previous fifth-round decide had a strong season final yr, bringing in 39 of his 45 targets for 611 yards and two touchdowns. He hasn’t accomplished a lot to counsel that he might be the WR1 in an offense, however McDermott appears to assume he can.
Shakir completed as the general WR61 final season and is being drafted because the WR53 in 2024. Having Allen as his quarterback definitely helps, however Shakir would wish to take an enormous step ahead to be the man who replaces Diggs. For now, strive to not overdraft Shakir as he’s between Jakobi Meyers and Romeo Doubs.
Keon Coleman
Coleman is an intriguing rookie that Buffalo took with the primary decide of the second spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft. Followers are already falling in love with him from his healthful introductory press convention interview moments, and persons are hoping it interprets to the sector.
Coleman spent the primary two years of his school profession at Michigan State. As a sophomore, he had 798 yards and 7 touchdowns. He transferred to Florida State final season, and his identify grew to become synonymous with spotlight reel receptions. Coleman solely had 658 receiving yards however got here down with 11 touchdowns for the Seminoles. He’s being drafted larger than Shakir as the general WR46 in half-PPR scoring.
Dalton Kincaid
When Buffalo chosen Kincaid within the first spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft, there have been questions on which tight finish, between the rookie and Dawson Knox, can be fantasy viable. Kincaid didn’t have as loopy of a breakout season as Detroit Lions tight finish Sam LaPorta, however he had yr. He introduced in 73 of his 91 targets for 673 yards and two touchdowns.
In the beginning of final season, Kincaid didn’t take over as the highest tight finish within the Buffalo offense and needed to beat out Knox for extra targets. He must be the Payments’ TE1 this season, which is probably going why he’s as much as the TE5 primarily based on his ADP for 2024. I don’t know that I like him greater than Kyle Pitts or Evan Engram, but it surely isn’t loopy to assume that Kincaid must be drafted in that TE5-7 vary after only one season.
Tyler Bass
Bass was drafted final season because the K5 general for fantasy soccer however completed because the K17. He made 49 of his 50 extra-point makes an attempt, however he solely kicked 29 area targets. Of these 29, he made 24 of them. Solely eight of his makes have been longer than 40 yards, so the high-octane Payments offense really hindered Bass’ scoring potential. And the truth that Allen had 21 complete turnovers. His ADP has dropped right down to K15 for 2024.
D/ST
The Buffalo D/ST completed final season as the general D/ST3. This yr, kickoff guidelines have been adjusted, so there’s anticipation for extra returns and extra thrilling performs. The Payments’ large receiver room appears like an island of misfit toys with Shakir, Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel, KJ Hamler and Andy Isabella, however every of those wideouts might find yourself enjoying massive roles on particular groups. Additionally, McDermott is a defensive-minded head coach, so the Payments’ D/ST will probably be price rostering this season. Presently, its 2024 ADP is D/ST8.
