Ranking NFL WR, TE, RB groups for 2025: Bills 28/32?

[Lionel Hutz]

Don't know if this has been posted yet, but is this a fair ranking for the Bills?

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45679684/ranking-nfl-teams-wr-te-rb-groups-2025-season-best-players-playmakers-offense

[MJS]

Yeah, I don't think they are giving the Bills much credit considering the upside of Dalton Kincaid and the already proven impact of James Cook. They give plenty of grace to a bunch of other teams who have highly drafted receivers who haven't produced yet, but no grace for Kincaid or Coleman. And Shakir is an extremely reliable target.

 

So, the Bills could probably be ranked a bit higher. Maybe the low 20s.

 

It kind of shows you how important the QB position is and how doomed you are if you don't have an elite one. So many teams are ranked ahead of Buffalo in this ranking but many of them still suck. And the Bills had one of the best offenses in the league last year. It doesn't really matter until you get the QB.

[mushypeaches]

Bill Barnwell is an excellent writer, even if he does work for ESPN.

 

His articles are well researched and informative, and in this one, he goes to great lengths to spell out his exact criteria, which focuses on the skill positions only, trying to be totally independent of QB, scheme, OL, and coaching

 

Additionally, it's only the Top 5 players - so 3 WR's, 1 TE, 1 RB.  It doesn't take into account depth at any of these positions

 

So in that respect, in a vacuum, yes the Bills are much closer to the bottom than the top. 

Our WR group is largely underwhelming at first glance to outside audiences

Daulton Kincaid hasn't performed to expectations (whether that's deserved or not)

James Cook is a nice RB but not an every down player like many others

 

But what I think we all know is that the Bills offense is much more than the sum of its individual parts

Josh Allen elevates everyone

The investment in developing the OL has unlocked everything and is one of the main reasons we're a SB contender

We have a very solid 2nd and hopefully 3rd TE

Our RB2 and RB3 are also high performers

And Joe Brady's schemes, coaching, and actual commitment to running the football have brought us a Top 5 offense

 

All of this despite our top 5 "skill" players being well below average

[Chris from Rochester]

I sadly don't think it's that far off. Without Allen IMO we're a 4-6 win team. He is that good.

[MJS]

6 minutes ago, Chris from Rochester said:

I sadly don't think it's that far off. Without Allen IMO we're a 4-6 win team. He is that good.

Without Allen I think we have an 8 or 9 win team. The difference between getting 8 or 9 wins and getting 11 or 12 wins is astronomical. That's why 8 or 9 win teams can almost never take that next step and get into the double digit win territory. That's what an elite QB can do for you. It is very difficult to get out of that area hovering around .500.

12 minutes ago, mushypeaches said:

Bill Barnwell is an excellent writer, even if he does work for ESPN.

 

His articles are well researched and informative, and in this one, he goes to great lengths to spell out his exact criteria, which focuses on the skill positions only, trying to be totally independent of QB, scheme, OL, and coaching

 

Additionally, it's only the Top 5 players - so 3 WR's, 1 TE, 1 RB.  It doesn't take into account depth at any of these positions

 

So in that respect, in a vacuum, yes the Bills are much closer to the bottom than the top. 

Our WR group is largely underwhelming at first glance to outside audiences

Daulton Kincaid hasn't performed to expectations (whether that's deserved or not)

James Cook is a nice RB but not an every down player like many others

 

But what I think we all know is that the Bills offense is much more than the sum of its individual parts

Josh Allen elevates everyone

The investment in developing the OL has unlocked everything and is one of the main reasons we're a SB contender

We have a very solid 2nd and hopefully 3rd TE

Our RB2 and RB3 are also high performers

And Joe Brady's schemes, coaching, and actual commitment to running the football have brought us a Top 5 offense

 

All of this despite our top 5 "skill" players being well below average

My one issue is that he gives a lot of grace for high picks like Odunze and Harrison Jr. who haven't done all that much yet, or at least haven't produced like high end #1 receivers yet, but give no grace for Kincaid, who has elite upside, or Coleman, who showed flashes before his injury, while underselling the impact of James Cook who produced like a top back last year.

[Pete]

“While general manager Brandon Beane might disagree, this is likely the least imposing group of receivers in the NFL on paper”.

 

imo Bills WRs are being slept on. Palmer and Moore can separate, and that is what will open up everything for everyone, and what was missing last year.  Keon seems focused and motivated.  Reports are good.  Keep it going when pads come on.  Shakir is rock solid.  If we get Curtis we saw in playoffs. Yes please.  Kincaid should be healthier and better.  Knox is clutch.    Virgil is a sleeper.

[Kirby Jackson]

It’s maybe a little unfair. The WRs are at or near the bottom. The TEs are top 10ish and the backs are top 10ish. I’d say closer to 20.

[Billsatlastin2018]

The Offence is predicated on a potential HOFer & GOAT QB.

Period.

 

The others are useful cogs, but nobody would rank ANY Bills’ WR in the Top 15.

The TEs are INVISIBLE!

And the RBs are so far off a Barkley, Henry or McAffery, it’s laughable.

 

But ALL are made better because of 17… many games… a lot better!

[Mister Defense]

It's laughable, the guy doing this a clown.

 

The Bills have one of the best running back and tight end groups in the NFL, with at least two starting caliber  players in each group.   And their wide receivers will once again enable their QB and offense to break all kinds of team and league records  this year.  And maybe garner another MVP for their leader.

 

I immediately looked to see if it was Cody Benjamin writing this crap, but it is another moron instead. Barnwell had awful takes on Around the Horn and clearly in his writing as well.

 

 

[HOUSE]

This is going to really piss Brandon Beane off. 

 

 

[nedboy7]

Chiefs are 12?  I mean.... whatever. 

[corta765]

I would put the position up to 23 (or argue around that high). Cook is a legit Pro Bowler, Shakir's numbers have shown him to be a top 3 slot guy by advance measures, and TE wise Knox/Kincaid are around 20th league wide as a combo IMO. I do not disagree on the rest of the thoughts on the WR corp, BUF is betting Coleman/Palmer/Samuel one, two, heck all of them have very good seasons. If they do then the overall skill group is close to top 10 at that point. I am high on Palmer being a legit guy this year and basically replacing Hollins/Coopers production combine, but the other two I honestly have no idea what to think. 

 

Luckily for Buffalo they not only have 17, but the O-line is top 5 and Brady is a wizard as an OC. The offense season has a truly higher ceiling if Kincaid or Coleman turn into something, otherwise they are similar to last year (which is still really good).

 

One thing I do hate about these rankings is so much is based on past production and not the future so it always feels a bit fruitless in a way.

[BarleyNY]

1 hour ago, Lionel Hutz said:

Don't know if this has been posted yet, but is this a fair ranking for the Bills?

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45679684/ranking-nfl-teams-wr-te-rb-groups-2025-season-best-players-playmakers-offense

 

It would be very difficult to argue that the Bills aren’t in the bottom quartile wrt to the criteria given. 

[HOUSE]

I stopped reading at PFF

Oh wait 

[uticaclub]

35 minutes ago, nedboy7 said:

Chiefs are 12?  I mean.... whatever. 

What Bills WR/RB/TE would you take over any Chief at this point. The talent gap is vast.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

3 hours ago, MJS said:

Without Allen I think we have an 8 or 9 win team. The difference between getting 8 or 9 wins and getting 11 or 12 wins is astronomical. That's why 8 or 9 win teams can almost never take that next step and get into the double digit win territory. That's what an elite QB can do for you. It is very difficult to get out of that area hovering around .500.

My one issue is that he gives a lot of grace for high picks like Odunze and Harrison Jr. who haven't done all that much yet, or at least haven't produced like high end #1 receivers yet, but give no grace for Kincaid, who has elite upside, or Coleman, who showed flashes before his injury, while underselling the impact of James Cook who produced like a top back last year.

Nobody woukd put Odunze and Jr in the same class as Coleman at this point. That may change. Like others have said, make Coleman go watch Anquan Boldin video. If Coleman is a low tier #1 WR that is plenty good enough for this offense. 

I still have hope for Kincaid but my favorite player besides Allen is Knox. I hope Knox still gets plenty of chances. 

1 hour ago, uticaclub said:

What Bills WR/RB/TE would you take over any Chief at this point. The talent gap is vast.

Kelce is in decline. Cook is the best skill player on both those teams. By year's end Kincaid will probably produce more than Kelce. Shakir is probably a better #3 WR than the Chiefs but their 1,2,4, and 5 are probably better than the Bills. 

Edited Tuesday at 11:05 PM by Ethan in Cleveland

[WotAGuy]

With any of these rating things, I wonder how much they take into consideration the (negative) fan engagement they will get if they downplay the Bills. Drive the clicks. 
 

But in this case, they probably aren’t far off.  The arguments being made here aren’t compelling from a non-Bills’ fan perspective. 

[MJS]

41 minutes ago, uticaclub said:

What Bills WR/RB/TE would you take over any Chief at this point. The talent gap is vast.

Cook easily over any back they have. Kelce is basically retired already and plays every down looking like and old, tired man. I'll take Kincaid and his youth and upside over Kelce at this point.

 

Their WRs aren't anything to write home about. They are fine. Better than the Bills, but not anywhere close to the top of the league.

[uticaclub]

46 minutes ago, MJS said:

Cook easily over any back they have. Kelce is basically retired already and plays every down looking like and old, tired man. I'll take Kincaid and his youth and upside over Kelce at this point.

 

Their WRs aren't anything to write home about. They are fine. Better than the Bills, but not anywhere close to the top of the league.

Cook is not an every down back, Pacheco is. Kelce in his semi retired form is still far more productive than Kincaid; I hope that changes this year but there is nothing to guarantee that it will.

[hondo in seattle]

I lot of fans agree that the Bills skill position groups (minus QB) deserve to be ranked in the 20s.  

I wonder if these are the same folks who want to fire McD for not getting to the SB despite our shortcomings at WR, TE, and RB (and elsewhere).

 

And if they're the same people who don't want to fire Beane despite some of the challenges he's had with roster-building.  

I'm not pointing fingers or blaming anyone.  Just curious.  Despite some poor decisions over the years, I personally find it hard to blame McD for not winning us a Lombardi when he's never been given a Lombardi caliber roster.